This Gingerbread Cake is everything you want in a classic holiday dessert—moist, warmly spiced, and incredibly fragrant. It comes together quickly, and the batter mixes easily without special equipment. Plus, the bold flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses create a nostalgic and comforting cake ideal for celebrations, gifting, or cozy evenings at home.
If you love simple and irresistible desserts, this Gingerbread Cake will become a seasonal favorite.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Cake
- Intensely flavorful thanks to bold spices and rich molasses
- Quick to prepare—no complicated steps
- Super moist texture that stays soft for days
- Perfect for winter holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings
- Delicious plain or topped with whipped cream, frosting, or powdered sugar
Gingerbread Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- Cream the butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes until fluffy.
- Add molasses, vanilla, and egg; mix until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined.
- Pour in the boiling water and mix until smooth.
- Transfer batter to the pan.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
- Serve plain or topped as desired.
Notes
- Batter will be thin—this is expected.
- Store covered for up to 4 days.
- Freezable for up to 3 months.
📝 Ingredients
- 2 cups (≈ 184 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup boiling water
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, powdered sugar
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9 × 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt until evenly combined.
- In a large bowl (or stand mixer), cream the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Add the molasses, vanilla, and egg. Mix on medium-low until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Carefully pour in the boiling water and mix again on low until the batter is fully combined. (It will be thin—this is normal.)
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
- Serve plain or finish with your favorite topping.
💡 Notes
- This cake is naturally moist—avoid overbaking.
- Boiling water helps activate the baking soda and deepens the flavor.
- For a stronger spice profile, add an extra ½ tsp ginger or cinnamon.
- For a lighter texture, replace 2 tbsp molasses with sugar.
- Store tightly covered for up to 4 days; freeze for up to 3 months.
Warm apple cake with autumn spices and buttery caramel topping.
Why You’ll Love It This cake brings together tender chunks of apple, cozy fall spices,…
To-Die-For Carrot Cake — Moist, Flavorful & Perfect for Any Celebration
Why You’ll Love This Cake This carrot cake is incredibly moist and packed with flavor…
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes — Cozy, Marshmallow-Topped Cupcakes
Why You’ll Love Them 🏡 They transform the comforting warmth of hot cocoa into a…
Better Than Anything Toffee — Buttery, Chocolate-Topped & Perfect for Gifts or Snacks
Why You’ll Love It 🥜 Simple but irresistible: only a few basic ingredients — butter,…
Limoncello Cake — Bright, Moist & Irresistibly Zesty
Why You’ll Love This Cake A tender, lemon-scented cake that’s moist yet light — perfect…
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake — Creamy, Spiced & Holiday-Ready
Why You’ll Love It 🥧 Super easy and quick: only ~10 minutes of hands-on time…