Tomorrow is my oldest’s 9th birthday. And since she loves anything pumpkin, I thought I would share one of her favorite fall desserts.  It is surreal to me every November that I actually have a daughter old enough to be however old she is turning.  And seriously in just one short year, I will have a child whose age is in the double digits.  That’s CRAZY!!  Despite how fast she is growing up, she is still little to me.  {She hates it when I say that ;)}

My daughter, Miss M, has always loved pumpkin desserts.   This Praline Pumpkin Dessert is so simple to make and can even be done ahead of time.  And chances are you may have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Praline Pumpkin Dessert

Ingredients:

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cups sugar

4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 box yellow cake mix

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (or walnuts)

3/4 cup butter, melted

whipped cream, optional

additional pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, beat pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar and 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice with wire whisk until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan.

Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture.  Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top.  Pour melted butter evenly over top of dessert.

Bake 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool slightly.

To serve, spoon dessert into serving dishes or cut into squares.  Serve warm or chilled with whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.  Store covered in refrigerator.