Cornbread. With pumpkin & chocolate. I think I will need to rename this the pumpkin blog as I can’t get enough of the stuff these days. Cornbread as cake is a fun thing indeed. Cornmeal shows up a lot around here lately in all kinds of cakes, muffins and cookies, pancakes, etc. It has a strong presence in this cake and that is a very happy thing.
Sometimes I am not quite sure how I come up with these recipes. I know that cornbread is supposed to be a side. Something that scoops up gravy and sits beside your turkey dinner. I get that. But let’s face it, cornbread is kind of cake. It is sweet, crumbly and well, cakey. If you are in the mood to actually have your cornbread for dessert or even breakfast, then this might be for you. This cornbread is on the moister side, the pumpkin layer almost has the texture of a cheesecake.
By simply dividing your cornbread batter into three parts, adding pumpkin purée to one, cocoa powder to another and leaving one alone you end up with 3 dreamy layers. Neat huh? I thought the pumpkin layer would have baked up a bit more orange, but the whole wheat pastry flour masks the color. If you tend to use food coloring you could always use a few drops of that. I usually opt for the rustic, au natural approach.
I have been having fun with my piping bag and pastry decorating tips lately.
Some dollops of slightly sweetened homemade pumpkin infused whipped cream always makes everything better.
Click Here For Recipe Details.
Variations
- If you want to go a bit lighter use lightly sweetened fat-free Thick Greek Yogurt instead of whipped cream.
- Add some chocolate chips to the batter for a more indulgent treat.
- Add some chopped, toasted nuts to the batter and the top of the cake before baking for more flavor & some crunch.
- A handful of chopped dried fruit and/or raisins would be good in this too.
Cornbread Recipe Links
- Blueberry Cornmeal Cake Vino Luci
- Cornbread Cake Stick to Your Hips
- Green Chili Cilantro Cornbread Modern Comfort Food
- Sage and Honey Cornbread The Parsley Thief
This cake is totally calling my name today! GORGEOUS!! Love all the fun photos, have a great day girl!
I’m drooling! This looks delicious!
Gorgeous photos too!
i love chocolate. i love pumpkin. i love cake. i am going to love this cake!!!!
this time of year brings out such creativity. and this cake is super creative!
bring me a slice, please!
I didn’t think pumpkin or cornbread could get any better. Putting them together is genius. I’m really glad I found your blog as I’m having so much fun with your recipes!
Wow this is SO unique! I love it. And dessert FOR breakfast! 🙂
This looks delicious. And, I love all of the whole-grain, healthy ingredients. You’ve totally taken the guilt factor out of eating cake. Can’t wait to try this.
Monica: I love to eat my treats anytime of day – with absolutely no guilt. This cake (as does most of my baking) fits the bill. My recipes need to meet the criteria of healthy whole foods meets lots of flavor.
Miss Tea Wench: Always happy when you stop by to leave comments. I am thrilled you are having as much fun with my recipes as I am having creating them 😉
What a fabulous idea! Chocolate and pumpkin cornbread?! Genius!! And DEFINITELY for breakfast!
Love this cake Marla! Nice work!
This looks so wonderful!
What a great idea! That cake looks so scrumptious.
Cheers,
Rosa
My mouth is watering.
This looks fabulous!
Marla you’re a genius in the kitchen. I’m going to a Southern themed potluck on Thursday and i was planning on making pumpkin cornbread, but this is even better. thank you!
Yes…it is very creative of you to concoct these tasty desserts…and why not for breakfast too ;o)
Have a wonderful day Marla.
Ciao for now,
Claudia
I am in love with you. It’s official. I can’t believe this is an original!
I’d love to try this, but even my butternut squash pasta was a thumbs down by hubs yesterday, he is totally sick of pumpkin and any other squash, maybe I’ll just make for me and the little one.
Very Clever. I never would have thought of doing that. And I love bread at every meal!
What a delicious looking dessert!
WOW – what a fantastic and creative idea!! Can I have it for breakfast AND a snack? 🙂
Pumpkin, chocolate, cornbread….all my favourites in one! Marvelous!
Interesting. I love homemade cornbread. I’ve never thought of adding chocolate though. I think the pumpkin is a great idea, and would make it super moist! Maybe serve alongside some pumpkin/butternut squash soup I’ve got cooking up.
What an amazing looking rustic cake! I love it!
This is an incredible cake, Marla! Beautiful, delicious and perfect for fall… And, er, perfect for breakfast especially! Thanks for sharing.
Marla!
I LOVE it!
You make everything look so FUN!
