Pumpkin Ice Cream Torte

(Photo: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan)

Here’s the secret: You can make this pumpkin torte well ahead and freeze it. The sauce is jarred. The cook will be celebrated. Thaw 10 minutes before serving to slice.

Cook Time:

Prep Time:

Total Time:

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoon finely chopped pecans

2 tablespoon butter, melted

Cooking spray

1 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

9 cup low-fat ice cream (about 1 1/2 cartons), divided

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted and divided

1/4 cup jarred caramel topping

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine first 4 ingredients (mixture will be crumbly). Firmly press crumb mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes; cool on a wire rack.

Combine pumpkin and the next 4 ingredients (through cloves) in a bowl. Soften 6 cups ice cream; add to pumpkin mixture, stirring to blend. Spoon half of mixture into prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze 1 hour or until firm. Cover and freeze remaining pumpkin ice cream.

Soften remaining 3 cups vanilla ice cream; stir in 3 tablespoons pecans. Spread over pumpkin ice cream layer; freeze 1 hour or until firm. Soften remaining 3 cups pumpkin ice cream; spread over vanilla ice cream mixture. Cover; freeze 8 hours or until firm. Cut torte into 12 wedges. Place 1 wedge on each of 12 plates. Place topping in microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 45 seconds. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon topping; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pecans.