Gingerbread Cake

Our moist and deliciously spiced gingerbread cake is a holiday tradition. It’s perfectly festive for the holidays – Thanksgiving to Christmas!

This gingerbread cake is perfect for the holidays and will make you feel at home with the sweetness and zing of molasses and spices. (Be sure to check out my Spiced Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Frosting and my Sugar Cookie Hot Chocolate Bombs too)

When decorated with orange and rosemary is a great holiday dessert.  It’s not only delicious and so moist but decorating it is also very easy and fun.  

You can go as simple as you like with this Gingerbread Cake; it is the perfect holiday centerpiece!

I don’t often feel like going through all of the prep and work to make a traditional Gingerbread House, Gingerbread Men, or even Gingerbread Cookies this time of year.  But, I still want that wonderful holiday flavor of gingerbread.

I love this cake because it is simple to make yet packs a big punch when it comes to serving it. It is beautiful on the holiday table and everyone always loves this Gingerbread Cake.

gingerbread loaf cake

Here are some commonly asked questions

What is gingerbread cake?

Gingerbread cake is a popular dessert during the holiday. Gingerbread cake is made with ginger spice and molasses. This cake can be decorated in several different ways; you can decorate it like Gingerbread Cookies or even Gingerbread Men.

Do you recommend this as gifts for the neighbors?

These make fabulous gifts for all your friends & neighbors. We like to pick up these disposable pans for gift giving. You could also just use the reuseable, baking pan & make that part of the gift.

gingerbread cake recipe

What pan do you recommend for this recipe?

I really love this baking pan. It is so versatile & works great for all my loaf cakes recipes & bread recipes.

Can Gingerbread Loaf Cake be frozen?

Yes, it can. Remove the cake from the pan & wrap it first in plastic wrap & then in foil before placing it in the freezer. I recommend doing this before decorating as it will last the longest.

The wrapping is the best way to ensure that the cake stays moist & doesn’t dry out. Be sure to label with the date before freezing. Also, if you are adding the glaze, be sure that it has set before wrapping the cake.

gingerbread loaf

Ingredients for Gingerbread Cake

• granulated sugar
• milk
• mild molasses
• vegetable oil
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• pure vanilla extract
• cinnamon
• ginger
• table salt
• orange zest

Icing

• heavy cream
• confectioner’s sugar

For decoration:

• pomegranate seeds
• dried orange slices
• Rosemary

What does gingerbread cake taste like?

Gingerbread Cake is a classic holiday dessert. This cake is known for its spicy flavor and it is often served with Gingerbread Chai Tea, Gingerbread Coffee, or sometimes even a Gingerbread Smoothie.

This classic holiday cake uses ginger spice and molasses as the main ingredients which give Gingerbread Cake its rich taste. Interestingly it can even be made vegan with the right ingredients!

easy recipe for gingerbread

How to Make Gingerbread Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and molasses for 3 minutes.
3. Add oil and milk and mix again.
4. Place a sieve over the bowl and put all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger) into the sieve. Sift into the liquid mixture. and mix well.
5. Grate the orange peel into the mixture and mix it with a spatula.
6. Bake at 350ºF degrees for 40-50 minutes. (until the toothpick test comes out clean or when the top springs back when lightly pressed)

Icing

1. Whisk the cold cream and confectioner’s sugar in a bowl.
2. Spread with a spoon on the cooled cake.

For decoration:

1. Decorate with orange, pomegranate and rosemary and serve.

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More Great Gingerbread Recipes

Gingerbread Cookie Bark

Rudolph Gingerbread Cookies

Homemade Gingerbread Pancakes

White Chocolate Ginger Cookies

Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

recipe for gingerbred cake

How do you store Gingerbread Cake?

You can keep this loaf cake in the baking pan & cover it with plastic wrap or foil. If you have removed it from the pan for decorating and serving, place any remaining cake slices in an airtight container at room temperature.

You can also keep it refrigerated until you are ready to enjoy it. This extends its freshness & flavor. Just heat the individual slices in the microwave for about 8-12 seconds on a microwave-safe dish before eating.

Why you’ll love this gingerbread cake

• Gingerbread Cake is a classic.
• If this cake is your favorite of all cakes, you can find it almost everywhere during the holiday season – in restaurants, at your friends’ and family member’s homes, etc.
• Gingerbread cake comes with a lot of tradition attached to it.
• You don’t have to go for anything more complicated.
• Easy to make.
• Rich molasses flavor.
• Not overly sweet.
• Great as a snack or dessert.

What is the best way to freeze this cake?

Once baked – this cake can be frozen at all stages of the creation process. I like to remove the freshly baked and cooled cakes from the pan, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freeze them for later use.

Often times I will get a cake to this stage days before the event I’m making for. Then just finish up the decorating the night before.

You can also gently wrap the completely decorated cake and freeze it until you need it. Remember that the frosting won’t be completely firm and can still be dented if something gets pushed up against it while in the freezer.

Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge the night before as it does taste best when not frozen. I also like to leave it at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving so the frosting is more creamy than stiff.

gingerbreaf loaf cake

Can I change the icing on this Gingerbread Cake?

Absolutely. You can replace or add vanilla extract to this glaze recipe. Or you can use something delicious like a cinnamon or sugar cookie syrup in place of the milk for a completely different twist.

Is gingerbread a bread?

Gingerbread is a cake, not bread. This cake is made with molasses and spices, baked in an oven.

Gingerbread cookies, however, are gingerbread’s savory cousin. However, the cookies only have flour, baking soda, spices, and butter. They use the same ingredients as Gingerbread Cake but there are some changes to the preparation method. In contrast, gingerbread cake has flour, baking powder, butter, brown sugar, molasses, and spices.

What is bakers release?

Bakers release is a combination of oil, flour, and shortening that makes releasing cakes and other baked goods almost effortless.

To make Bakers Release – it is as simple as 1,1 & 1. 

• equal parts of all-purpose flour, shortening, and cooking oil – I like to do 1 cup of each.

Mix the ingredients together – whisking well. Store in an airtight container in the pantry or refrigerator. When ready to use, dip a pastry brush into the mixture and spread it over the cake pan.

loaf cake

Products I love when making gingerbread cake…

This cake recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a homemade cake loaf before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this cake recipe.

• granulated sugar
• molasses
• vegetable oil
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• vanilla
• cinnamon
• ginger
• salt
• confectioner’s sugar
• 12 x 4.5-inch Loaf Pan

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If you love this Gingerbread Cake recipe, you’re going to love these other holiday treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Be sure to check out…

Fruit Cocktail Cake

Struffoli

Rum Cake

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