Moist Gingerbread Spiced Cake (Printable)
Moist cake boasting warm ginger, cinnamon, and molasses flavors perfect for festive moments.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
05 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1½ teaspoons baking soda
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
08 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 cup unsulphured molasses
12 - 1 cup hot water
13 - ½ cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a separate large bowl, beat butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, then stir in molasses and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three portions, alternating with the buttermilk, starting and finishing with the dry ingredients.
06 - Gradually stir in hot water until the batter is smooth and well blended.
07 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and level the surface.
08 - Bake for 32 to 38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
09 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and cool completely.
10 - Serve plain, dust with powdered sugar, or accompany with whipped cream as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The batter is so forgiving, you can whisk it by hand and still get a tender crumb.
- It tastes even better the next day, soaked with spice and deep molasses sweetness.
- One bowl, one pan, and your kitchen smells like a holiday without any fuss.
02 -
- The batter will be very thin, thinner than most cakes, and that's exactly what makes it so moist.
- Don't skip the hot water, it blooms the spices and keeps the crumb from drying out.
- If you open the oven too early, the center can sink, wait until at least 30 minutes to check.
03 -
- Measure molasses by spraying your measuring cup with oil first, it slides right out without sticking.
- Room temperature eggs and buttermilk mix more smoothly and create a more even crumb.
- If the top browns too fast, tent it loosely with foil halfway through baking.