Warm Pumpkin Pudding Cakes with Crème Anglaise

The happiest kitchen I have ever worked in was Farallon, the underwater-themed behemoth near Union Square. Though most of the staff at Farallon was jolly and welcoming, there was one manager who never failed to unnerve me. I’ll call him Justin.

Justin was tall and slim with a serious demeanor–Mr. Darcy minus the charm. He always wore a slim-cut charcoal suit to work which he accessorized with highly-polished shoes and a frown. I was the newest pastry cook, thus I spent most of my nights plating desserts in the open station in the dining room, being gawked at like a circus freak by diners as I sauced plates, warmed cakes, and sprinkled powdered sugar over things. (For those unfamiliar with kitchen hierarchy, cooks fall beneath the assistant pastry chef, who’s under the pastry chef, who’s under the executive pastry chef, who, at Farallon, happens to be Emily Luchetti.)

Justin enjoyed exerting his managerial power over anyone he could, and the pastry plater was a prime victim, being isolated in a marble-covered island and performing mindless tasks between platings, such as scooping hundreds of tiny cookies, or picking stems off microscopic huckleberries. Yet Justin relished hovering about the pastry station looking testy when I was slammed with dessert orders, and finding miniscule details to criticize.

After work, I’d often vent my annoyance with Justin to my co-worker, John. John would smirk and say, “Just wait. You’ll get used to him. You’ll come to work looking for a good argument, and then when he’s not working, you’ll be like ‘Damn, where’s Justin?'”

But Justin never grew on me. “You forgot the powdered sugar,” he’d point out, or tell me “There’s a fingerprint on the rim of this plate.” And during one busy night, he sauntered over with a culinary dictionary to lecture me about the fact that crème anglaise was defined as “a custard sauce flavored with vanilla.” “So writing ‘Vanilla Crème Anglaise’ on the menu is redundant,” he finished. I reminded him that I was just a lowly peon who had no control over the writing of the menu, and went back to pulling stems off of 1 million huckleberries.

I hate to admit that I heeded Justin’s advice when titling this recipe, a warm pumpkin cake served in a puddle of thick vanilla-scented cream. New Englanders know their fall desserts, and this is another winner adapted from The Arrows Cookbook.

Made from a simple cake batter flavored with winter squash puree, brown sugar and warm spices, these pudding cakes get extra moisture from being baked in a water bath in the manner of a British steamed “pudding.” (Justin would be overjoyed to tell you that “pudding” is the generic British name for any dessert, rather than the stovetop custard we Americans know and love.)

In any case, these cakes are easy to put together, and they make an excellent alternative to pumpkin pie, but with the same familiar flavors–brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. The contrast of warm, creamy and light cake with cold, thick crème anglaise is a happy one.

I changed the cake recipe a bit to reduce the sweetness and increase the pumpkin (actually a red kabocha squash that, when roasted and blended, produced the most brilliant orange puree). I traded the brown sugar for unrefined muscobado sugar, and added in some whole spelt flour. Still, the cakes taste perfectly sweet, light and fluffy. They are definitely dessert.

I like a rich crème anglaise, so I make mine with a mixture of heavy cream and half and half rather than the typical whole milk. It tastes like liquid crème brulée, has an amazing mouthfeel, and makes an ideal accompaniment to the warm pudding cakes.

I wouldn’t hesitate to serve this simple, elegant dessert to the most discerning of guests…

…not even one armed with a culinary dictionary.

Passion for pumpkin:

Creamiest Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Flan
Gluten-Free Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

One year ago:

Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Bars

Two years ago:

Alice Water’s Buckwheat Crepes

Three years ago:

Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares with Gingersnap Crust

Warm Pumpkin Pudding Cakes with Crème Anglaise

Adapted heavily from The Arrows Cookbook

If you wish to make your own squash puree (though canned pumpkin should work just fine), halve a small winter squash (hubbard, kabocha and butternut are my favorites) leaving in the seeds and strings. Place the squash halves cut-side-down on an oiled, rimmed baking sheet, and bake in a 400º oven until bronzed, tender, and beginning to collapse, about 45 minutes. Let cool, then scrape out and discard the seeds and strings. Scoop the flesh into a food processor and puree smooth. Extra squash puree can be stirred into oatmeal or polenta, or turned into Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns or Pumpkin Ice Cream.

For best results, have all ingredients at room temperature, which ensures that the batter will emulsify and bake up light and fluffy. Both the cakes and the crème anglaise can be made up to 2 days in advance; reheat in a 350º oven for 15 minutes. I like a rich crème anglaise, as shown here, but it can be made with all half and half or whole milk for a lighter version.

If you lack ramekins, you can bake the cakes in disposable foil cups or muffin cups.

Makes 4 cakes

Crème Anglaise:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup half and half
1/3 plump vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
2 egg yolks
pinch salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar

The cakes:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus extra for the ramekins) at room temperature
1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unrefined sugar (such as Alter Eco’s muscobado sugar), or brown sugar
3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 cup squash puree, at room temperature (homemade, see above, or canned)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (1 1/4 ounces) whole spelt (or whole wheat pastry) flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
pinch allspice
powdered sugar, for dusting the cakes

Make the Crème Anglaise:

In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the dairy and the vanilla pod and scrapings. Warm over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until steamy and bubbles form around the edges. Remove from the heat, cover, and let steep 15-30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, salt and sugar. Whisk until pale and thick, 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the warm dairy, whisking constantly, then return the mixture to the pot. Place over low heat and cook, stirring constantly with a heat-proof silicone spatula, until the mixture thickens to the texture of cold, heavy cream, and/or registers 175ºF on an instant read thermometer, about 5 minutes. Immediately strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and into a metal bowl. Place the bowl in an ice bath, and stir occasionally until cold. Pour the sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. The crème anglaise will keep for up to 3 days.

Make the cakes:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350º.

Coat four 4-ounce ramekins with butter and dust with flour, knocking out the excess. Place the ramekins in an 8″ square baking pan. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.

Combine the butter and sugars in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until lightened in color, scraping the mixer and paddle once or twice. Add the egg, and beat on medium until smooth and light, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, sift together the flours, baking powder, salt and spices into a medium bowl.

Add half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add the squash puree and vanilla and mix until combined. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold a few times with a rubber spatula to make sure the mixture is evenly combined.

Divide the mixture among the ramekins, filling them 2/3 of the way (a spring-loaded ice cream scoop works well for this). Pour boiling water halfway up the sides of the ramekins, and cover the pan with foil, leaving a little room over top for the cakes to rise. Carefully transfer the cakes to the oven.

Bake the cakes until they are puffed and pulling away from the sides of the ramekins, and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean with a few moist crumbs, 35-45 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let the cakes cool for at least 15 minutes (they are still cooking from residual heat).

To serve, run a thin knife around the edges of the cakes and turn out onto plates or shallow bowls. Dust with powdered sugar, and pour a puddle of crème anglaise around each cake.