• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Happenings
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Decorated Cookies
    • Decorated Cakes
    • Cheesecake Recipes
    • Everyday Desserts
    • Homemade Candy
    • Everyday Meals
    • Readers’ Gallery
    • Hungry Happenings Blog Posts
  • HOW TO
    • Chocolate Making Tips
    • Chocolate Making Course (video lessons)
    • Make Modeling Chocolate
      • Modeling Chocolate Recipe and Tutorial
      • How to Color Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Store and Work with Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Dry Modeling Chocolate
      • Use Colored Candy Melts to Make Candy Clay
    • Candy Clay Creations
    • How To Color White Chocolate and Candy Melts and Paint Candy Molds
    • How to Use Food Coloring Markers
  • HOLIDAYS
    • ALL HOLIDAY RECIPES
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
      • Hungry Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • MORE HOLIDAYS
      • Mother's Day
      • Father's Day
      • April Fools
      • Chinese New Year
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Day of the Dead
      • Earth Day
      • Mardi Gras
  • PARTY FOOD
    • Super Bowl
    • Graduation
    • Birthday Party
    • March Madness
    • Summer Fun
    • Baby Shower
    • Wedding Shower
    • School/Teacher
    • Movie and T.V. Characters
    • Kid's Treats
    • Fun Party Recipes
  • MY COOKBOOKS
  • ABOUT
  • MY BLOGS
    • HowToMakeCerealTreats.com
    • HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    • HowToMakeEasyFudge.com
    • TheSugarAcademy.com
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • chocolate
  • about
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
  • holiday recipes
  • Halloween recipes
  • party food
  • appetizers
  • decorated cheese balls
  • cute food for kids
  • dessert recipes
  • homemade chocolates recipes
  • homemade candy
  • decorated cakes
  • cupcake recpes
  • cheesecake recipes
  • cookie recipes
  • rice krispie treats recipes
  • fudge recipes
  • ice cream recipes
  • popcorn recipes
  • everyday meals
  • recipe roundups
  • readers' gallery
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • chocolate
    • about
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • holiday recipes
    • Halloween recipes
    • party food
    • appetizers
    • decorated cheese balls
    • cute food for kids
    • dessert recipes
    • homemade chocolates recipes
    • homemade candy
    • decorated cakes
    • cupcake recpes
    • cheesecake recipes
    • cookie recipes
    • rice krispie treats recipes
    • fudge recipes
    • ice cream recipes
    • popcorn recipes
    • everyday meals
    • recipe roundups
    • readers' gallery
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Holiday Treats and Recipes » Thanksgiving

    Fall Dessert - Pretty Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins

    Published: Nov 19, '13 · Modified: Oct 29, '19 · By: Beth Klosterboer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Add a burst of color to your Thanksgiving dessert. These pound cake leaves are so pretty and they taste great too.

    Pretty Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins

    It's the middle of the night. I wish I was sleeping, but I just can't seem to shut my mind down and doze off. I spent time today brainstorming fun food ideas for the holidays, and I just can't seem to stop.

    I keep a note pad by my bed, so I can scribble down my thoughts, and it has been getting pretty full this evening. I finally just got up and got back to work, writing this post.

    I have more ideas than I have time, so maybe I just shouldn't sleep, ever.

    Pretty Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins | Hungryhappenings.com

    Sometimes I come up with an idea that I really love and use it more than once.

    You know how much I love fall leaves, and I recently made some Easy Cheese Bread Leaves and Pumpkins using a Wilton silicone mold.

    I know many of you purchased that mold to use for Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd share another idea with you, so you can get more use out it.

    Fall dessert ideas

    The techniques I've used to create these Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins aren't new.

    I used them last year when I made Cheesecake Leaves and Pumpkins. I just wanted to see if I could do the same thing using pound cake batter and was happy with the results.

    They are more vibrant and colorful than I expected and will be so pretty on the table at Thanksgiving.

    Cute fall desserts

    Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins (makes 18)*

    *I made 12 cakes, but the batter puffed up over the edge of the mold so much that I had to cut it off. I suggest making 18 cakes instead.

    Ingredients:

    ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, softened, plus more to grease molds
    Betty Crocker Pound Cake Mix (16-ounce box)
    ⅔ cup milk or water
    2 large eggs
    ½ teaspoon almond extract, optional
    orange, red, yellow, and green food coloring

    Supplies:

    3 Wilton Leaf and Pumpkin Silicone Molds
    food use only paintbrush
    baking sheets

    Instructions:

    • Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Grease the pumpkin and leaf molds.
    • Cream butter just to soften.
    • Add pound cake mix, milk, eggs, and almond extract, if using.
    • Beat on low for 30 seconds, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. The batter will be very thick.

