Stunning Gingerbread Cake

'The flavors of everyone's favorite Christmas cookie can be enjoyed in this scrumptious cake. The savory, buttery taste coupled with the perfect deep sweetness is unrivaled. Enjoy this beautiful wintery dessert after dinner or coupled with a warm cup of coffee for a sweet breakfast treat! This cake will surely become a new tradition in your household for Christmases to come.' - Matt

This cake makes a beautiful wintery woodland look by scraping icing off top and sides of the cake.

Gingerbread Cake

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup molasses

• 3/4 cup hot water

• 1 stick of softened butter

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz package of softened cream cheese

1 1/2 cups of powder sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together until combined. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the molasses and hot water together.

3. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and continue beating until creamed together. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the hot water/molasses, and mixing each addition just until incorporated.

4. Pour batter into pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cake is baked through. Allow cake to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. Whip together frosting ingredients.

5. Once cake is completely cooled frost cake for desired look. I prefer to do a scraped (naked) cake look. Take one layer and frost the top of the cake completely. Top with next layer and frost the top and sides completely. The cake may look messy - that’s okay. Take a very straight knife and gently scrape the sides of the cake removing most of the frosting. Wipe off excess frosting in-between scrapes.

6. After you have removed the desired amount, top with cranberries and sprigs of greenery or herbs. Powder the entire cake with powder sugar and enjoy!