Pumpkin Flan Cake with Maple Brown Butter Glaze is composed of a tender pumpkin cake layer, a custardy flan layer, and a sweet-nutty-buttery glaze. A garnish of salted pecans provides a deliciously unexpected contrast to the sweetness of the cake.
The way my husband and our neighbor went at the glaze on this cake was like a scene from National Geographic. You'd think that they haven't eaten in a week and couldn't get nourishment into their bodies fast enough.
I'll back up a bit for you. I was sharing some of this cake with my husband and our two next door neighbors. When I proceeded to remove and box up the uneaten portion, my husband and our female friend swooped in on the layer of glaze remaining on the cake stand with lightning speed. I mean fingers swirling, double dipping, the whole messy scene. They did not stop until the whole cake stand was clean. It was quite bizarre and pretty comical at the same time. Now, if you watch Friends, this would be something befitting of a never before seen clip. (Remember the episode when Rachel and Chandler ate the cheesecake off the floor?) Ewww! but you get why they couldn't resist!
I don't mean to gross you out, but that was how much my husband and friend LOVED the glaze! These are two normal, well mannered, and well adjusted adults who had a sudden attack of brown-butter-maple-syrup-glazitis. They could not help themselves! It was quite a Kodak moment.
Our neighbors ranted and rave about how good the cake was. The husband is lactose intolerant and usually monitors is diary intake. He was not watching his intake of THIS cake! And his wife asked me to make one for her for Thanksgiving. So this little creation already has some diehard fans!
The cake is baked, covered in a steam bath. The result is a tender pumpkin cake with a silky smooth flan. It is delightfully complimented with a sweet, slightly nutty maple syrup and brown butter glaze. To provide an unexpected contrast to the sweetness of the cake, toasted and salted pecans are added as a garnish. DELISH!
If you'e looking for a dessert to wow your guests this fall and holiday season, this cake is going to knock their socks off! And if you like this, check out my Chocoflan Tunnel Cake. It is a winner too!
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INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable or corn oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup half and half (or whole milk)
1 scant cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
enough hot water to add to the steam bath
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable or corn oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup half and half (or whole milk)
1 scant cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
enough hot water to add to the steam bath
For the flan layer:
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 eggs, room temperature
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup half and half (or whole milk)
For the Maple Brown Butter Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
For the Salted Pecans:
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 rounded tsp. Kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
Beat sugar, oil, and eggs on medium high in a large bowl for 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Add half of the half & half. Blend. Continue adding another 1/3 of the flour mixture, beat until just incorporated. Add the remaining half & half. Beat in the last 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add the pumpkin puree, beating until well blended.
Generously coat a 10-inch bundt pan with baking spray. Pour cake batter into pan. Set aside.
To make the flan: beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs, beating until well blended. Add sweetened condensed milk, half and half, and vanilla, beating for 1 minute. Pour over the cake layer. Cover tightly with a greased aluminum foil.
Place bundt cake pan in a larger pan. Place into oven. Pour enough water into the larger pan to fill the bundt cake pan half way up. Bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few dry crumbs attached.
Cool on a rack for 1 hour. Invert bundt pan onto a cake platter. Unmold by giving it one vertical shake to loosen the cake. Remove bundt pan. Chill cake.
To make the glaze: melt butter on a saucepan on medium heat. Allow butter to become bubbly then foamy and develop a nutty smell, in about 3-4 minutes. Stir gently and watch butter carefully once it begins to foam as it could burn quickly. Check for milk solids that deposit at the bottom of the pan. Once the milk solids turn golden brown, remove from heat. The butter will darken as it sits.
Pour brown butter into a small mixing bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, beat in powdered sugar and maple syrup until smooth. Chill for about 15 minutes before glazing cake.
To make the salted pecans: Melt butter in a medium skillet on medium heat. Add pecans. Cook, stirring frequently until pecans become fragrant, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add salt. Transfer to a plate. Allow to cool.
To finish cake, use a spoon to drizzle glaze over cooled cake. Sprinkle with salted pecans. Makes 10 servings. Keep refrigerated.
Recipe Notes:
3 eggs, room temperature
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup half and half (or whole milk)
For the Maple Brown Butter Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
For the Salted Pecans:
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 rounded tsp. Kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
Beat sugar, oil, and eggs on medium high in a large bowl for 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Add half of the half & half. Blend. Continue adding another 1/3 of the flour mixture, beat until just incorporated. Add the remaining half & half. Beat in the last 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add the pumpkin puree, beating until well blended.
Generously coat a 10-inch bundt pan with baking spray. Pour cake batter into pan. Set aside.
Place bundt cake pan in a larger pan. Place into oven. Pour enough water into the larger pan to fill the bundt cake pan half way up. Bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few dry crumbs attached.
Cool on a rack for 1 hour. Invert bundt pan onto a cake platter. Unmold by giving it one vertical shake to loosen the cake. Remove bundt pan. Chill cake.
