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Gingerbread Cake

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The sweet and spicy aroma of freshly baked Gingerbread will make your home smell like Christmas! This dense moist cake is a timeless classic!

two pieces of gingerbread with twine

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Gingerbread recipe

There is something so Christmas-y about gingerbread. The smell of it baking says the holidays are near.

Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, generally flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It is usually sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. In this version, we create a sweet, dense, and moist cake using molasses and an aromatic blend of spices. 

I really don’t have too many memories of eating it while growing up. I’m not sure if my family didn’t like it or if they just chose other desserts like Soft Sugar Cookies, Peppermint Meringues, or Italian Anise Cookies.

Either way, as an adult, I love it and I enjoy sharing this recipe with my family and friends. This recipe pairs well with Caramel Sauce or Lemon Sauce. You can also try it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and/or a dollop of homemade sweetened whipped cream. If desired, you can also frost or ice this cake. It’s also fantastic by itself!

gingerbread cake with a dollop of whipped cream

How to Make Gingerbread

Ingredients

  • all-purpose flour – or cake flour
  • shortening – or unsalted butter
  • granulated sugar – or brown sugar
  • molasses – I used unsulphered molasses
  • hot water
  • baking soda
  • ground ginger
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • large egg
  • Caramel Sauce, Lemon Sauce, or Lemon Curd, if desired

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9x9x2-inch baking pan and set aside.
  2. Beat all of the gingerbread ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center tests clean.
  4. Serve with Caramel or Lemon Sauce, if desired.
how to make gingerbread

GIngerbread FAQs

What is gingerbread spice?

Generally, it is a combination of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It is usually sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses.

How to store gingerbread?

Store gingerbread in a covered dish or container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. For longer storage, you can also refrigerate it for up to 7-10 days.

Can gingerbread be frozen?

Yes! Once completely cooled, tightly wrap the cake (or pieces of cake) in plastic wrap then a layer of aluminum foil. You can freeze it for up to two months.

To use – allow to thaw on the counter at room temperature.

How do you reheat gingerbread?

Some people may prefer to enjoy a slice of this Christmas classic warmed-up. Microwave a slice for about 15-20 seconds.

Why did my cake fall in the middle?

1. You may have let too much heat escape from the oven. Resist the temptation of opening your oven door until closer to the end of the baking time. The cake needs time to “set up” to help prevent it from collapsing in the middle.
2. Don’t let the batter sit too long before baking. As soon as the mixture is mixed and in the pan, put it in the preheated oven.

Recipe Tips

  • Be careful not to overmix the batter.
  • The type of molasses you choose will have a significant impact on the flavor of the final product. I like to use Unsulphered Molasses since it is the sweetest and most mild-tasting. Sulphered Molasses is less sweet and more minerally with a more pungent molasses taste. Black-strap Molasses is not very sweet at all and has an almost licorice taste.
pieces of gingerbread stacked on a plate

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three pieces of gingerbread on plate
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two gingerbread cake slices with twine

Gingerbread

Yield: 9 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

The sweet and spicy aroma of freshly baked Gingerbread will make your home smell like Christmas! This dense moist cake is a timeless classic!

Ingredients

For the pan:

  • Shortening for greasing pan
  • Flour for dusting pan

For the Gingerbread:

  • 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg

For serving:

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9x9x2-inch baking pan and set aside. 
  2. Beat all of the gingerbread ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. 
  3. Bake 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center tests clean. 
  4. Serve with Caramel Sauce, Lemon Sauce, or Lemon Curd, if desired.

Notes

  • Be careful not to overmix the batter.
  • The type of molasses you choose will have a significant impact on the flavor of the final product. I like to use Unsulphered Molasses since it is the sweetest and most mild-tasting. Sulphered Molasses is less sweet and more minerally with a more pungent molasses taste. Black-strap Molasses is not very sweet at all and has an almost licorice taste.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1 square
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 464Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 357mgCarbohydrates: 78gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 6g

Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you try this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and tag @lovebakesgoodcakes on Instagram with the hashtag #lovebakesgoodcakes so I can see what you made!

© Jamie Sherman
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert

Originally published December 23, 2012. Updated on December 15, 2019. Updated again on November 11, 2021.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Helen @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

    Ooh this sounds delicious!! I just read your mini about below your photo on the right…I was homeschooled all the way up to high school graduation! 🙂 I also love to cook & bake and share a lot of family friendly recipes on Blue Eyed Beauty Blog (my blog). I cannot stand store bought foods and make almost everything I eat from scratch!

    Visiting via Adorned From Above Wednesday Link Party!

    Helen
    Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
    Exercise Encouragement Group Blog

    Reply

  7. Sharon Hodge

    I have yet to get around to making anything that contains ginger. Surprising, since I love to bake. This looks fantastic. I'm reconsidering the ginger thing right now.

    Sharon
    Make It Or Fix It Yourself!

    Reply

  9. cooking with curls

    I think I have made gingerbread cake once in the past. I never had it growing up, we always had English Christmas Cake (which I cannot stand by the way). It looks really delicious Jamie. I think I should make it again soon. 🙂

    Reply

  12. Cynthia Landrie

    It's always great to have another gingerbread recipe on hand during the holidays. I'll have to try this one with the Caramel Sauce. Thank you for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.

    Reply

  13. Heather Carter

    Hi Jamie! Your Gingerbread is one of the Top Features from last week's Sweet Wednesday Link Party! Congratulations and stop by to grab a featured button: http://www.my-sweet-mission.com/2013/12/top-features-from-swlp-14-christmas.html

    Also, this post is pinned to my Features from Sweet Wednesday Link Party board too: http://www.pinterest.com/mysweetmission/features-from-sweet-wednesday-link-party/

    Thanks so much for linking up, I appreciate you!

    Hugs,
    Heather
    MySweetMission.net

    Reply

  15. kentuckylady717

    Been looking for a Gingerbread recipe…..could not even find any kind of gingerbread cake or cookies anywhere in any of the stores….hard to even find a recipe….now that I have this one, I will still make this as soon as I can…. I know I have some molasses, but not sure I have a cup…..will check and will make this…..

    Thanks for posting this…..

    Reply

  17. SA Mattthews

    May I suggest whipped cream as well as a topping? That is the way we always had it and delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Gonna try it!

    Reply

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Love Bakes Good Cakes delivers delicious and simple family-friendly meals. Find everything from healthier recipes to over the top desserts!