Ginger and Molasses Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Gingerbread Cake)
Perfectly spiced and deliciously moist, one slice is never enough for this Ginger and Molasses Cake! The cream cheese frosting brings this cake over the top! A must-make, holiday season or not!
I’ve always loved any dessert with spices because I always use spices in my cooking both savory and sweet. I love the flavors and seasonings plus the delicious aroma that these spices impart in food. As such, we enjoy eating curries, soups and stews loaded with exquisite tastes. And of course, that includes sweet treats like puddings, cookies, cakes and so much more.
So, I thought it’s about time I add to the blog a delicious sweet treat loaded with spices and full of deliciousness!
This ginger and molasses cake with cream cheese frosting is certainly that! It’s perfectly spiced but not in an overwhelming way.
The molasses give it extra flavor, moisture and that beautiful vibrant color that makes the cake very appetizing indeed!
The icing on the cake, literally, is that scrumptious cream cheese frosting! I believe this brings the cake over the top delicious! As you can see in the photo below, it’s truly creamy-licious!!!
The cake by itself is delicious but I suggest frosting it too because it’s just perfect together and makes one delectable dessert that’s perfect for tea time or coffee time or any time. In fact, I’d be happy to have this as breakfast!!! It’s that good.
I’ve served this at our church coffee break one Sunday and it was gone quick with the baking dish wiped clean. Everyone loved it. A few even asked for the recipe. Now, I call that a successful sweet recipe!
So I hope you make this soon, holiday season or not as it’s such a yummy cake to serve to guests, friends, and families alike.
FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.
NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR GINGER AND MOLASSES CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
For the Cake
- boiling hot water – use hot (preferably boiling) to help blend the mixture easily
- baking soda
- molasses – use unsulfured dark molasses for richer flavor.
- brown sugar – you may use white but I like the flavor imparted by brown sugar in this recipe
- all-purpose flour
- ground ginger
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves
- baking powder
- salt
- vegetable oil
- eggs – room temperature
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- package cream cheese, softened
- butter, softened
- confectioner’s or powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
HOW TO MAKE GINGER AND MOLASSES CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch square pan or 11 x 7 x 2 baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a glass mixing bowl, stir together the boiling hot water and baking soda. Add the molasses and brown sugar, stirring until well-combined and sugar has dissolved.
- Whisk the vegetable oil and eggs into the molasses mixture, then slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the cake. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip together the softened cream cheese and butter until pale and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat until well-blended and spreadable. Frost the cooled cake and serve.
Ginger and Molasses Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Cake
- ¾ cup boiling hot water
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅔ cup molasses
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs, room temperature
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioner's or powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch square pan or 11 x 7 x 2 baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a glass mixing bowl, stir together the boiling hot water and baking soda. Add the molasses and brown sugar, stirring until well-combined and sugar has dissolved.
- Whisk the vegetable oil and eggs into the molasses mixture, then slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the cake. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip together the softened cream cheese and butter until pale and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat until well-blended and spreadable. Frost the cooled cake and serve.
Nutrition
Recipe is based on/adapted from Fall Baking Magazine recipe.
Last updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 09:08 pm
This looks like it would be an amazing cake to bake! Could I substitute coffee or coffee liqueur for the bowling water?
Worth a try. I usually use coffee when I make a chocolate cake to enhance the chocolate flavor but not with anything else. I must say it sounds delicious so if you make it, please let me know how it goes.
Can I use a 13 x9x2 pan instead
Yes but since it would result in a thinner cake make sure to adjust the length of baking time. Enjoy!
can you use gluten free flour do you have to change anything
I haven’t tried this with gluten-free flour so I’m sorry, I cannot answer that. Usually, you don’t have to do anything extra so you can just try substituting with a gluten-free mix and see if that works.