Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
As soon as it turns to Fall, it is time to bake this family favorite!
Servings: 15
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 16 tablespoons (8 ounces) unsalted butter, divided and softened
- 2 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 extra-large eggs plus 3 extra large egg yolks at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
For the Frosting
- 12 ounces cream cheese frosting softened
- 9 tablespoons (4 ½ ounces) unsalted butter softened
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 4-5 cups confectioners' sugar
Instructions
For the Cake
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan; set aside. Combine cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg in a small bowl; reserve ½ teaspoon of spice mixture for the frosting.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Cook, swirling pan constantly until butter is light brown and has a faint nutty aroma, 2-4 minutes. Add spices and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 15 seconds. Transfer the butter mixture to a small bowl and cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, gently whisk eggs, yolks, and vanilla to combine. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat remaining 12 tablespoons of butter with the sugar and molasses on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl using a rubber spatula. Add the cooled butter mixture, ginger, and half of egg mixture; mix until incorporated, about 15 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg mixture; scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in three additions, alternating buttermilk in two additions, scraping down bowl as needed. Mix at medium speed until batter is thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Give batter a final stir by hand.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan, smooth top with rubber spatula, run tip of metal spatula through batter in a zigzag motion to edges of the pan, and gently tap pan on counter to release air bubbles. Bake cake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 32-37 minutes. Let cake cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.
For the Frosting
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or using a hand-held mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla just until blended. Add the confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, and beat just until smooth (do not over beat). Stir reserved spice mixture into frosting. Spread frosting evenly over cake. Serve. (Cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap or covered with a lid and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.) Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 696IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg
