Gingerbread, pumpkin, and sticky toffee trifle

Ingredients

For the chocolate gingerbread:

• 1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup golden syrup
• 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup hot water

For the pumpkin custard:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1 tablespoon butter

For the sticky toffee sauce:

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup, or corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup cream

For the whipped cream:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

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Preparation

• Heat the oven to 350 F and spray a 9″ x 13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl cream together them sugar, butter, and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add the molasses, golden syrup, vanilla, and fresh ginger and whisk to combine.
• In a medium bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and spices. Add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture alternately with the hot water, starting and ending with the flour.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed in the center, and the edges are starting to come away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely in the pan then cut into 1″ cubes.
• While the cake cools prepare the custard. In a medium pot whisk together the milk, egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and pumpkin. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture just comes to the boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla, butter, and rum. Pour the custard through a fine strainer into a bowl and press cling film directly on the surface of the custard. Chill for at least one hour. While the cake and custard cool prepare the sticky toffee sauce.
• In a 2-quart sauce pan over medium heat combine the brown sugar, butter, and golden syrup. Cook until it comes to a boil, about 5 minutes. Carefully add the vanilla and cook for one minute more. Remove the pot from the heat and carefully whisk in the cream. Cool the sauce until it is just warm.
• To assemble the trifle begin by whipping the cream. In a large bowl combine the cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Whip until the mixture forms soft peaks. In a large trifle bowl, or in smaller individual bowls, add a layer of cake (you will use 1/3 to 1/2 the cake), drizzle over half the toffee sauce, and spread over half the pumpkin custard. Repeat and top with whipped cream. Chill the assembled trifle for at least four hours, or overnight.