True story: Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday; it’s all about food, friends and family. It’s a time to celebrate the people you’re thankful for and reflect on the things that bring joy to our lives. This year, I’m feeling extra grateful for my family—especially with Baby Owen in our lives now—and friends, so I wanted to create a festive *new* recipe to bring to our holiday gathering.

Experimenting in the kitchen is one of my favorite things to do, so I was thrilled when DOVE® Chocolate asked me to come up with a holiday recipe! I’ve always loved DOVE Chocolate PROMISES—and the inspiring messages inside the wrappers! I came up with this recipe for Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Dark Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream using Silky Smooth DOVE Dark Chocolate PROMISES. This cake is a great alternative to pumpkin pie and perfect for all the chocolate lovers out there. The frosting is super silky-smooth!

Life is all about the little pleasures, like dessert, so I hope you all take time to enjoy this recipe. I #ChoosePleasure by taking the time to bake with and for my friends and family, like I did for this cake. I’m my best self when I’m challenging myself in the kitchen. Now tell me: how do you #ChoosePleasure to live life fully?

Pumpkin Cake with Dark Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 cup canola oil

2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 15 oz can pumpkin puree

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp clove

1/4 tsp all spice

1/4 tsp ginger

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

3 egg whites

1 cup super fine sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch sea salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

15 DOVE® Dark Chocolate PROMISES, melted

Garnish

Pumpkin seed brittle

Chocolate shavings

Toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions

For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together sugar and oil, until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add vanilla and pumpkin puree. In another bowl, incorporate all dry ingredients. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Pour batter evenly into two greased 8″x2″ rounds. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

For the frosting: In a double boiler, add egg whites and sugar. Stir constantly until mixture reaches 140 degrees F and sugar is dissolved. Transfer egg white and sugar mixture to a mixer and beat on high until fluffy. Add vanilla and sea salt. Add butter one tablespoon at a time until ingredients are fully incorporated. Fold in melted DOVE Dark Chocolate PROMISES.

To assemble: Once the cakes are cool, level off cakes with a serrated knife. Stack rounds with a layer of frosting in the middle. Frost tops and sides. Garnish with pumpkin seed brittle, chocolate shavings, and toasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.

**This post is brought to you in partnership with DOVE Chocolate, though all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting our sponsors that keep Julie’s Kitchen going!