    Fall recipes

    • Divide the batter into three bowls.
    • Put a little more than half of the batter in one bowl and color it using orange food coloring and divide the rest among the other two bowls coloring one yellow and one red.
    • Pull about a tablespoon of batter out of the red bowl and add some green food coloring to make it brown.
    • Spoon about a tablespoon of each of the colored batter into a small bowl.
    • Pour it into the leaf molds, allowing the colors to swirl.
    • Fill cavity only halfway. I filled mine ¾ full and they were too full. For detailed images of this swirling technique, see the Cheesecake Leaves and Pumpkins post.

    Fall dessert ideas

    • Use a paintbrush to paint the pumpkin stems with the brown batter.
    • Paint the entire stem. Fill the pumpkin cavities halfway with orange batter.
    • As the cakes bake the orange will puff up and match up with the brown stems.

    Autumn recipes

    • Set molds on baking sheets and bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
      • Being I only used two molds and they were filled more, I baked them for 24 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
    • Tug at the mold, loosening the cakes from the sides.
    • Turn mold over, and un-mold the cakes.

    Fall cake recipe

    You can see here how much excess cake I cut off each leaf and pumpkin so that they would sit flat.

    You can also see how pretty they look inside with all the swirled colors.

    Fall dessert ideas

    • Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
    • I wrapped my cakes in plastic wrap, put them in a zip-top bag and froze them.
    • I'll thaw them out Thanksgiving morning so we can enjoy them for dessert.

    Do yourself a favor and use this easy Fall Dessert and Thanksgiving recipe for your next party. These Pretty Pound Cake Leaves and Pumpkins are the perfect way to end any meal and will absolutely blow you away (just like all the leaves on the ground).


    Items used to create this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)

    Be sure to check out all of my amazing Thanksgiving Recipes

    More Fall Leaf and Pumpkin Recipes
    from Hungry Happenings

    Fall recipes

    Leaf and Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls Topped with Colored Cheese

    Fall desserts

    Cheesecake Leaves and Pumpkins

    Fall appetizer recipes

    Cheesy Crescent Roll Leaves

    Fall candy recipes

    Chocolate Caramel Pumpkins

    Fall dinner ideas

    Veggie Pizza Leaves

    Fall snacks

    Cheesy Pumpkin Pita Chips

    Halloween recipes

    Halloween Pancakes filled with Nutella

    Halloween cake recipe

    Pumpkin Pinata Cake
    (You'll be redirected to Tablespoon.com for this recipe)

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Jackson Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
    Latest posts by Beth Klosterboer (see all)
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes - June 20, 2023
    • Homemade Chocolate Easter Bunnies - April 3, 2023
    • Mini Basketball Cheeseburgers - February 15, 2023

    More Thanksgiving Recipes for Cute Desserts and Festive Appetizers

    • Giant Reese's Cup on a cake stand with a slice cut and served on a small dessert plate.
      Giant Peanut Butter Cup
    • Turkey hot chocolate bombs melting in a coffee mug.
      Thanksgiving Hot Chocolate Bomb Turkeys
    • Apple Mousse Recipe image
      Apple Mousse
    • Thanksgiving appetizer cheese ball turkey platter
      Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Turkey Platter

    About Beth Klosterboer

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Please leave a comment. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Crystal

      November 25, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      So creative! Love them. And I love that you can cut them down and they're still so pretty.

      Reply
    2. Auro @ Add that Xtra in the Ordinary

      November 25, 2013 at 6:31 am

      How pretty and innovative. I understand how it feels when your mind is full of these ideas you actually cannot sleep till you make them happen.Thanks for sharing.Lovely post, must try!

      Reply
      • beth

        November 25, 2013 at 12:48 pm

        Thank, Auro. Yes, I have had my share of sleepless nights, but if I wake up with the attitude that I'm going to get something done, then I don't even feel terribly tired. Us creative folks have that problem!

        Reply
    3. The Partiologist

      November 23, 2013 at 12:49 pm

      I love how you marbleized the leaves to make them look so realistic! Have that pan, must try!

      Reply
    4. Kathy

      November 22, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Looks beautiful!

