Attention Pumpkin Lovers: My Favorite Fall Coffee Cake

Pumpkin + Me = LOVE 4 EVA

I love pumpkin. Every year, I count down the days until pumpkin is in season. I really don't cook with it unless it is fall/winter. Pumpkin flavored things just don't sound as good in July. July is for watermelon and margaritas. That's a whole other post.

If you don't like pumpkin, you will not like this. Just FYI.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Ingredients

Cake
1/2 cup water
1 can pumpkin (15 ounces)
2 whole eggs
1 T vanilla extract (Yes, a whole Tablespoon. I know it seems like a lot).
2 t pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 t baking soda

Topping
4 T butter, melted
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c flour
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Glaze
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix together water, pumpkin, eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until combined. Add cake mix and baking soda and mix until just combined. *I use my KitchenAid mixer for this.
• Grease a 9x13 pan and pour batter into the pan. *If I'm not cooking for a lot of people, I like to divide the batter into two square pans and freeze one or give it to someone who needs a little pumpkin in their life.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, walnuts, and melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the cake. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• For the glaze, combine the other 1/2 cup brown sugar, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and heavy cream in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. When cake is finished baking, poke holes in the top with a toothpick (or a fork), and pour glaze over the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature. *You can make the glaze while the cake is cooking to speed things up.

This looks like lots of steps and harder than it really is. It actually comes together so fast. I think even the hubs could do this one. ;) It's not as fun as my favorite chili recipe I posted yesterday (there's no wine in this.....) but give it a try anyway.

If you bake this while also burning your Autumn Harvest candle from Target, you may never leave your house again. Please tell me someone else has tried my favorite fall candle!

Happy Pumpkin-ing!