Moist Pumpkin Cake with Salted Caramel - cozy baking life

Ingredients

• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup heavy cream, room temperature
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 tablespoon ground pumpkin pie spice
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, room temperature
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 6 ounces cream cheese, cold
• 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• Orange, green, and brown food coloring (optional)
• Chopped walnuts (optional)
• Ground cinnamon for dusting (optional)