Butternut Squash Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in squash and maple flavoring. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in walnuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans., Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., For frosting, in a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, egg whites, water, cream of tartar and salt. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating over low heat until a thermometer reads 160°, about 8-10 minutes., Pour into the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer; add vanilla. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix first 4 ingredients and beat well, then add sifted ingredients.
• Add squash.
• Fold in chopped nuts.
• Bake in greased tube pan at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until done.

Steps:

• Special equipment: a candy thermometer, an 8-inch ring mold and a kitchen torch
• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Toss the butternut squash with the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Spread out the squash on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with more foil and secure the edges. Roast until fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil from the top and continue to roast until slightly golden, about 10 more minutes. Let cool and then puree in a food processor and set aside.
• For the pecan jaconde: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until frothy. Slowly add the granulated sugar and salt and whip until stiff peaks form. Add the egg yolks slowly and continue whipping until combined, about 2 minutes.
• Sift in the flour in 3 stages, folding carefully to prevent deflating and making sure there are no lumps. Fold in the melted butter.
• Spread on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with the pecans. Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool and cut into two 8-inch circles. Tip: leftovers can be use in a trifle
• For the pecan rum cake syrup: Bring the granulated sugar, pecans and 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil for three minute or so to release the pecan oils. Remove from the heat and add the rum. Use warm to moisten the sponge while assembling the cake
• For the butternut squash pudding: In a pot, bring the sugar, cream, condensed milk, cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice and 1 cup of the milk to a boil.. In a medium bowl, mix the cornstarch with the egg yolks and remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Remove the cinnamon sticks carefully from the milk mixture and temper the cornstarch mixture with it, whisking the hot mixture by the ladleful into the cornstarch mixture. Return the tempered mixture to the pot and add 2 cups of the squash puree (reserve the remaining puree for another use). Cook on medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the pudding thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla and butter and mix until incorporated.
• For the marshmallow meringue: In a small pot, bring the granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons water to a boil. Cook to 240 degrees F or the soft ball stage. Once the syrup has reached 210 degrees F, start whipping the egg whites. As soon as the syrup reaches 240 degrees F, add the syrup to the egg whites while whipping. Add the melted marshmallow and pumpkin pie spice and whip until cooled, 5 to 10 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: Use an 8-inch ring mold. Place a layer of pecan joconde sponge on the bottom and drench with half the syrup. Cover with a layer of the warm pudding as thick as the cake. Repeat with another layer of cake and pudding. Allow to cool in the refrigerator until the pudding sets, about 20 minutes. Once cooled, remove from the ring and decorate with the marshmallow meringue all around the cake. Torch the outside of the cake gently to create a brulee look. Decorate with cape gooseberries and chopped pecans, if using.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter and the granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs until fluffy. Beat in baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add flour alternately with buttermilk, scraping side of bowl. Beat 1 minute. Stir in squash and 1/2 cup walnuts. Spread in pan.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and the maple flavor. Beat until smooth and creamy, adding additional milk if needed. Frost cake. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup walnuts. Cover and refrigerate.

Steps:

• Put the mixed nuts into the bowl of a food processor and blitz until finely chopped, then tip out into a bowl. Alternatively, roughly chop using a knife. Put the carrot, celery and onion in a frying pan. Cut the long, thin half of the squash in half lengthways or into quarters (depending on how wide it is) and slice into long, thin slices using a sharp knife or mandoline (reserve the thicker bulb half of the squash for another recipe).
• Drizzle the oil over the veg in the frying pan, then fry for 15-20 mins over a low-medium heat until golden and soft. Scrape the mixture into the chopped nuts and stir in 2 tbsp honey, the chestnuts and nut butter. Stir everything together, then season.
• Oil a 20cm springform cake tin and line the base with baking parchment. Arrange 3-5 sage leaves in the tin, face-down. Finely chop the rest of the sage leaves and add them to the nut mixture. Arrange some of the squash slices in the base of the tin, laying them neatly so the layers overlap slightly to form a spiral pattern. Drizzle over ½ tbsp of the remaining honey. Spoon in half the nut mixture, pressing it firmly into the tin with the back of a spoon, then top with another layer of squash, this time in a single layer rather than overlapping - this will make it easier to cut later. Drizzle over the rest of the honey. Spoon in the remaining nut mixture and press it in firmly with the back of a spoon. Any remaining squash will keep in the fridge for up to three days to use in tarts and quiches, or to be grilled for salads.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cover the tin with foil and roast for 30 mins, then uncover and roast for another 20 mins until the top of is golden and crisp. Leave to rest for 15 mins, then invert onto a plate and cut into wedges to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans of butter.
• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix soda and salt into buttermilk until foamy.
• Add alternately with flour.
• Add 3 teaspoons flavoring.
• Pour into prepared pans and bake until done, 20 to 25 minutes.
• For icing.
• Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
• Add box of powdered sugar and beat well.
• Add butternut flavoring and blend.
• Stir in chopped pecans.
• Spread thinly between layers and cover cake completely with icing.

