Great Pumpkin Dessert...

... that's its name and it lives up to it.

I mentioned in a post earlier this week (here) about all the specialty pumpkin products I saw on my weekly trip to Aldi.  It really got me wanting something, anything pumpkin flavored so I bought a can of pumpkin and after returning home, started searching for a recipe that sounded gooey and delicious and pumpkiny. 

After searching Pinterest ( for waaay too long), then pulling out all of my cookbooks,  I found it in one of my favorite cookbooks, Taste of Home's 2000 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes.  I knew I had found The One as soon as I saw it.  So, for your enjoyment, if you so choose, here's the recipe compliments of Taste of Home.  ( You can find the recipe and a picture at their website .)

 

Great Pumpkin Dessert

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice *

1 package (18 1/4 ounces ) yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter, melted

1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

 

In a mixing bowl, combine the first five ingredients.  Transfer to a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking pan.  Sprinkle with dry cake mix and drizzle with butter.  Top with nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. 

Yield:  12-16 servings

 

*I didn't have pumpkin pie spice so I substituted with 2-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon,

1/2 teaspoon each ginger, nutmeg, allspice



And here's the dessert in her (almost) full glory.

Note:  My daughter and I both have this cookbook and we like to let the other know when we try out a new recipe in it.  So Heather, this recipe is on page 74 and earned my Great! rating.  :)