Description
Seasonal pumpkin pecan delight trifles showcase layered autumn dessert perfection with creamy spiced pumpkin mousse and crunchy caramelized pecans. Elegant individual servings deliver rich seasonal comfort you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (15 oz) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese
- 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream (1 ½ cups + 1 cup)
- ¾ cup pecan pieces
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 4 tbsps salted butter
- 16 pecan halves
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set temperature to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×9 inch cake pan.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice in a large mixing bowl.
- Blend Wet Components: Whisk together sugar, pumpkin puree, oil, milk, and eggs until fully integrated.
- Create Cake Batter: Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring minimally to maintain light texture.
- Bake Cake: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test.
- Prepare Caramel Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, add brown sugar and whipping cream, stirring continuously until bubbling. Cook for one minute, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.
- Toast Pecans: Spread nuts on a baking sheet and roast at 350°F for 7 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Craft Cheesecake Filling: Beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth, gradually incorporating whipping cream and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Assemble Trifles: Layer caramel sauce at the bottom of serving dishes, add pumpkin cake cubes, pipe cheesecake filling, and sprinkle toasted pecans.
- Finish and Garnish: Complete layering process, topping with a final caramel drizzle and pecan halves.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry and wet ingredients to maintain cake’s soft, tender texture and avoid tough, dense results.
- Master Caramel Technique: Stir constantly while cooking to prevent burning and achieve smooth, glossy caramel sauce without crystallization.
- Achieve Perfect Whipped Cream: Beat cream cheese mixture gradually to ensure stability and create pillowy, stiff peaks for luxurious filling.
- Temperature Control Matters: Cool cake completely before cubing to prevent structural collapse and ensure clean, neat layering in trifles.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg