Skip to Content
Recipes

Pumpkin Mascarpone Cake

Our contributor shares a cake recipe featuring pumpkin mousse that is perfect for last minute entertaining this fall or any planned event.

Pumpkin Mousse Cake.

Pumpkin Mouse Cake.

I learned to bake as kid during what I like to call, “the era of coffee and cake,” a time when family and friends would drop by almost spontaneously, usually on a Sunday afternoon for dessert — for coffee and cake.

The women, my grandmothers, great aunt, and neighbors who taught me to bake had what they called the 1,2,3 cakes, meaning, you’d get the call, and then the baking would begin. Within an hour, and with ingredients that were usually on hand, you’d have a scrumptious scratch cake.

The undisputed queen of these cakes in my world was my great Aunt Phyllis. Her desserts were epic, and I do believe that when she taught me to bake, she gave me a bit of magic.

In her spirit and memory, I have created this easy-peasy cake for Thanksgiving or any event in fall or winter. If you don’t have a Charlotte pan, feel free to use a bundt and serve the pumpkin mousse on the side or use a sheet pan and put the pumpkin mousse on top. It’s designed to be adaptable.

Note that this easily doubles or halves. For my Charlotte pan, I halve the batter.

Pumpkin Mascarpone Cake

Pumpkin Mascarpone Cake

Recipe by Chiara Montalto Giannini
0.0 from 0 votes
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Cake
  • 3 cups 3 flour

  • 1 3/4 cups 1 3/4 sugar

  • 1 envelope 1 lievito panenagli

  • Pinch salt

  • 4 4 eggs room temperature

  • 1 cup 1 whole milk

  • 1 cup 1 vegetable oil

  • 1 envelope 1 vanilla powder, or 1 tsp. vanilla extract

  • A pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, and allspice

  • A drop of Nocello (optional)

  • For the Pumpkin Mascarpone Mousse
  • 1 pint 1 heavy cream, divided (reserve about 1/3)

  • 8.8 oz 8.8 mascarpone cheese, imported

  • 1 can 1 pumpkin

  • 1/3 cup 1/3 light brown sugar

  • 1/3 1/3 - 1/2 cup regular sugar (to taste)

  • About 2-3 spoons confectioners sugar, plus 1 envelope vanilla powder, to sweeten cream

  • 1 Pinch 1 each (to taste) Cinnamon, Clove Vanilla, Nutmeg Allspice

Directions

  • For the Cake
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Grease and flour pans.
  • Mix dry ingredients together.
  • Add wet.
  • Mix well.
  • Add spices.
  • Combine until you have a smooth and consistent batter.
  • Put in pan.
  • Tap on counter to release air bubbles.
  • Bake 350, 35- 40 mins till done.
  • For the Pumpkin/Mascarpone Mousse
  • Beat larger portion of whipped cream till soft peaks form.
  • Add in mascarpone, and mix to combine.
  • In separate bowl, mix together pumpkin and spices and sugars. Mix well.
  • Fold in Cream/mascarpone mixture till combined and uniform.
  • Chill until ready to use.
  • Whip remaining cream with confectioners sugar till stiff peaks form.
  • To Assemble the Charlotte
  • Put cooled cake on serving dish.
  • Cover with mousse.
  • Decorate with whipped cream.
  • Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @appetitomagazine on Instagram and hashtag it with #italianfoodanddrink

Like this recipe?

Follow @Appetitomagazine on Pinterest

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

An Italian-Inspired Beef Stew

A recipe for an Italian beef stew was inspired by memories of grandmother and is perfect for the cold, winter months.

January 17, 2025

Serie A: Juventus-AC Milan, Atalanta-Napoli, Zucchini and Onion Frittata

In this new column, Justin Patulli selects key Serie A matches for the coming weekend and suggests Italian snacks for pairing.

January 16, 2025

Brutto ma Buono: This Italian Meatloaf is “Ugly but Good”

We recommend this recipe for an Italian meatball inspired meatloaf that makes up in taste for what's lacking in appearance.

January 15, 2025

Serie A Soccer: Embracing a Culture of Food and Fun

Introducing our new column about Italian football, in which Justin Patulli selects key Serie A matches and suggests Italian snacks.

January 14, 2025
See all posts