Capture the essence of the holidays with this warmly spiced gingerbread cake adorned with a silky caramelized white frosting. It's a delightful centerpiece that's as delicious to eat as it is beautiful to behold.
Ingredients:
For the Gingerbread Cake:
300g unsalted butter, room temperature (or a baking margarine for a lighter texture)
300g light brown muscovado sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
40g molasses
300g self-raising flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
100ml whole milk
For the Frosting:
200g caramelized white chocolate, melted and cooled
350g salted butter, room temperature
750g icing sugar, sifted
3 tbsp whole milk
For the Garnish:
Assorted gingerbread cookie figures
Seasonal sprinkle mix
Instructions:
For the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F) for fan-assisted or 140°C (285°F) for conventional settings. Line two 7-inch round cake tins with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one by one, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. If the mixture begins to curdle, blend in a spoonful of the flour.
Stir in the vanilla and molasses.
Fold in the remaining flour, ground spices, and milk until the mixture is uniform.
Split the batter evenly between the prepared tins. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack after removing from the oven.
For the Frosting:
In a bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add in the icing sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. If the frosting feels stiff, soften with milk, one tablespoon at a time.
Fold in the cooled, melted chocolate until the frosting is even and creamy.
To Assemble:
If the cake layers have domed tops, level them with a serrated knife.
Cut each cake horizontally to create four even layers.
Begin layering the cake, spreading a generous amount of buttercream between each layer.
Apply a thin layer of frosting around the cake for the crumb coat. Chill for 30 minutes.
After the crumb coat is set, apply the final layer of frosting, smoothing it out with a scraper.
Decorate with the gingerbread cookies and festive sprinkles on top.
This Spiced Gingerbread Cake is ready to serve as a sweet finale to your holiday feast, offering a slice of comfort with every forkful. Enjoy the merry combination of ginger, cinnamon, and caramelized sweetness!
