Description
A cozy, warmly spiced gingerbread cake made with molasses, brown sugar and classic holiday spices — moist, tender and rich in flavor. Optionally topped with a creamy vanilla-cream-cheese frosting for extra indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease and flour an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan.
- Cream the softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the molasses and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with hot water — beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. (Batter will be thin — that’s normal.)
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- (Optional Frosting): Beat softened cream cheese and butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla — beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cake.
- Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Batter will be thin — that’s intentional to keep the cake moist and tender.
- Let cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting the topping.
- Check for doneness at around 35 minutes — overbaking can dry out the cake.
- For cleaner slices, wipe or slightly oil your knife between cuts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Cake
- Method: Oven-baked, one-pan sheet cake
- Cuisine: Home-baked / Comfort / Holiday Baking
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/9 of 8" square cake)
- Calories: ≈ 263–315 kcal
- Sugar: ≈ 36–49 g (varies by portion & frosting)
- Sodium: ≈ 240–330 mg
- Fat: ≈ 12–16 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈ 3–4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ≈ 7–9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g (approx.)
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 36–50 g
- Fiber: ≈ 1–2 g
- Protein: ≈ 3–4 g
- Cholesterol: ≈ 24–32 mg