Pumpkin Snack Cake with Frosting

September 21, 2012

Football season always brings mixed emotions for me. It is the first concrete sign that fall is coming and can no longer be ignored. Fall makes me sad for an abundance of reasons I’ve already discussed, but it’s such a shock to the system when pre-season games roll around in the middle of August and then the regular season starts, instantly bringing cooler weather. On the other hand, football is a great distraction from the weather. By the time the Super Bowl is played, it’s already February and nicer weather cannot be too far away.

Living in Southeastern Michigan, I’m also a Lions fan kind of by default. I’ve been to a few games years ago at the Silverdome, though they are only distant memories, and more recently a few more at Ford Field, which must be one of the nicest stadiums in the country, even if it has some of the worst parking options. I don’t mind going to the occasional game for something to do, and by some crazy miracle amid losing season after losing season, I’ve only seen victories for my home team. But let’s face it, it’s not fun being a Lions fan most of the time. I just hope in my lifetime they make it to the Super Bowl, but I’m not holding my breath. Thankfully the Lions aren’t the only team I like. The Cowboys, Packers, and Steelers are also among the teams for which I cheer.

Don’t think I’m some NFL super fan, though. I don’t mind having the games on as background noise while I work or eat; I even get kind of involved sometimes, cheering as I glimpse a particularly exciting play. Once primetime comes, my TV turns to Once Upon a Time and Homeland, as having to actually watch a football game without multitasking will put me to sleep faster than Matt Stafford can throw an ~~interception~~ touchdown. The Super Bowl is the only game I watch all the way through and it’s the only time I watch commercials because they keep me awake. More than the actual games, I like watching the pregame shows, specifically those on Fox, both my local pregame and the national one, and Inside the NFL makes a midweek appearance in my TiVo queue. The hosts, the players, the behind the scenes peaks, the predictions, they fascinate me. My parents may be able to tell you who’s off-sides and whatever on earth that means, but I can tell you all about Terry Bradshaw’s picks for the best rookie quarterback. That’s right, other than touchdown, field goal, and interception, don’t rely on me for much football knowledge. And college football, well that’s just plain torture.

All in all, football season is a fun time of year. It’s another thing to watch and talk about, it’s something to cheer for and distract us from life’s problems. If only I could figure out how to keep fall at bay even as the players hit the field. You probably want a treat while you watch your favorite team battle it out for a win. This Pumpkin Snack Cake with Frosting is the perfect treat.

It’s super easy to make, insanely moist, and has the great flavors of fall. While the cake would probably be amazing on its own, everything’s better with some frosting, right? The frosting is also super easy to make, and is the perfect sweet compliment to the spicy cake. It’s also a pretty light treat. And while I kept the portions quite big, you could totally cut it into smaller pieces to serve a crowd. I also roasted my own pie pumpkins, pureed them, and used them here. It’s really easy to roast pumpkins, and the whole house smells amazing. The roasted pumpkin flesh definitely has to go through the food processor before being used, but this is another simple task. The pumpkin is really flavorful, healthy, and fresh without possible chemicals from cans. However, if you don’t want to pop some pumpkins in the oven, I’m sure the canned stuff will work just fine. You’ll cheer for these bars as much as your favorite football team!