Bake 52: Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake

 Update 11/14/12:  This was so good the next day, it tasted more cheesecake-y and delicious.  I am not sure if I was just being a cheesecake snob yesterday or if it's just REALLY good for breakfast (oops), but I am taking back my wishy-washy sentiments from the past.  So add that to the list; can and should be made ahead. :)

This was my week to host. I have been wanting to make pumpkin cheesecake for a while so I decided to try the recipe in our book, and make everyone do it with me.  :)

Bake 52: Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Caramel and Cream Cheese Frosting

I had very good intentions of sticking to the recipe this week.  Really, I did.  It's just that this is what was on the page right next to our recipe:  Buttermilk-Caramel Cake

And the only thing I love as much as pumpkin + chocolate is pumpkin + caramel.  How could I do anything but what I did?  I did stick exactly to the recipe for the cake and cream cheese frosting except I halved them both (and baked the cake in an 8x8 pan) and then I made the caramel frosting.  I don't regret it for a minute.  The only thing I do regret is not having pecans.  I think some toasted pecans either in the caramel frosting or on top of the whole thing would have been nothing short of amazing.  

TWD: Cranberry-Pecan Pumpkin Loaves

Okay so these were supposed to be 'Cranberry-Walnut Pumpkin Loaves' but I didn't have walnuts and I had pecans.  And I figured they were close enough (sounds like something I would do).  When I heard the name of this recipe, I was expecting quick bread and we had just made a pumpkin loaf for Bake 52 so I was interested to see the difference in the recipes.  This bread is SO not a "quick-bread" (It took 2 days to make) and it's yeasted, so basically, the difference is astronomical.    

I have only tried working with yeasted pumpkin bread once before and that was last Fall.  After quite a few tries at pumpkin bagels, I kind of gave up.  There was something about the taste that wasn't right.  I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was there.  I feel the same way about this bread.  I am getting that same taste in this bread that I disliked last Fall.  It's not right when you bite into it but not totally an after-taste either, there's something there in the middle, that doesn't sit well with me.  I think for me, the fruit and nuts were crucial to this bread because they masked the flavor that I speak of.  As long as I had a bite with nuts and cranberries or raisins, I was a happy camper. Maybe in general, yeasted pumpkin breads just need more sugar and the fruit supplies some sugar?  Who knows.  

 This recipe has re-awakened my desire to make it work how I would want it.  So this might be a great starting point for me.  And even if it wasn't a keeper, I feel like I learn something new with each recipe that I make.

Oh, and the recipe called for 3 mini loaf pans, but I used 4 pans and I am not sure how 3 would work.  I even measured to make sure I was using the right size pan.  

If you'd like to try the recipe, you can visit the blog of our host for the week:

This Bountiful Backyard

If you'd like to see what the other TWD did this week you can go HERE.

Bake 52: Spiced Pumpkin Bread (with Chocolate Chips)

 The summer has been 8000 degrees here and while I am not always ready for the idea of summer to end, I am so ready for cooler temperatures, fall baking and fall TV.  (Although it's been so long, I have forgotten which shows I am looking forward to watching.  I am sure it will all some screaming back to me.)  This was such a great recipe pick this week!  The last two recipes have been a great way to usher in the new season!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

If you have been reading, you have probably guessed that I will eat just about anything with pumpkin or cream cheese.  Would you believe I also love the combination of the two?  Weird, right?  I saw these muffins a couple months ago on Tracey's blog and I have been wanting to make them ever since. 

Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Pie

 If you are only going to listen to one thing I ever have to say, it should be this.  MAKE THIS PIE.  I really don't know how else to say it.  This is one of my favorite desserts in the world and that's saying a lot considering it's chocolate-free.  I have given this to people who supposedly don't like pumpkin and they like this.  People who supposedly don't like pecans, like this.  People who don't really like me, like me more when I give them this pie.  I like myself more when I make it.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Crumble Topping

 

I have been waiting to make this for about a week now.  My sister-in-law sent me a link with the recipe, knowing that I am as in love with pumpkin right now as she is.  

I woke up this morning, freezing in my bed with a little bit of a sore throat and this was the perfect breakfast to start off the day.  There is something soothing about baking and the smells that come with it.  This smelled delicious, like fall in my oven.  And a warm, yummy breakfast was just what my scratchy throat needed. 

Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes and Buttermilk Syrup

I have been out of pumpkin and waiting, not so patiently, to go grocery shopping.   I want to make so many pumpkin things I can't think straight.  Saturday, min dreams came true and I finally got some pumpkin!!!  And I decided I am going to make it a goal to add pumpkin to something each day.  I started off this morning doing just that with our regular pancake recipe.  We changed it a bit to accommodate the pumpkin and it was quite a hit.  Such a hit, in fact, that I tried for a second pumpkin experiment later today (just in case I was on a roll).

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Oh fall, I have missed you.  I've missed the cool weather.  I have missed the excuse to bake my brains out.  I have missed pumpkin and putting it in everything.  I love fall.  (I know, I've mentioned.)
And I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. 
They have some at a grocery store in the town I grew up that are to die for. (is that sad to admit?)  They come in this plastic case and I have to avoid the bakery area of the store all together or I will buy and eat the whole container without help.  I can do the same with a batch of these!  These are my all time favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.