Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting – Step into the enchanting world of holiday baking with our recipe; Gingerbread Cake topped with Molasses Frosting. This delightful cake, crafted with spices and luscious molasses will fill your home with the comforting aroma of the season. It showcases ingredients, like all-purpose flour, ginger, and cinnamon along with a molasses frosting that sets it apart from the rest. Ideal for holiday gatherings or as a dessert for your loved ones.
I can still vividly recall the first time I baked this Gingerbread Cake. It was on a chilly December evening when I wanted to surprise my family with something remarkable. The air in our home was instantly filled with the captivating scent of spices and molasses creating an ambiance that exuded warmth and festivity. As my husband and child savored their bites their eyes sparkled with delight. From that moment it has become a holiday favorite that adds joy and coziness to our cherished family get-togethers.
What makes this Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting truly special?
What truly distinguishes this Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting is its embodiment of flavors heartwarming comfort and effortless preparation. The harmonious infusion of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses imparts an essence of bliss to each slice—creating an irresistible allure, for every palate. Moreover its simple yet foolproof recipe guarantees outcomes for those venturing into the world of baking for the first time. This cake isn’t a treat; it’s, like a cozy hug from the holiday season ideal, for bringing loved ones closer and making lasting memories.
What You Need To Make This Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting Recipe?
All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour acts, as the foundation for our cake providing the structure to hold together the flavors. It’s like the base of a holiday home, dependable and steadfast.
Baking Soda: This little scientific addition is our ingredient for achieving a risen and fluffy cake. It works its magic by transforming our batter from a dream into a solid.
Ground Ginger and Cinnamon: These spices are at the heart and soul of our gingerbread cake. Ground ginger brings a spicy kick that reminds us of fireside chats while cinnamon adds a sweet and woody aroma that envelops the kitchen in holiday warmth.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: Consider this spice blend as a sprinkle of holiday enchantment. Its merry mixture enhances all the flavors adding a sparkle of joy to every delectable bite.
Butter: Cold and cubed butter serves as the comforting touch that brings everything together. It seamlessly incorporates with the flour creating tender crumbs that simply melt in your mouth.
Molasses & Corn Syrup: These ingredients whisper memories of fashioned holidays. Molasses, with its rich tones, combined with corn syrup sweetness, give this cake its signature nostalgic taste.
Brown Sugar: It’s more than a sweetener; it carries the stories of past holiday gatherings, where laughter filled the dining table. Its caramel tones are reminiscent of holiday melodies.
Milk & Egg: These everyday heroes work their magic subtly adding moisture and binding the ingredients together ensuring each slice is moist and welcoming.
For the Frosting:
Cream Cheese & Butter: This dynamic duo creates a frosting smooth and velvety like a blanket draped over the spiced cake. They blend seamlessly forming a layer that spreads with delight.
Cinnamon: They contribute whispers of comfort to enhance the frosting with their spicy flavors making it simply irresistible.
Powdered Sugar: Acting as the element that brings everything together powdered sugar gives the frosting its texture akin to a snowy topping on a winter’s day.
Molasses: A drizzle of molasses, in the frosting resembles the closing note of a holiday tune—an unforgettable taste that lingers affectionately on your palate.
Steps To Make Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting:
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Step 1: Preheat your oven to a temperature of 350°. Grease a baking pan measuring 9 x 5 inches and line it with parchment paper. Think of it as making a resting place for your cake.
Step 2: In a bowl whisk together flour baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. This mixture serves as the foundation of our cake’s flavor.
Step 3: Gently warm up the milk and brown sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Keep it lukewarm. Enough to blend the flavors.
Step 4: In another saucepan slightly heat up the molasses and corn syrup. It should be warm to the touch but not too hot.
Step 5: Cut chilled butter into pieces. Add them to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender until you achieve crumbs.
Step 6: Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, stir then incorporate the molasses mixture. Mix until everything is just combined.
Step 7: Whisk in an egg until it is well blended into the batter. This helps bind our cake.
Step 8: Pour the batter into the pan. Bake, for 45 minutes. The cake will be done when a toothpick inserted into it comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan then wrap it securely in foil. Let it rest overnight. This will enhance its flavor and texture.
Step 9: To make the frosting combine cream cheese and butter until they reach a creamy consistency. Add vanilla, cinnamon, powdered sugar and molasses. Mix until smooth and refrigerate.
Step 10: Once your cake has had time to rest and the frosting has been chilled evenly spread the frosting, over the cake.
Step 11: There you have it! A delightful Gingerbread Cake, with Molasses Frosting that’s perfect for those holiday moments. Enjoy the warmth and love baked into every slice.
Tip:
For an exceptionally moist and flavorful Gingerbread Cake, consider this pro tip: After your cake has cooled down, brush it lightly with a bit of extra molasses before wrapping it in foil for its overnight rest. This not only infuses the cake with a deeper molasses flavor but also adds a slight stickiness to the top, which beautifully complements the creaminess of the frosting. This simple step elevates the cake’s texture and taste, making each bite a delightful blend of spices, sweetness, and rich molasses.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make this cake a day ahead?
Of course! You can definitely prepare this cake a day in advance. In fact, allowing it to rest overnight will bring out the flavors. Improve its texture.
Is it necessary to use pumpkin pie spice?
While pumpkin pie spice adds a unique taste you can easily replace it with cinnamon and ginger if needed.
Can I freeze the gingerbread cake?
Absolutely! You have the option to freeze the gingerbread cake without the frosting. Just make sure to wrap it. It will stay fresh for, up to 3 months.
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Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Gingerbread Cake with Molasses Frosting
Ingredients
Ingredients for Gingerbread Cake:
- 1 ½ c all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ c butter cold and cut into small pieces
- ½ c molasses
- ½ c corn syrup
- ½ c packed brown sugar
- 9 ounces milk
- 1 egg
Ingredients for Molasses Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ¼ c butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ c powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoons molasses
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a baking pan that measures 9 x 5 inches and line it with parchment paper.
- In a bowl mix together 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
- In a saucepan gently warm up ½ cup of sugar and 9 ounces of milk until the sugar dissolves completely.
- In another saucepan gently heat up amounts (½ cup each) of molasses and corn syrup.
- Cut butter into pieces (around half a cup) and blend it into the flour mixture until it resembles fine crumbs.
- Once the milk mixture is lukewarm add it to the flour mixture. Stir well. Then add in the molasses mixture. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Beat in one egg until it's well combined with the rest of the ingredients.
- Pour the batter into your pan. Bake, for 45 minutes. Until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow it to cool completely in the pan before wrapping it in foil. Let it sit overnight.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a bowl mix together 4 ounces of cream cheese and ¼ cup of butter. Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder, 1 ½ cups of sugar and 3 teaspoons of molasses. Beat the mixture until it becomes smooth and then refrigerate it.
- After allowing the cake to cool down take out the chilled frosting from the refrigerator and spread it evenly over the cake before serving.
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
