Preheat the oven to 180c/ gas mark 4 .

Using an electric hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a very large mixing bowl until the mixture is pale and smooth.

Add the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree until just combined.

Sift over one third of the flour with the spices. Stir until just combined.

Add half of the buttermilk to the cake batter and stir until just combined. Repeat with a further third of the flour, then the second half of the buttermilk and finally the last third of the flour.

Spoon the mixture into the tin holes, filling them to about two thirds full. Bake for 18-20 minutes - this time is a guide, your own oven may vary.

Remove from the oven when a cocktail stick just comes out of the cakes cleanly. Leave them in their tins for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.

When cool, snip a 1.5cm hole off the end of a disposable piping bag then fill with 3-4 heaped tablespoons of maple and cinnamon buttercream (separate recipe sheet) - around the size of a large fist rather than full.

Twist the bag at the end and expel air to push the icing towards the end. Keeping the end twisted shut, hold the bag with the end resting between one thumb and forefinger and the other gently squeezing the mass of icing.

Gradually squeezing the icing out, trace a spiral around the surface of each layer of mini sponge cake.

Sandwich the layers together with a gentle squeeze so it bulges out slightly in a pleasing fashion.

To decorate, melt the milk chocolate gently in the microwave or a double boiler. Spoon over the tops and sprinkle with chopped nuts before it sets.