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This incredibly moist spice cake recipe is full of warm spices and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for the Holidays!
Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This is the ultimate spice cake recipe! It’s soft, fluffy, and not overly sweet. It pairs perfectly with the luscious cream cheese frosting. I love to make this moist cake during the Fall and Winter. It makes your whole house smell like gingerbread as it bakes. Enjoy a slice as a treat with a hot Homemade Caramel Pumpkin Latte. I promise it’s going to be a new holiday favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Spice Cake Recipe
- Easy to make ahead. I love preparing the spice cake ahead and storing it in the refrigerator. It makes party prepping easier!
- Family favorite. Everyone loves the warm, Fall flavors of this cake recipe.
- Balanced flavors. This cake has the perfect amount of sweetness and spice, making it perfectly balanced.
Ingredients Needed
Here are all of the components needed to make both the spice cake and the homemade cream cheese frosting. Many of the ingredients are common baking staples so they are easy to find at any grocery store. The molasses is located in the baking aisle, too!
For the cake
- Butter: I use salted butter for this cake recipe. You may use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt instead. Ensure it is softened so it combines with the sugar more easily.
- Brown sugar: I like to use brown sugar for this recipe because the subtle molasses flavor and notes of caramel pair well with the spices.
- Eggs: I would also remove your egg when you take the butter out of the refrigerator. It incorporates into the batter better at room temperature.
- Sour cream: To keep the cake moist, I like to add sour cream. If you like, you may use Greek yogurt instead.
- Molasses: Ensure that you use unsulphured molasses for this recipe. I enjoy the Grandma brand best.
- Hot water: So the molasses mixes better, I combine it with hot water first. This helps it thin out a bit.
- Flour: I use just all-purpose flour for this recipe. You may sift it to remove lumps if you like.
- Baking soda and powder: Adding baking soda and baking powder to help the cake rise and have a light and fluffy texture.
- Spices: For this spice cake recipe, I chose ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. You may also add nutmeg if you like.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Butter: I also use softened salted butter in the frosting. It helps to balance the sweetness.
- Cream cheese: Ensure the cream cheese is softened as well for a smooth frosting.
- Vanilla: The authentic flavor of pure vanilla extract enhances the flavors in this frosting recipe perfectly.
- Powdered sugar: I also use powdered sugar in icing and frosting recipes because it sweetens without adding a grainy texture that granulated sugar would.
How To Make Spice Cake
Here are the steps needed to make the cake batter and how to properly bake it as well as the frosting. It’s super easy to follow!
For the cake
- Prep the oven and pan. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Then, spray your 8×8 cake pan with cooking spray.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Combine the softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and cream the butter and sugar for about 2 minutes or until smooth.
- Add egg and sour cream. Pour the egg and sour cream into the bowl and continue to mix until the ingredients are fully combined.
- Combine molasses and water. Add the molasses and hot water to a separate small bowl. Stir until combined and set it aside.
- Mix dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices to a medium bowl. Whisk the ingredients to combine.
- Mix it all together. Gradually mix the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. After adding some of the dry ingredients, add the molasses. Continue to alternate until the cake batter is fully mixed and creamy.
- Transfer and bake. Pour it into the prepared baking pan and bake it for 30-35 minutes. Check it doe doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. Remove it from the oven when the toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool. Allow the spice cake to cool while you prepare the frosting.
For the frosting
- Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Add the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until it is fully combined.
- Frost and serve. Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Try it with whipped cream. Top this spice cake with whipped cream instead of frosting. Make this homemade whipped cream, cinnamon whipped cream or use store-bought.
- Pair with ice cream. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a piece of this cake.
- Use a hand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, an electric hand mixer will also work great.
Proper Storage
Store leftovers of this spice cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze it, leave out the frosting for best results. Tightly cover it and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before you add the frosting.
More Easy Cake Recipes
Spice Cake Recipe
This incredibly moist spice cake recipe is full of warm spices and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for the Holidays!
Servings: 9 slices
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup molasses un-sulfured
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 2 cups flour all-purpose, spoon and level method
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8×8-inch pan with nonstick baking spray.
- In a bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes.
- Mix in the egg and sour cream.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the molasses and hot water until mixed together completely. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
- Alternate mixing half of the molasses into the batter, with half of the dry ingredients until all is incorporated together. Do not overmix the batter.
- Pour batter into the prepared 8×8 pan.
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove the cake and let it cool while you make the frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Slowly, add in the powdered sugar on low speed until all is combined. Switch to high speed and beat the frosting for 2 minutes.
- Once the cake has cooled, frost it with the cream cheese frosting. Slice and serve.
Last Step:
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Nutrition
Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 607IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg
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2 comments on “Spice Cake Recipe”
Delicious!
Haven’t made it yet. Recipe sounds delicious…