To make the glaze: melt butter on a saucepan on medium heat. Allow butter to become bubbly then foamy and develop a nutty smell, in about 3-4 minutes. Stir gently and watch butter carefully once it begins to foam as it could burn quickly. Check for milk solids that deposit at the bottom of the pan. Once the milk solids turn golden brown, remove from heat. The butter will darken as it sits.
Pour brown butter into a small mixing bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, beat in powdered sugar and maple syrup until smooth. Chill for about 15 minutes before glazing cake.
To make the salted pecans: Melt butter in a medium skillet on medium heat. Add pecans. Cook, stirring frequently until pecans become fragrant, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add salt. Transfer to a plate. Allow to cool.
To finish cake, use a spoon to drizzle glaze over cooled cake. Sprinkle with salted pecans. Makes 10 servings. Keep refrigerated.
Recipe Notes:
- If you are using 1 pint of half and half, you will be a little short on the 3/4 cup needed for the flan layer. Add enough milk to make up the difference.
- My cake is done in 80 minutes in my oven. Check your cake early if your oven tends to cook fast.
- If using regular cooking spray or oil to grease the bundt pan, dust the pan with a light coating of flour to prevent sticking.
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oooh yum! my aunt used to make a magic flipping flan cake like this with chocolate cake and vanilla flan, but this pumpkin, maple and brown sugar version sounds much more interesting (;
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather! I love the chocolate version but this pumpkin version is perfect for fall. :)
DeleteIt's no surprise that everyone went crazy for this cake; it looks sensational and I bet it tastes even better. I have tried to make an flan cake before, but totally failed! :( Maybe it's time to try again with this recipe. I love the fall-time flavours in this one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you try again Marie! It is such a beautiful site to see the two distinct layers after you unmold the cake. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
DeleteThis is truly a beautiful dessert! I love the two layers and it looks so perfectly textured. Don't even get me started on that glaze!! Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stacey! I thought about giving a jar of the glaze to my husband for a stocking stuffer this year. haha!
DeleteI 100% would join your husband and neighbor in cleaning up after this cake :). Holy cow! The flan layer is just perfect. Forget about pie on Thanksgiving this year--all I need is a few slices of this beauty!
ReplyDeleteLOL! You would have made it triple the fun, Kelsie! I agree...move one pie, there's a new cake in town this year!!
DeleteWhat a hilarious story!! Haha I love the Friends analogy, totally made me laugh. I LOVE that flan layer. Such a creative idea!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the love, Katherine! I'm a Friends fanatic. I think there is a Friends analogy for every situation in life 😉
DeleteOh, my, so beautiful! This is a killer dessert!!! I'd definitely join in and help make sure every drop of the glaze was consumed!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Liz! Anytime you want to join in, I'll make extra glaze!!
DeleteWow I didn't expect this beautiful cake hidden in the middle of the flan! So beautiful, I'm sure it's luscious :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! This is definitely a two-in-one cake.
DeleteHaha...your post really sums up how delicious this cake is. It looks so pretty too with the beautiful and perfect layers. I would love to try this recipe out. Definitely saving ��
ReplyDeleteI hope you will try it, Ashika! It's a keeper!
DeleteLOL!! I can actually picture your husband and neighbor eating this!! That visual is too funny, girl! But, I don't blame them for eating this like a ravenous animal! I mean, this is GORGEOUS! And the flavors sound just amazing! I need this in my life! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thanks Chey!! I watched feeding frenzy in disbelief and amusement! 😆
DeleteHello, Thao.
ReplyDeleteDesserts!!!! That pumpkin flan cake with maple brown butter glaze looks so fancy and yummy! I get it why your husband and friend love it. I am surely loving it from afar. Haha.
Thank you for admiring it from afar! :)
DeleteAmazing! This reminds of a time I went out to eat with my sister and her husband and kids. They ordered 1 flan dessert for everyone to share. When it came it was a flurry of eating! Needless to say I did not get any because I was not ready for the fight. This cake sounds so delicious though. The maple brown butter glaze just sounds SO GOOD!
ReplyDeleteThanks Danielle. And LOL! It sounds like you might have had to fight to the death. It was probably best that you sat out on the flan fest :)
DeleteThis cake looks delicious - perfect! I love all things flan, pumpkin & then you add brown butter into the mix. I can drink, guzzle and devour all things brown butter! This cake would definitely wow at any Thanksgiving dinner ♥
ReplyDeleteThis cake sounds perfect your you, Amanda! I completely agree...brown butter is the best! We really should bottle it :) Happy Thanksgiving!!
DeleteHow many eggs? Oart of the recipe is hidden, Is it 2 cups of oil?
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you are experiencing difficulties seeing the recipe. I just checked and I am able to see it on different browsers and mobile. The recipe requires 2 eggs for the cake and 3 eggs for the flan. It also needs 1/2 cup of oil. I hope this helps.
Deletethese are my favorite to order out, but I have a sneaking suspicion they are more than 240 calories at a restaurant:glad i can make this at home now it would be a hit in our house definitely going to give it a try
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call this a light dessert, but it's definitely worth the calories :) I'm so glad you want to try this cake at home!! Hope it turns out well! Please let me know.
Delete