GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
As with most gingerbreads, this cake only gets better with time. When it's first baked, it will be light and cakey. If you wrap it and let it sit a day, it will become even more moist and the warm spices will intensify. Either way, it's homey and delicious and perfect for your holiday table. And if you don't have gingerbread cookies to decorate the bottom with, don't worry. This cake can easily stand alone and still impress.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a parchment round.
- Stir together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
- Combine the brown sugar and butter in another large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined (it's fine if the mixture looks a little curdled).
- Stir the molasses into the boiling water in a large spouted measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat just until smooth.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, invert the cakes onto the rack, then peel off and discard the parchment.
- For the frosting: Combine the butter and cream cheese in a clean mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioner's' sugar, beating until combined. Add the vanilla and gradually increase the speed to high. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed so the frosting is spreadable.
- Place one cake layer flat-side down on a cake stand or platter. Top with about 3/4 cup of the frosting, spreading almost to the edges using an offset spatula. Place the remaining cake layer on top, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting on the entire cake and smooth the top and sides with the offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake while you decorate the gingerbread cookies.
- For the decorations: Meanwhile, microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until just melted. (Alternatively, melt the chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; do not let bowl touch the water.) Let cool slightly and put into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (or use a plastic ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe eyes and smiles on the gingerbread cookie faces.
- Arrange the merry gingerbread men side by side around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing in slightly to adhere. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the nonpareils.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
You know that no cake, cupcake, bar or cookie is complete without the perfect layer of cream cheese icing or frosting. Luckily, our spreadable and creamy homemade recipe is ready in just 5 minutes with 4 simple ingredients. Sweet with just the right amount of tang, this from-scratch Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is the perfect finish for carrot cake, red velvet cupcakes, pumpkin-spice bars and more. Soon you'll be adding this cream cheese frosting recipe to everything on the dessert tray and more.
Provided by By Stephanie Wise
Categories Dessert
Time 5m
Yield 32
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed 2 to 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in vanilla, then stir in powdered sugar. Add more powdered sugar as needed until frosting is a thick spreadable consistency.
- Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cake or cupcakes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 170, Carbohydrate 21 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 85 mg, Sugar 20 g, TransFat 0 g
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love