Gingerbread just screams Christmas and so does this amazing Christmas cake. The flavors of ginger, cinnamon and cloves make the cake truly special and the cream cheese frosting is to die for.
Gingerbread:
12 T. butter, melted
2 c. brown sugar
2 c. molasses
1 c. warm water
1 c. buttermilk, at room temperature
3 large eggs
2 T. ground ginger
1 T. ground cinnamon
3/4 t. ground cloves
1 1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. baking powder
4 c. all-purpose flour
Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 - 8 oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. salted butter, softened
1 T. vanilla extract
6 c. powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease three 9 inch round pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, sugar, molasses, warm water, buttermilk and eggs. Whisk in ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Slowly add in flour; mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly into prepared baking pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 - 10 minutes before removing and cooling completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, make frosting in a large bowl, beating butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract until just combined; slowly add in powdered sugar until desired frosting consistency is reached.
Frost between layers as well as the top and outside of the cake.
16 servings.