Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

 
In high school, I played flute in the marching band. Every Saturday during the fall, the 250 of us musicians and color guard would arrive to campus by 5:30 am to load our instruments onto five large charter buses and head to various other high schools in Northern California for a band review.  

Each band review followed a similar format. After arriving and patiently waiting on the buses for the drivers to maneuver about the small parking lots to find a space for us to fit, we climbed off and walked directly to the racks of uniforms and Dinkles (our special black marching shoes!) before finding our way to the locker rooms to change.

The Parade Competition came first, where we lined up in a huge block, nine people across, and marched down the city streets playing our specific song for the judges. Back at the parking lot, we changed into our street clothes again, ate lunch, hung out in the cargo space under the buses, and pretended to do homework until evening fell. Then it was time to pull on those uniforms again and warm up for the Field Show Competition before performing, changing yet again, and sitting in the football stadium bleachers for the Awards Ceremony.
 

 
While we were often in charge of our own lunches, either bringing them from home or buying something from the snack shack on the high school campuses, our Band Boosters always provided dinner for us. The menu switched each week, and we loaded our plates with meals like spaghetti and meatballs, soft tacos, and build-your-own subway sandwiches.

But for the final competition, which fell on our first weekend of Thanksgiving Break while the rest of the school was officially on vacation, the band parents took pity on us and arranged a full Thanksgiving feast. They set out turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry salad, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, buttery rolls, and our choice of pumpkin or apple pie for dessert. I always chose the pumpkin pie, but…
 

 
If this Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting had been an option, it would’ve won—hands down! Supremely tender with hints of cozy spices and that thick layer of sweet, ever so slightly tangy frosting on top… It’s a slice of pure fall bliss.

And it can be our little secret that it’s actually healthy and clean eating friendly!
 

 
The cake batter begins with white whole wheat flour. White whole wheat flour is made from a special type of white wheat, unlike regular whole wheat flour that’s ground from red wheat, so it has a lighter taste—but all of the same health benefits! It also has a lighter texture, closer to that of all-purpose flour, which makes it perfect for this tender cake. Whole wheat pastry flour would be a great substitute, and regular whole wheat flour would work in a pinch.

Note: For a gluten-free option, see the Notes section beneath the recipe!
 

 
This recipe only contains 1 tablespoon of oil and an egg white, so the rest of the tender texture comes from—you guessed it!—pumpkin purée. Remember to buy regular pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling. The latter contains refined sugar, which we’re avoiding in this healthier recipe! You’ll sweeten the cake with pure maple syrup instead. Pure maple syrup is different than pancake syrup, which consists of refined sugar and corn syrup, so the only ingredient on the label should be “maple syrup.” Don’t substitute pancake or sugar-free syrup because those will affect the texture and consistency of the cake.

And of course, you can’t have pumpkin baked goodies without spices, so you’ll sprinkle in the perfect trio of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. They’ll make your house smell absolutely irresistible while the cake bakes!

The cake batter is very thick, so you’ll need to spread it into the square cake pan with a spatula. For easier removal, you can line the pan with foil, but that isn’t necessary! I find it makes for easier clean-up and one less dish to wash… Which is always a good thing in my book!
 

 
And now for the finishing touch: the cream cheese frosting! This recipe is made from a combination of regular Greek yogurt and Greek yogurt cream cheese. Greek yogurt cream cheese has fewer calories and more protein than regular cream cheese, but it still has the same iconic taste. I found mine at Safeway (their own Lucerne brand), and some Walmart stores carry the Green Mountain Farms brand, too. Remember to buy the brick-style block, not the tub!

Note: If you can’t find Greek yogurt cream cheese, substitute Neufchâtel cream cheese (⅓-less fat) instead.

The frosting is sweetened with one of my new favorite products, these vanilla crème stevia drops. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that’s clean eating friendly. You can find this brand that I used at health-oriented grocery stores, either on the baking aisle or the health food and supplements aisle, as well as online.

Then spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake, cut yourself a large slice, and…
 

 
Pure bliss!
 

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