This Christmas, I wanted to make something different for dessert, and I found this amazing recipe on Pinterest. Sometimes you never know with Pinterest recipes – but this one is top-notch.
Adapted from a recipe at Great Grub, Delicious Treats (which was adapted from a recipe from Better Homes & Gardens), this cake and frosting are absolutely delicious. I added allspice and cloves to my batter in addition to the ginger and cinnamon, and I’m very glad I did. My mom and I couldn’t decide whether we liked the cake or the frosting best, and Mike is yet to weigh in. Either way, this cake was a huge hit after our Christmas dinner yesterday.
I cut the original recipe in half for a single layer for just the three of us, and I cut the frosting recipe in half as well, but it was still far too much. The measurements below are adapted further for what I believe would be an appropriate amount of frosting for a single layer 9-inch cake; I have a ton left over in my fridge, which will probably go in cupcakes this week.
Gingerbread Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup water
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line with a circle of parchment; lightly grease the parchment.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
In a mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl well. Add molasses and egg and beat well to combine.
Add flour mixture and water alternatively in three batches, starting and ending with the flour and mixing to combine between each.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 28-32 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Be careful not to over-bake this cake, as the sides can easily burn.
Cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Molasses Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Preparation
In a mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese until combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Add molasses and vanilla, beating well to combine. Scrape down your bowl well.
Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating to completely combine; continue to beat for 1-2 minutes, scraping the bowl well, to reach an easily spreadable consistency.
Frost top and sides of cake.
Store in the refrigerator, but let the cake sit at room temperature for about 30-45 minutes before serving.
amy bakes in the 'burgh 