Description
This Upside Down Pumpkin Cake with Praline Caramel Swirl is a comforting autumnal dessert featuring tender spiced pumpkin cake atop caramelized pumpkin slices and a crunchy praline pecan topping. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or a cozy weekend treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300g (10.5oz) pumpkin puree, well-drained
- 200g (1 cup + 100g / ½ cup) granulated sugar
- 200g (1 cup) light brown sugar
- 250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp + ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 180g (¾ cup + 30g / 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 large eggs
- 120ml (½ cup) whole milk
- 100g (3½ oz) pecans, coarsely chopped
- 100g (½ cup) dark brown sugar
- 60ml (¼ cup) heavy cream
- Pinch saffron threads (optional)
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds, toasted
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Butter and flour a 23cm (9-inch) round cake pan.
- Craft Praline: Melt butter and sugar, stir until amber. Add pecans, spread on parchment, and harden. Break into pieces.
- Prepare Pumpkin Base: Slice pumpkin, toss with butter and sugar, arrange in pan.
- Whip Caramel Swirl: Combine brown sugar, cream, saffron (optional), and cinnamon; heat until smooth.
- Mix Cake Batter: Cream butter and sugars, add eggs one at a time, then pumpkin and milk.
- Combine Ingredients: Gently fold in sifted dry ingredients.
- Assemble Cake: Layer batter, praline, and caramel twice, finishing with batter.
- Create Swirl: Swirl caramel through batter.
- Bake & Invert: Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, then invert.
- Final Flourish: Drizzle with caramel, scatter praline and pumpkin seeds.
Notes
For best results, use 100% pumpkin puree and measure flour accurately. Don’t overmix the batter to avoid a dense cake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: pumpkin cake,upside down cake,praline,caramel,fall dessert,thanksgiving,baking,pecan