Buttermilk Cake with Spiced Vanilla Icing

Buttermilk Cake with Spiced Vanilla Icing

This cake can be made a day or two in advance. After the icing has set, wrap the cake in plastic and refrigerate. Let come to room temperature before serving.

From: Fine Cooking Magazine

Ingredients

For the Cake:

4 oz. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened; more for the pan
13 1/2 oz. (3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. table salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups peeled and grated butternut squash (about 8 0z.)

For the Icing:

9 oz. (2 1/4 cups) confectioners sugar
3 Tbsp. buttermilk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup fine chopped crystallized ginger (for top)

Instructions

For the cake:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325 F. Butter and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan; tap out excess flour. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in a stand mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the oil and beat until combined, about 15 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well on low speed. Add the vinegar and vanilla and mix again until just combined. Then add half of the flour and the baking soda, salt, ginger, and nutmeg, mixing on low speed until just combined. Add half of the buttermilk and mix until just combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk.

Stir the squash into the batter with a wooden spoon or spatula. Transfer batter to the prepared pan and smooth top with spatula. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make the icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt until smooth. Add more buttermilk, a few drops at a time, as needed, until the icing is pourable but still quite thick. Pour back and forth in thick ribbons over the cooled cake. Sprinkle the ginger on top. Let the icing set at room temperature, about 45 minutes, before serving.

Cool the cake on wire rack for 30 minutes; then carefully invert cake onto rack and remove pan. When the cake’s completely cool, transfer it to a serving plate.