Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

5 from 1 vote

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cake is a warm and cozy dessert made with molasses and classic spices. This simple cake is moist, tender, and full of nostalgic flavor. A perfect cake for fall or the holidays.

Prep Time20

Cook Time45

Total Time1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Keyword: cake, christmas dessert, holiday party

Servings:

Author: Sandy Clifton

Equipment

9x13-inch Baking Pan
2 Mixing Bowls
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
Small Saucepan
Whisk, Spatula

Ingredients

½ cup Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
½ cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs (at room temperature)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Molasses
2 cups All-Purpose Flour (plus a little for baking dish)
½ teaspoon Salt (or 1 scant teaspoon Kosher salt)
½ teaspoon Ground Cloves
1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 ¼ teaspoons Ground Ginger
1 cup Boiling Water
2 teaspoons Baking Soda

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in the vanilla extract and molasses until smooth.
Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and spices. Add to the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated.
Stir the baking soda into the boiling water (it will foam), then gently mix it into the batter. The batter will be very thin—that’s normal.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the edges pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Let the cake cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, with whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, plain, or try my cream cheese frosting for a bakery style cake (see Notes).

Notes

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting
For a bakery-style finish, try topping the cooled cake with this easy frosting:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Spread over cooled cake and sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal