Name: Spiced Crumble Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 1 cup pecans (about 4 ounces); 1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar; 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, diced; 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 1/3 cups unbleached all purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 3/4 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup whole milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar; 5 large eggs; 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped; 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature; 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

This cake keeps well and feeds a crowd. The "crumble" is simply a middle layer of pecans, brown sugar, butter and cocoa.

Recipe information

Yield
Serves 8

Ingredients

For crumble

1 cup pecans (about 4 ounces)

1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, diced

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

For cake

2 1/3 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

3/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

5 large eggs

For frosting

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation

Make crumble:
Step 1
Blend all ingredients in processor until nuts are finely chopped.
Make cake:
Step 2
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Whisk first 7 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sour cream, milk and vanilla in small bowl to blend.
Step 3
Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in both sugars. Beat in 3 eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in 1/2 cup dry ingredients. Beat in 2 eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in remaining dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with sour cream mixture in 2 additions.
Step 4
Spread 3 cups batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle with crumble; press lightly into batter. Spread remaining batter over crumble to cover. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack.
Make frosting:
Step 5
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until just melted and smooth. Cool to room temperature. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Beat in powdered sugar in 3 additions, then cooled chocolate and cocoa.
Step 6
Spread top of cake with frosting. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until frosting is set; cover and keep chilled. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before serving.)

TagsCake Dessert Crumble Fruit Dessert American Chocolate Pecan Nut Baking Electric Mixer Stand Mixer Bon Appétit

Recipe information

Ingredients

For crumble

For cake

For frosting

Preparation

Make crumble:

Step 1

Make cake:

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Make frosting:

Step 5

Step 6

Recipe notes