Flaming Pumpkin Log

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated

1 cup sugar, divided

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

FILLING:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup confectioners' sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional confectioners' sugar, optional

FLAMES:

Orange and Yellow Hard Candies, about 26

Milk chocolate morsels, about ½ cup, melted

Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and set aside. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and pumpkin, beating on high until sugar is almost dissolved.

In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold into egg yolk mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gently fold into pumpkin mixture. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.  Cool for 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Unroll cake; spread filling evenly to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up again. Cover and freeze until firm.

 May be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before cutting. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired.

With oven still at 375°, place hard candies on another parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until candy is completely melted.  With a skewer, swirl the colors together to look like fire.  Refrigerate until cooled. Break into flame-like pieces.

Melt the milk chocolate in microwave for 30 seconds; stir until completely melted.  If chocolate is not melting completely, place back in microwave for 10-second intervals. Be careful not to burn.

Spread melted chocolate on one small section at a time, beginning with the middle.  Place candy pieces into soft chocolate and move onto the next section until you have the flames across the log (see photo).

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Enjoy!