About
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 9x13-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.
