Lightened Up Gingerbread Cake Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square cake pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Spray the parchment with cooking spray as well, and then set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine the butter and milk. Heat over medium-high, just until the butter is melted and bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Whisk in the brown sugar until dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool.
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
• Stir the egg into the cooled butter mixture.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the butter mixture. Stir just until a smooth batter forms, being careful not to over-mix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
• Dust cooled cake with powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream, if desired.

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a parchment round.
• Stir together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• Combine the brown sugar and butter in another large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined (it's fine if the mixture looks a little curdled).
• Stir the molasses into the boiling water in a large spouted measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat just until smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, invert the cakes onto the rack, then peel off and discard the parchment.
• For the frosting: Combine the butter and cream cheese in a clean mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioner's' sugar, beating until combined. Add the vanilla and gradually increase the speed to high. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed so the frosting is spreadable.
• Place one cake layer flat-side down on a cake stand or platter. Top with about 3/4 cup of the frosting, spreading almost to the edges using an offset spatula. Place the remaining cake layer on top, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting on the entire cake and smooth the top and sides with the offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake while you decorate the gingerbread cookies.
• For the decorations: Meanwhile, microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until just melted. (Alternatively, melt the chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; do not let bowl touch the water.) Let cool slightly and put into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (or use a plastic ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe eyes and smiles on the gingerbread cookie faces.
• Arrange the merry gingerbread men side by side around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing in slightly to adhere. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the nonpareils.

GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then prepare an 8×8 or 9×9 cake pan, either size will work. Grease the bottom and sides with butter and cut a slice of parchment paper to lay inside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat brown sugar and eggs for at least 3 minutes.
• Add in buttermilk, molasses, melted butter and vanilla extract.
• Beat for 5 minutes until all of the ingredients are combined and have a fluffier texture. Scape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Combine the flour, ground spices, baking soda and baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• With the mixer on low, slowly add in the dry ingredients.
• Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and using a spatula, fold it all together.
• Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
• Let the cake cool and then add a fluffy layer of gingerbread frosting over the top OR leave it without and it's just as good!

LIGHTENED UP GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, molasses, and egg.
• In a glass measuring cup measure 1/2 cup hot water (or heat up cool water in the microwave until hot but not boiling).
• Add the baking soda to the hot water, stir.
• Add the soda and water mixture to the bowl of ingredients. Stir until mixed.
• Pour batter into a lightly greased 9X9" baking dish.
• Bake at 350F for 30 - 35 minutes.