Foodie Fridays: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

Going with the pumpkin kick I've been on this week, I spent some time in the kitchen yesterday making this delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cake from Two Peas and Their Pod. I made a few substitutions here and there (partially for health reason and partially because I forgot the butter I needed in my apartment fridge..), but it ended up turning out great!

So, what you'll need (with my substitutions):

For the cake:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 cup chocolate chips

For the streusel:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Heading to the kitchen (good luck to my girls who keep sweaters in their ovens)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9-by-13 inch baking pan with cooking spray (or grease with butter). Set it aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients--wheat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

*If you're like me, and you have one medium size bowl and one bowl that's slightly larger, use the smaller bowl to whisk together the dry ingredients.

In a larger bowl, cream butter, applesauce, and sugars until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Add the pumpkin puree, and reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Mix in the flour mixture until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and batter evenly into the prepared pan. Set it aside.

Now, for making the streusel you really need the butter. So if you were thinking of substituting it out forget about it... In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add in the butter, and using two table knives, cut the butter into the dry mixture. You can also use your hands to gently cut the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle it evenly on top of the cake, and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips atop the cake.

Bake the cake for about 35-40 minutes or until the sides of the cake pull away from the pan. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean when it's done. Cool the cake completely before serving.

And there you have it! One delicious fall cake!

You think you'll be trying this recipe out this fall?

xo