Let the baking begin

Seems like once November hits, I get the baking bug.  There aren't many complaints when this bug comes to stay, aside from tight pants.  My first experiment was a layered pumpkin cake. 

It was actually a very simple cake with ingredients I already had on hand.  The only thing I didn't have was whipping cream for the ganche, so I used canned milk and it worked out just fine. :)

Pumpkin Sandwich Cake from Better Homes and Gardens, November 2008

3/4 c flour
1 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
3 eggs
1 c sugar
3/4 c canned pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Grease bottoms and sides of two 8 inch round cake pans.  Line bottoms with waxed paper.  In bowl combine flour, spice powder and salt; set aside.
2.  In a second bowl beat eggs and sugar until thick.  Beat in pumpkin.  Add flour mixture; beat just until combined.  Spread cake batter in prepared pans.  Bake 16-18 minutes.  Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.  Remove and cool thoroughly. 
(My layers were pretty thin, so I repeated steps 1&2 to have 4 layers of cake.)

Filling
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c whipping cream

3.  For filling, whip cream to soft peaks.  In another bowl mix cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Fold in whipped cream. 
(I doubled the filling for 4 layers of cake.)

To assemble cake, place on layer on a serving platter.  Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over bottom cake layer.  Top with second layer of cake.  Spread with c.c. mixture, repeat with 3rd and 4th layers.  Place in fridge while preparing chocolate ganache.

Ganache
1/2 c whipping cream
1 c bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
(I doubled this as well.)

4.  In small saucepan bring whipping cream just to boiling over medium-high heat.  Remove.  Pour over chocolate pieces in medium b owl (do not stir).  Let stand 5 minutes.  Stir until smooth.  Cool 15 minutes.  Spread over top and sides of cake.   

Store loosely covered in the fridge. 

I will conveniently "forget" to include to nutritional content of this cake.  Remember it's fat free as long as you are giving it away.  :)