Pumpkin Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

This is like pumpkin bread with frosting...YUM! My little ones call it "punkin" cake and they love it. It is pretty easy to make and I don't know many people who don't absolutely love it!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• CAKE

• 1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin
• 2  cups white sugar
• 1  cup  vegetable oil
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 4  eggs, beaten
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup  finely chopped walnuts (optional)

• FROSTING

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 6  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3⁄4-2  cups confectioners' sugar
• 3  teaspoons milk
•  chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat pumpkin, sugar, oil and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add eggs and mix well.
4. Combine dry ingredients, except nuts (if using) and gradually add to pumpkin mixture, beating until well blended.
5. Fold in nuts.
6. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan/dish.
7. Bake for 35- 40 minutes or until center tests done.
8. Cool completely before frosting.
9. (I keep mine in the pan-- I use a glass Pyrex baking pan).
10. For the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth.
11. Gradually add sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
12. Add milk and beat until frosting is the spreading consistency you desire.
13. Frost cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts if you like.