Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Frosting

Ingredients For the Pumpkin Spice Cake 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 ½ baking soda 1 ½ salt 1 ½ Tb. Garam Masala (sub. Pumpkin Pie Spice or Chinese 5 Spice) 1 ½ cups brown sugar 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 3 sticks melted butter (1 1/2 cups) 6 eggs 28 oz. can pure pumpkin puree (3 cups) For the Maple Frosting 2- 8 oz. packages cream cheese 3 sticks butter 2 Tb. pure maple syrup 2 tsp. vanilla extract 5-6 cups powdered sugar Preparation method For the Pumpkin Spice Cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour THREE 9-inch cake pans and set aside. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Pour in the melted butter, pumpkin and eggs and beat (or whisk) until smooth. Divide the batter evenly among the three pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top bounces back when pressed on. Cool for 10 minutes then flip out of the pans and cool completely. Use a serrated knife to trim the top of each cake to make a level surface. For the Maple Frosting: Place the cream cheese, butter, maple syrup and vanilla in a bowl. Beat until light and creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until the desired consistency is reached. Refrigerate until ready to use. To Assemble. Place one cake on a cake plate. Spread 1/3 of the frosting in a thick layer over the top. Add the second cake on top spread another 1/3 of the frosting. Top with the third cake. Place the remaining frosting in a piping bag with a decorative tip. Pipe stars over the top of the cake. Garnish with chopped nuts if desired. Preparation time: 25 minute(s) Cooking time: 35 minute(s) Source: http://cookmee.com/