Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake

For the Cake
6 oz (3/4 cup) butter, more the pans
9 oz (2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour, more for the pans
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp table salt (optional-I left this out)
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (I used canned pumpkin.)

For the Topping
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
2/3 c pecans
1/2 cup unsalted, raw, hulled pepitas
2 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 tsp table salt, (optional-I left this out)
1 1/2 Tbs. chopped crystallized ginger

For the Frosting
4 oz (1/2 cup) butter
8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 oz (1 1/4 cups) confectioner's sugar

Make the Cake
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350F.
Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans with removable bottoms (or butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment, butter the parchment, and flour the pans).
Melt the Butter in a heavy-duty 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally until the butter turns a nutty golden-brown, about 4 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and let stand until cool but not set, about 15 minutes. (I just put butter in the microwave and then put it in the freezer to cool.)
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves. In a large bowl, whisk 1 1/2 cups of the pumpkin puree with the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and buttermilk until very well blended. With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Gently whisk in the brown butter until completely incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
Bake the Cakes until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto racks remove the pan bottoms or parchment, and cool completely.
Make the Topping melt the butter in a heavy-duty 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and pepitas and cook until the pecans brown slightly and the pepitas begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the brown sugar and salt and stir until the sugar melts and the nuts are glazed, about 2 minutes. Stir in the ginger. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool in the skillet.
Make the Frosting melt the butter in a heavy-duty-1 quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally until the butter turns a nutty golden-brown, about 4 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and let stand until the solids settle at the bottom of the bowl about 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the bowl to the freezer and chill until just firm, about 18 minutes. Using a spoon, carefull scrape the butter from bowl, leaving the browned solids at the bottom; discard the solids. (Again, I just put butter into microwave and then freezer.)
Using an Electric Mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese, and brown sugar on medium high speed until light in color and the brown sugar has dissolved, 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and continue beating until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
Assemble the Cake, put one cake layer on a cake plate. Spread 1/2 cup of the frosting on the layer. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the nut mixture over the frosting and top with the second layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Arrange the remaining topping in a ring 1 1/2 inches in from the edge of the cake.
Serve immediately or cover with a cake dome and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Serve at room temperature.
Serves: 8 to 12 people
Fine Cooking, The Taunton Press, Inc. Newtown, CT 06470-5506, Oct/Nov 2010 No. 107, pages 80 & 81, Cover Recipe.

FYI: Here is recipe for making the Pumpkin Puree
For the Puree
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium-large Sugar Pie pumpkin, cut in half from stem to bottom and seeded.
Make the Pumpkin Puree, position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350F. Brush a 9x13 inch baking dish with the oil. Put the pumpkin halves in the dish cut side down and bake until tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Let cool. Peel the pumkin and puree the flesh in a food processor until smooth. You'll need 1 1/2 cups of the puree for the cake. (You can make the puree up to 2 days ahead. Refrigerate or freeze any remaining puree for another use.