Description
A moist, spiced gingerbread cake layered with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, cream together the 1 cup butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the molasses.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Carefully stir in the boiling water until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter together until smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until the frosting is light and spreadable.
- Once the cakes are completely cool, frost the layers and the outside of the cake.
Notes
- For a stronger ginger flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom to the dry ingredients.
- You can substitute buttermilk for the boiling water if you prefer a slightly tangier cake, reducing the baking time slightly.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 55g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: gingerbread, layer cake, molasses, cream cheese frosting, holiday dessert, spice cake