Run, don’t walk, to make this treat for the upcoming holiday season! The Gingerbread Man’s Cake is a delicious addition to your jingle bell of a dessert lineup! Rich molasses makes this moist, lemon-enhanced, cream cheese-iced cake so decadent, all your guests will be wowed! In no way, shape, or form can you find a more flavorful dessert than The Gingerbread Man’s Cake. Don’t be fooled, it’s the best!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- baking spray with flour, to taste, for greasing the dish
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- candied ginger, optional, to taste, chopped, store-bought or homemade
- sparkling sugar, optional, to taste, white or gold
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with the baking spray.
Step 3 –In a large bowl, add the flour, the baking powder, the ginger, the cinnamon, the cloves, the salt, and the baking soda and whisk to combine.
Step 4 –In a medium bowl, add the molasses and the hot water and stir until fully combined.
Step 5 –Add the butter, the granulated sugar, the eggs, and the vanilla extract to the molasses mixture and whisk until smooth.
Step 6 –Add the molasses mixture to the flour mixture and whisk just until no dry streaks are apparent. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 7 –Evenly pour the batter mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 8 –Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 9 –Transfer the baked cake from the oven to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Step 10 –When the cake has cooled, in a clean large bowl, add the cream cheese and the butter and, using the stand mixer’s paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer, beat until fully combined, about 1 minute.
Step 11 –Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until combined.
Step 12 –Add the lemon zest to the frosting mixture and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
Step 13 –Evenly spread the frosting mixture over the cooled cake.
Step 14 –Top the cake with the candied ginger and the sparkling sugar.
Step 15 –With a serrated knife, cut the frosted cake into serving-sized pieces and serve.
