Pumpkin Tea Cake

1 (15-ounce) can of 100% pumpkin puree 
1 cup of vegetable oil
4 extra-large eggs 
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of flour , sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract  
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
Spiced Whipped Cream (see recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9- x 13-inch baking pan or two small bundt pans.

At a medium speed with an electric mixer, beat together pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar; set aside. 

In a separate bowl, blend together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract until evenly and smoothly mixed together. Pour in the pumpkin batter and stir until thoroughly mixed.  Pour mixture into prepared baking pan or bundt pans. Sprinkle the top with additional ground cinnamon.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the center allows a tooth pick to come out clean of batter. If nuts are desired, after 20 minutes of baking, remove cake from the oven and sprinkle the nuts on top. Place back in the oven and continue baking until done.

Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve either “as is” or with whipped cream topping.

Variation: This recipe will also work when baked in small loaf shape pans, cupcake pans, muffin pans, or cake pans. Only fill each pan to the half way mark, as the batter rises.


Spiced Whipped Cream:
1 cup whipping (heavy) cream, chilled
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel (zest)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a chilled small bowl, beat whipping cream on high speed of your electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add sugar, orange peel, and cinnamon and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
 

ELLEN EASTON, author of AFTERNOON TEA...TIPS,TERMS and TRADITIONS and Good $ense For $uccess™, is a consultant to leading hotels and tearooms, including The PLAZA and LADY MENDL’s, is speaker and designer of related products to the hotel, food service, retail and special event industries.

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