Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Serves about 12

Frosting
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste, I use ceylon cinnamon for its mild citrusy flavor)
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (to taste)

Cake
2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon (regular cinnamon)
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
3/4 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 cup toasted walnuts chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Toast walnuts in baking pan until fragrant (10 min). Spoon and level your flour to measure and have your eggs at room temp. You may also place cold eggs in very hot tap water for 10 minutes.

Sift flour, salt, spices, baking powder and soda together and set aside. Mix oil, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and pumpkin together thoroughly. Add the eggs one at a time until combined. Mix dry ingredients in until almost combined. Dust walnuts with flour and fold into batter.

Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan and rap it on the counter to get rid of any air bubbles. Bake for 55-65 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Once the cake is completely cool, mix frosting ingredients together and whip on high for 3-5 minutes until fluffy. Add cinnamon and nutmeg and stir to incorporate. Tate and adjust spices if needed. Frost cake and enjoy.