Gingerbread Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting is a rich and deep-flavored cake that is super simple to make.
Bring the holidays right to your table with this rich and decadent cake that is a delicious recipe and has the best flavor for the season.
Perfect For Holiday Parties
I absolutely love the gingerbread flavors with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg around the holidays. It really adds so much to the mood of Christmas, and this gingerbread cake is loaded with holiday spices and molasses to make it a flavor-filled dessert.
And I love those flavors this time of year.
It’s a very deep and rich flavor, especially with the molasses cream cheese frosting.
Plus, when the holiday season rolls around, it’s perfect for taking to your favorite holiday party or bringing to a family gathering to serve after Christmas dinner.
When I started making the cake and pouring the molasses into the bowl, it brought me back to my childhood.
What Do I Need To Make The Gingerbread Cake?
- Sugar
- Molasses
- Hot water
- Egg
- Butter
- Flour
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom (optional for a spicy gingerbread cake).
- Star anise for adding to the top of the frosting for decoration (optional).
Cream cheese molasses frosting
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Molasses
- Milk
- Powdered sugar
Full recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
How Do I Make The Moist Cake?
- Pour the sugar and molasses into a medium bowl.
- Next, add the hot water, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the bowl and mix.
- Pour the spices into the batter and mix well.
- Pour into a greased and floured 8″ x 8″ cake pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
- Frost the cake.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Start by adding the sugar to a medium bowl.
You can also use a stand mixer for this gingerbread cake recipe.
Next, add the hot water, molasses, egg, and butter to the bowl. Mix everything together with an electric mixer on medium speed.
The butter will be in a few chunks, and that’s ok because once you add the flour, it will all blend well.
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the bowl and mix until everything is well blended.
Next, add the spices to the molasses mixture and mix well.
Pour the cake batter into an 8″ x 8″ cake pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before frosting.
How To Make The Cream Cheese Frosting
- Add the softened cream cheese and butter to a bowl and mix until the two are creamy.
- Next, add the powdered sugar and milk to the bowl.
- Finally, add the molasses and mix.
- Spread on the sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting on the cake.
If the frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of milk and mix, and keep adding until it reaches the desired consistency.
If the frosting is too thin, go the other way and add a little bit of powdered sugar until it reaches the right consistency.
You can also leave the molasses out of the frosting and have cream cheese frosting on top. It’s a wonderful frosting for other desserts, as well. (Or, just you and a bowl and a spoon. No one will ever know).
How To Store The Cake
Store the homemade gingerbread cake in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.
Can I Make A Layer Cake?
Yes, you can make a layer cake, but you will need to double the recipe. You will get delicious and moist layers. Double the cream cheese frosting recipe, as well to spread between the two layers. Gingerbread cake layers are always delish!
Can I Make Gingerbread Cupcakes With This Recipe?
Yes, you can easily make gingerbread cupcakes. Simply add the cake batter to a cupcake pan and bake. You can frost the cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting.
Can This Be Baked In A Loaf Pan?
Yes, but the bake time will be different.
Gingerbread Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
This is the perfect cake with warm spices that is a wonderful holiday treat. Give the recipe a try, and I know you will love it.
If this is your first time making the cake, you will love how easy it is to put together.
Other Desserts You Will Love
- Homemade frosted brownies
- Pound cake with cream cheese frosting
- Slow cooker chocolate cake
- Big soft gingerbread cookies from Allrecipes
Gingerbread Cake with Frosting
Ingredients
Cake
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 3/4 hot water
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2-1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 Tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add the sugar, molasses, hot water, egg, and butter to a bowl. Mix well.
- Next, add all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients and mix well.
- Add the ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix.
- Pour batter into an 8" x 8" greased and floured cake pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
- Frosting
- Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a medium-sized bowl.
- Add the powdered sugar and milk and mix until well blended.
- Next, add the molasses and mix until well blended.
- Spread on top of the cake.