      Reply
    5. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff

      November 20, 2013 at 6:57 pm

      I love the colors! Freezing cake is such a time saver ... especially this time of year 🙂

      Reply
      • beth

        November 21, 2013 at 3:51 am

        I create so much as I blog, but I have to make it too early for the actual holiday, so freezing is a life saver!

        Reply
    6. Lizbeth McGow

      November 20, 2013 at 3:36 am

      OMG Beth I thought they were fake, I mean I thought they were made out of something non edible whatsoever, How Pretty and clever! and oh...yummmo! almost too pretty to eat...Almost, lol! Have a great week!

      Reply
      • beth

        November 21, 2013 at 3:53 am

        I was so excited when these cakes came out of the oven because the colors were so much more vibrant than I expected. I shared these on Fox 45 this morning, and the anchors both said they looked too pretty to eat!

        Reply
    7. Michelle Clausen

      November 20, 2013 at 2:50 am

      so pretty! i love love love the look of these leaves, and the pumpkins too!!

      Reply
    8. Janine Eshelbrenner

      November 19, 2013 at 5:28 pm

      So pretty, so simple! Your a genius with those silicone molds!

      Reply
      • beth

        November 20, 2013 at 2:31 am

        Thank you, Janine. I love baking in silicone molds. There are so many possibilities.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

    Read more about me →

    Popular

    • Mini cheesecakes collage of images with plain cheesecakes, cheesecake cups with toppings, and decorated edible flower cheesecakes.
      Mini Cheesecakes
    • Cakesicles with red and green drizzle, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle
      How to make Cakesicles (cake pop popsicles)
    • Halloween appetizer - Jack Skellington Chicken Dip
      Halloween Appetizer - Jack Skellington Dip
    • pizza skulls filled with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and mini pepperoni.
      Pizza Skulls
    • four sugar skulls decorated with colorful royal icing flowers, hearts, spider webs and more on a black background
      Sugar Skull Video Tutorial
    • Cake Ball Brains are sure to creep out your friends and family at Halloween but they are really tasty treats.
      Cake Ball Brains Oozing Cherry Blood - Creepy Halloween Sweets
    • chocolate rice krispie treat turkeys
      Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treat Turkey Pops
    • Giant Reese's Cup on a cake stand with a slice cut and served on a small dessert plate.
      Giant Peanut Butter Cup
    • skillet dip snowman with bread puffs surrounding hot chicken dip decorated with black olives and a carrot nose
      Skillet Dip Snowman - Christmas Appetizer
    • a stack of green copycake IHOP Grinch pancakes topped with cream cheese glaze, green whipped cream, and candy hearts on a white plate are set in front of a red and white striped cup filled with grinch hot chocolate
      Copycat IHOP Grinch Pancakes Recipe

    Buy my cookbooks

    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

    Read more about me →

    Popular

    • Mini cheesecakes collage of images with plain cheesecakes, cheesecake cups with toppings, and decorated edible flower cheesecakes.
      Mini Cheesecakes
    • Cakesicles with red and green drizzle, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle
      How to make Cakesicles (cake pop popsicles)
    • Halloween appetizer - Jack Skellington Chicken Dip
      Halloween Appetizer - Jack Skellington Dip
    • pizza skulls filled with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and mini pepperoni.
      Pizza Skulls
    • four sugar skulls decorated with colorful royal icing flowers, hearts, spider webs and more on a black background
      Sugar Skull Video Tutorial
    • Cake Ball Brains are sure to creep out your friends and family at Halloween but they are really tasty treats.
      Cake Ball Brains Oozing Cherry Blood - Creepy Halloween Sweets
    • chocolate rice krispie treat turkeys
      Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treat Turkey Pops
    • Giant Reese's Cup on a cake stand with a slice cut and served on a small dessert plate.
      Giant Peanut Butter Cup
    • skillet dip snowman with bread puffs surrounding hot chicken dip decorated with black olives and a carrot nose
      Skillet Dip Snowman - Christmas Appetizer
    • a stack of green copycake IHOP Grinch pancakes topped with cream cheese glaze, green whipped cream, and candy hearts on a white plate are set in front of a red and white striped cup filled with grinch hot chocolate
      Copycat IHOP Grinch Pancakes Recipe

    Buy my cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    use policies

    • privacy policy
    • photo-use policy
    • terms of service

    join us

    • subscribe (newsletter)
    • our online courses
    • readers' gallery

    contact

    • contact
    • about Beth
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Happenings