As a former pastry chef, I’ve had the pleasure of crafting thousands of gingerbread cookies throughout my career. While classic gingerbread cookies hold a special place in my heart, I often sought to create a gingerbread dessert that delivered all the warm, comforting spices and rich molasses notes but with less fuss and a quicker bake time. That’s how this incredible gingerbread cake recipe was born!

This festive gingerbread cake masterfully captures all those beloved, cozy holiday flavors, transforming them into a delightful cake form. It’s baked as a single, generous layer, boasting a super moist and tender texture that truly melts in your mouth. Designed for simplicity, it uses just one pan for the cake, making it an effortlessly elegant choice for any holiday gathering, from a cozy Thanksgiving dinner to a grand Christmas celebration. Its inviting aroma and comforting taste will instantly fill your home with the spirit of the season.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients. In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, fine sea salt, and your aromatic spice blend (ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg). Ensure everything is well combined to prevent lumps and guarantee an even distribution of flavor throughout the cake. Set this aside.

Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients. In a separate, equally large bowl, whisk together all of the liquid ingredients: melted unsalted butter, room temperature sour cream, large eggs, vegetable oil, whole milk, unsulphured molasses, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well emulsified. The room temperature ingredients are crucial here for a homogenous batter.

Step 3: Mix the Batter. Gently pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a whisk or spatula, mix until they are just combined. It’s absolutely normal for the batter to have a few small clumps—overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to a tough cake. Finally, fold in the hot water until it’s just incorporated. This final addition of hot water helps thin the molasses and activate the leavening agents for maximum moisture.

Step 4: Bake! Pour the beautifully spiced gingerbread batter into your prepared 9×9 baking pan. Spread it evenly to ensure uniform baking. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs—not completely clean, which indicates overbaking. Once baked, let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. This cooling time is essential for the cake to set and ensures the frosting doesn’t melt.

Step 5: Make the Molasses Frosting. While your cake cools, prepare the star of the show – the cinnamon molasses buttercream! In a clean mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter until it’s light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high and beat for 2-3 minutes until incredibly airy. Finally, mix in the unsulphured molasses, heavy cream, vanilla extract, a pinch of fine sea salt, and ground cinnamon. Beat until just combined and smooth, resisting the urge to overmix and deflate the buttercream.

Step 6: Decorate the Gingerbread Cake. Once the cake is completely cool, spoon the gloriously fluffy cinnamon molasses frosting over the top. Use the back of your spoon or an offset spatula to create elegant swoops and swirls, adding a beautiful rustic touch. For an extra festive flair, garnish your gingerbread cake with adorable mini gingerbread cookies, festive sprinkles, or even sugared cranberries. Slice and serve to your delighted guests!

While the creamy cinnamon molasses frosting is a match made in heaven for this spiced gingerbread cake, there’s no shortage of delicious alternatives if you’re looking to switch things up! Your gingerbread cake can truly shine with a variety of toppings:

• Cream Cheese Frosting: The tangy sweetness of cream cheese frosting offers a delightful contrast to the warm spices of the gingerbread. Its slight tanginess brightens the overall flavor profile and adds a lovely richness.
• Chocolate Fudge Frosting: For the ultimate indulgence, a rich and decadent chocolate fudge frosting pairs surprisingly well with gingerbread. The deep cocoa notes complement the molasses and spices, creating a truly luxurious holiday dessert.
• Lemon Glaze: A simple lemon glaze (made with powdered sugar and lemon juice) provides a zesty, refreshing counterpoint to the warm spices. It’s lighter than buttercream but still adds a beautiful sheen and burst of flavor.
• Whipped Cream: For a less sweet and more airy option, a dollop of freshly whipped cream can be a wonderful, light accompaniment, allowing the cake’s flavors to truly shine.

Don’t hesitate to get creative and choose the frosting that best suits your taste or the occasion!

Bakery Tips for an Unbelievably Moist Gingerbread Cake

Achieving a perfectly moist gingerbread cake is simple with these expert tips:

Use a kitchen scale. This is hands down my #1 baking tip for consistent results! Accurately measuring your dry ingredients, especially flour, is crucial. Using too much flour, a common mistake with volume measurements, can quickly lead to a dense, dry, and crumbly cake. A kitchen scale ensures precision and guarantees a perfect texture every time. If you don’t have a scale, remember the “spoon-and-level” method for measuring flour.

Don’t overmix the batter. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix them only until they are just incorporated. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in a tough, chewy cake rather than the light and tender crumb we’re aiming for. A few small lumps are perfectly fine and will usually bake out.

Be mindful of the bake time. Overbaking is another common culprit for dry cakes. Begin checking for doneness at the lower end of the recommended bake time. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, not completely clean. A clean toothpick signals that the cake might already be slightly overdone. Remember that ovens vary, so trust your judgment and visuals.

Ensure ingredients are at room temperature. As mentioned earlier, using room temperature eggs, dairy, and other liquids allows them to emulsify properly with the fats, creating a smoother, more cohesive batter. This leads to a finer crumb structure and a more consistently moist cake.

How to Store and Freeze Your Gingerbread Cake

This moist gingerbread cake is so delicious, you might not have many leftovers! But if you do, here’s how to keep it fresh and flavorful:

• Storing at Room Temperature: While the cake can be stored at room temperature, it’s generally best enjoyed within 1-2 days this way to maintain its peak moistness, especially if it’s unfrosted. Ensure it’s in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
• Storing in the Fridge: Leftover cake slices, especially those frosted with buttercream, should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cool temperature helps preserve the frosting and extends the cake’s freshness. For best taste and texture, allow slices to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Freezing for Longer Storage: To freeze, wrap individual slices or the entire unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil. Place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving or frosting.

While I haven’t personally tested this specific batter in cupcake form yet, it’s a great idea! Generally, a moist cake batter like this one should adapt well to cupcakes. You would likely need to adjust the baking time, probably to around 18-25 minutes, keeping an eye on them closely. The yield would also change, providing approximately 18-24 standard-sized cupcakes. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how they turn out!

Yes, you can certainly adjust the pan size! If you wish to bake this recipe in a larger 9×13 inch pan, I recommend doubling the recipe to ensure you have enough batter for a good height. Keep a close watch on the bake time, as a larger pan with more batter will likely need a few minutes longer than the 9×9 inch pan specified. Always use the toothpick test to confirm doneness.

A dry and crumbly cake is a common issue, but usually preventable! This is most often caused by one of three things: 1) Incorrectly measuring dry ingredients, particularly flour. Too much flour absorbs excess moisture. Always weigh your flour or use the spoon-and-level method. 2) Overmixing the cake batter. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough, dry texture. Mix only until ingredients are just combined. 3) Overbaking the cake. Even a few minutes too long in the oven can dry out a cake. Start checking for doneness at the earliest recommended time, looking for moist crumbs on your toothpick.

Absolutely! This gingerbread cake actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld and deepen. You can bake the cake a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature. Prepare the frosting separately and store it in the refrigerator. Frost the cake a few hours before serving for the freshest look and taste.

For authentic gingerbread flavor and color, molasses is truly indispensable. It provides that unique depth, warmth, and slight stickiness that defines classic gingerbread. While you might be able to substitute with dark corn syrup or maple syrup in a pinch for sweetness, the distinct molasses flavor and dark color would be missing. I highly recommend sticking with unsulphured molasses for the best results in this recipe.

If you tried this delicious gingerbread cake or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below; I absolutely love hearing from you! Also, don’t forget to leave a star rating while you’re there to help other bakers! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can see your beautiful creations!