Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Layer Cake. vegan.

A little taste of fall in July is fine by me when the I'm biting into a fluffy, cream-cheese frosted, spice-infused vegan "cinnamon bun" cake!

Sweet swirls of cinnamon, vegan butter and baked walnuts unravel in each pumpkin spice - fluffy cake bite. Vegan cream cheese frosting is the perfect cool light topping for this super moist cake. Each fork-ful tastes like a cinnamon bun - only softer, fluffier and a tad more decadent. Dessert approved. Get my recipe for vegan Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Bun Cake with vegan Cream Cheese Frosting...

Fluffy Frosted..

Note: My cakes were still warm when I frosted - that's why the frosting has a slightly "melted" effect. For no melting - cool cakes completely. But delicious either way!

Pumpkin in July. I had a rare can of pumpkin - in the middle of summer. This pumpkin was not easy to come by - if you have ever tried to buy a can of pumpkin in July, you will know this. Whole Foods told me it was a "seasonal item" and several other stores the same. Finally, my husband found me some at .. Target. I'll take it!

I was making a few pumpkin-infused recipes for a side project - and this was one of them. It was an experiment really. I had heaps of leftover cream cheese frosting from another recipe (plus some leftover pumpkin) - and instead of making pumpkin cinnamon rolls, I decided to make a cinnamon roll inspired cake. Quite tasty. And fun.

Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Bun Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
vegan, makes one 9" layer cake

2 ½ cups flour
2 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ cup brown sugar
½ cup cane sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup soy milk
½ cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Fold in:
2 tablespoon Ener-G Egg Replacer + 3 tablespoon water to activate (optional)

Sweet Cinna-Nut Swirl
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
½ cup vegan butter - melted
½ cup maple syrup
½ teaspoon cayenne

Fluffy Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting (my recipe posted here)
8 ounces tofu cream cheese
½ cup vegan butter – softened
½ cup vegan shortening – softened
½ cup vegan sour cream
5 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoon soy milk or soy creamer
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
3 tablespoon corn starch
2-3 tablespoon dark grade maple syrup
pinch of salt (or to taste)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 8" or 9" circle cake pans.
2. Combine the dry cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Toss well. Fold in the wet ingredients.
3. Mix up the cinnamon swirl in a separate bowl.
4. Fold the Ener-G egg replacer into the cake ingredients if using.
5. Pour batter into cake tins. Swirl equal amounts of the cinna-swirl mix into the batter.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes - or until edges start to lightly brown.
7. Cool cakes completely before frosting.
8. Prepare your vegan cream cheese frosting (can also be done a day ahead). Blend all ingredients with a hand or counter top mixer. Blend until smooth and creamy. Chill in fridge until frosting firms up a bit.
9. Frost your cake. Garnish with cinnamon. Serve!