Steps:

• First, use a veg peeler to peel the butternut squash and heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Then using, a large, sharp knife cut a few 1cm thick ring-slices from the bulbous end, and a few small solid slices from the top end. Set aside the slices, and dice the rest into 1-2cm chunks. Toss the chunks with 1 tbsp of the sunflower oil on a baking parchment-lined tray and roast for 20-30 mins until tender and golden.
• Meanwhile prepare the tin. It's worth taking some time to do this, as it'll be the top of your cake in the end - and the bit you want to look impressive! Line the base of a deep, round, 25cm tin with a sheet of baking parchment. Brush the new base and sides with some oil, then start to arrange the rings in the base. You want to get in as many as you can, overlapping a bit like the Olympic rings. Snuggle in as many flat as you can, then sit your overlapping ones on top, cutting out bits of the squash, so they'll also sit flat too. Any leftover trimmings, put in a microwave-proof bowl with a splash of water, cover with cling film and microwave on High at 2 min intervals until tender - around 5-6 minutes.
• In a separate pan, soften the onion in the last 2 tbsp of sunflower oil, over a very low heat so it doesn't brown. Stir in the chopped sage, half the rosemary, and the garlic and mace, and cook for another few mins until fragrant. Mix the ground chia seeds or linseeds with 4 tbsp of water, and set aside with the cooling onions, until gluey.
• Meanwhile, roughly chop half the chestnuts but keep them chunky. Put the other half in a food processor with half the lentils, the microwaved squash and one-third of the roasted squash. Pulse to a mashed mixture. Tip this into a large mixing bowl with the softened onions, breadcrumbs, ground seed mixture and 1 tsp salt. Mash everything together really well to thoroughly mix, then more gently stir in the chopped chestnuts, followed by the whole lentils, and finally the remaining roasted squash chunks. Carefully press this mixture around and over the squash rings in the prepared tin. Level off the top, making sure it is tightly packed, then cover with foil. The cake can now be chilled for up to 24 hours before continuing.
• To bake, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the cake (still foil covered), into the oven on a middle shelf and bake for 1 hr.
• To serve, heat the rapeseed oil in a small frying pan and sizzle the reserved sage leaves with the remaining rosemary sprigs for a minute. Loosen around the sides of the cake with a round-bladed knife, then sit a serving plate inverted on top, and carefully flip the plate to turn out the cake. Spoon over the sizzled sage and rosemary leaves and herby oil, and serve at the table - for cutting into wedges in front of everyone.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition Beat in squash. (Mixture will appear curdled.) Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in pecans. , Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until cake tests done. Cool in pan about 45 minutes. , Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. For frosting, combine the brown sugar, butter and cream in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. , Transfer to a large bowl; cool to lukewarm. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cake.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add squash and maple flavoring; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in walnuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
• For frosting, combine the brown sugar, egg whites, water, cream of tartar and salt in a heavy saucepan. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating over low heat until a thermometer reads 160 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.
• Pour frosting into a large mixing bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add squash and maple flavoring; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in walnuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
• For frosting, combine the brown sugar, egg whites, water, cream of tartar and salt in a heavy saucepan. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating over low heat until a thermometer reads 160 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.
• Pour frosting into a large mixing bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• Do ahead:
• Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Butter a 10" springform pan or cake pan and line bottom with a parchment paper round. Cut off neck from squash. Peel neck and bulb until you reveal the orange flesh underneath (you might need to take off a few layers). Slice both pieces in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Slice all squash pieces crosswise 1/4" thick. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan and drizzle over squash. Sprinkle with ¼ cup granulated sugar and a pinch of salt and toss to coat. Arrange squash in a single layer (use a second rimmed baking sheet if needed) and roast until tender and just starting to curl around the edges but not yet browned, 30-35 minutes. Let cool. Carefully move oven rack to highest position and increase oven temperature to 400°.
• Meanwhile, cut remaining 3 Tbsp. butter into pieces and set aside. Bring lemon juice, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and 3 Tbsp. water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, swirling pan often (do not stir), until caramel is light amber in color, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add reserved butter a piece at a time, stirring after each addition until incorporated and smooth. Once all the butter has been added, stir in vanilla and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Pour caramel into prepared springform pan and tilt to coat bottom. Let cool.
• Starting with slices from the neck, layer squash in an overlapping rosette pattern over caramel. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Arrange remaining squash over first layer, placing pieces wherever needed to create an even thickness of squash across entire tart (this layer doesn't need to be pretty since it won't be visible). Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar and chill while you roll out the puff pastry.
• Let pastry sit at room temperature about 4 minutes to soften slightly. Roll out on a lightly floured surface, dusting with more flour as needed to prevent sticking and rotating a few times, to a round that's a little over 11". Using pan as a template, trim excess dough to make an 11" round. Using a fork, prick pastry in 12-15 places. Drape pastry over squash and use a spoon to tuck edges in slightly between squash and sides of pan.
• Bake tarte Tatin 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, 45-50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in pan 10 minutes.
• If using a springform pan, remove ring and carefully invert tarte Tatin onto rack (take care as some of the hot caramel could drip). If using a cake pan, set rack upside down over pan and invert tarte Tatin onto rack. Let cool 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk cream in a small bowl to soft peaks. Beat in powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Serve tarte Tatin warm topped with dollops of cinnamon whipped cream.
• Do Ahead
• Tarte Tatin can be baked 10 hours ahead. Store loosely wrapped at room temperature. Reheat in a 250°F oven.