Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • One 15-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin (1 3/4 cups)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Method

  • To make the cake, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F.
  • Lightly butter a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • One at a time, beat in the eggs.
  • Beat in the pumpkin.
  • If the mixture curdles, do not worry.
  • With the mixer on low speed, beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, beating until smooth after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Spread in the baking pan.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the sticky toffee sauce.
  • Melt the brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a heavy-bottomed large saucepan over medium heat, stirring often to help dissolve the sugar.
  • Whisk in the cream and bring to a boil, taking care that the mixture does not boil over.
  • Cook uncovered, whisking often, until the sauce is glossy, smooth, and thick enough to nicely coat a wooden spoon, about 8 minutes.
  • Turn off the burner so the sauce is kept warm by the burners residual heat.
  • When the cake is done, transfer it to a wire cake rack.
  • Using a meat fork, pierce the cake all over.
  • Pour and spread about 1 cup of the toffee sauce over the cake.
  • Let stand for 10 minutes.
  • Spoon the warm cake into individual bowls, top with more of the warm sauce, and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream.
  • Serve immediately.