I know you must GLOW with oodles and ooodles of POSITIVE energy!
I can see your ENERGY in all your recipes!
This cornbread~chocolate~pumpkin cake is FAB~U~LOUS!
I KNOW the texture is so YUMMY!
And I love your little whipped cream dots!
Looks so YUM!
Marla…I do believe you ROCK!!!!!
xo
Teresa: You crack me up and make me smile! Gotta go take a gander over at your FAB blog & see what gorgeous things you have going on.
Alison: I know, this cake will make you hungry – even when you are not 🙂
Grace: Yes, the pumpkin layer is extra moist. Probably best kept on the bottom layer.
This looks fabulous!! My mouth is watering and I’m not even hungry! LOVE!
I love your enthusiasm about our new world pumpkins, cornbread, and chocolate (count me in on all three!) and the creative way you’ve put them all together here for a perfect fall treat. And then the heart as the “cherry on top” just makes me smile. Such a pretty and delicious looking cake, Marla, and a wonderful post, as always.
So I should tell you right now that I lvoe cornbread. And more than that I love pumpkin. And about equal to THAT, I love chocolate. So yeah. I have a lot of love for this cake. Seriously.
I don’t know what’s more impressive – your photography or your healthy and delicious recipes!?
What a fun cake this is, Marla – a really great twist on cornbread! The chocolate layer in the middle looks so rich and tasty.
Marla – I love how you always find ways to make indulgent treats healthy! This is yet another recipe of yours I must make!
wow, this cake looks extremally good!
have a nice time,
Paula
This is mouthwatering!
Love this cake Marla! It’s got two of my favorite ingredients these days…pumpkin and chocolate! YUM! And the chocolate layer looks delicious.
I agree, cornbread is really very cake-like! Love that about it. 😉 Great idea pairing it with chocolate! It doesn’t get any better than starting the day off with a healthy cake, does it? By the way, the whipped cream dots are adorable!
So pretty and creative. Marla you are amazing. I love how you took a simple batter and turned it into 3 different flavors – delicious!
Oh my goodness! These look super yummy. We are so having these this week! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Holy cornbread pumpkin cow.
I love this recipe. I will never make cornbread the old way again.
I also really love the way the words are on the cake platter there. So so cute.
This looks awesome, Marla! I can totally go for this as breakfast. I think breakfast dessert should be a new term with your cake to kickstart it!
Wow, this is so creative! Very nice. I always want sweet things for breakfast, so it would work out perfectly for me.
Wowser, does THAT look delicious! I want some. Now.
No, I mean RIGHT NOW!
I am a big fan of dessert that can also be a breakfast treat if it isn’t too sweet.
Thank you!
I am all about using pumpkin this time of year. This cake sounds great with all the other flavors. 🙂
I could eat this morning, noon or night! Looks dee-licious! I can always appreciate a better-for-you approach to sweets. Beautifully done. xxoo
Heather: I am happy you like my “better-for-you” approach to sweets. I have so much fun creating “everyday” choices. These can be munched & you feel great after 🙂
Dorothy: This cake is not too sweet & you can vary how you sweeten it.
Mariko: “Holy cornbread pumpkin pie” love that girl! Your enthusiasm kills me.
There are no words for this except YUM!
I’ll have a huge big slice of this Marla, or maybe 2. Yep. 2 slices please!!! It looks mouth wateringly wonderful.
What a great twist to the traditional cornbread, actually… more like BRILLIANT!
What a beautiful cake and so creative!! Way to go Marla – those are some awesome pictures!
Who doesn’t love a great pumpkin recipe but layering it with chocolate and it only gets that much better! Wow! I am loving this recipe! I get tired of seeing so much pumpkin on food blogs but just love when the recipe is creative and different. Thanks!
What a fun idea. Love that you decorated it!
I agree, cornbread can be dreamy. I love incorporating cornmeal into sweet cakes, it lends such a fun texture.
I was so excited to eat this after my house smelled fantastic all afternoon… Alas, huge disappointment! Extremely dry, crunchy texture (med. Cornmeal too much for this recipe) and needs a lot more sugar. Only thing good was the frosting 🙁
Jessica: Thank you for sharing your experience. You can try the fine cornmeal, but then that might get too mushy. The medium grind has a stronger flavor & of course a grittier texture. Fun for a change though.
I am wondering what sweetener you used?? I only went with stevia. Our cornbread & chocolate layers were more cakey (drier, but not too dry) & the pumpkin layer was more creamy-pudding like. And yes, the whipped cream topping is dreamy. If you try anything that works, please stop by and share with us.