Pumpkin Chocolate Dessert Cake

Ingredients

• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch Bundt pan.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and baking soda. In a large bowl, beat together 3/4 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, applesauce, and eggs. Mix in 1/2 cup heavy cream and pumpkin. Stir into the flour mixture just until blended. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan over a wire rack. Invert cake onto a serving plate.

Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, and 1/3 cup heavy cream in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil while stirring to blend until smooth. Cook until sugar is dissolved. Whisk in the confectioner's sugar, and drizzle over the cake immediately.