Indulge in a culinary delight with our tantalizing Pumpkin Gingerbread Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. This exquisite cake is a symphony of flavors, combining the warmth of pumpkin and gingerbread with the tangy creaminess of cream cheese frosting. Each bite offers a burst of autumnal spices, perfectly complemented by the velvety frosting. Our comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions for creating this masterpiece, along with variations for a gluten-free version and a dairy-free frosting alternative. Impress your loved ones with this stunning cake, perfect for special occasions or simply as a delightful treat.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
As with most gingerbreads, this cake only gets better with time. When it's first baked, it will be light and cakey. If you wrap it and let it sit a day, it will become even more moist and the warm spices will intensify. Either way, it's homey and delicious and perfect for your holiday table. And if you don't have gingerbread cookies to decorate the bottom with, don't worry. This cake can easily stand alone and still impress.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a parchment round.
- Stir together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
- Combine the brown sugar and butter in another large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined (it's fine if the mixture looks a little curdled).
- Stir the molasses into the boiling water in a large spouted measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat just until smooth.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, invert the cakes onto the rack, then peel off and discard the parchment.
- For the frosting: Combine the butter and cream cheese in a clean mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioner's' sugar, beating until combined. Add the vanilla and gradually increase the speed to high. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed so the frosting is spreadable.
- Place one cake layer flat-side down on a cake stand or platter. Top with about 3/4 cup of the frosting, spreading almost to the edges using an offset spatula. Place the remaining cake layer on top, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting on the entire cake and smooth the top and sides with the offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake while you decorate the gingerbread cookies.
- For the decorations: Meanwhile, microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until just melted. (Alternatively, melt the chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; do not let bowl touch the water.) Let cool slightly and put into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (or use a plastic ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe eyes and smiles on the gingerbread cookie faces.
- Arrange the merry gingerbread men side by side around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing in slightly to adhere. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the nonpareils.
PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Love gingerbread and pumpkin? This cake is for you. The gingerbread cake is super moist with a delicious pumpkin flavor. You taste a bit of spiciness from the cake, but the flavors are balanced by the cool, sweet tang of the yummy cream cheese frosting. If you're looking for a real gingerbread cake for the holiday's this is it....
Provided by Laurie Sanders
Categories Cakes
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- 2. In a large bowl mix together sugar, oil, eggs and water.
- 3. Beat in the pumpkin and the spices.
- 4. Mix dry ingredients together and slowly add to pumpkin mixture. Stir until just blended.
- 5. Pour into two well greased 8 or 9-inch cake pans and bake 30-40 minutes until they test done.
- 6. Cool completely.
- 7. For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese together until well combined.
- 8. Then add in the vanilla.
- 9. Slowly add in the powdered sugar.
- 10. Beat until smooth.
- 11. Put the bottom cake on a plate (you may need to slice off the top of each cake to make the flat).
- 12. Frost the top of the bottom cake
- 13. Then place the second cake on top.
- 14. Frost entire cake. Cut it and eat it!
PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD CAKE
This moist Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake is amazingly flavorful and perfect for fall! A delicious combination of two fall favorites.
Provided by Melissa Diamond
Categories Cakes and Cupcakes
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 8 inch pans, add a circle of parchment paper to the bottom of each pan.
- In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk this flour mixture for at least 30 seconds. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine these wet ingredients: hot water, oil, molasses, vanilla extract, and canned pumpkin. Stir and set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and mix 4 to 5 minutes on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time mixing just until the yolk is blended in.
- Next, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the wet ingredients. Begin and end with the flour mixture (3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of wet ingredients). Mix until just blendedin, scraping the bowl a couple of times. Do not mix above mediumspeed or over-mix.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the three prepared 8-inch pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Baking times may vary slightly so check on your cake layers as you approach the 25 minute mark and adjust baking time as needed.
- Cut the butter into slices and add to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is softened and smooth.
- Cut the cold cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until incorporated. If you are using a hand mixer you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.Add the vanilla.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low speed until blended. Add the pumpkin pie spice. Cover the bowl with a towel to keep down the cloud of powdered sugar. Increase mixing speed and beat until fluffy.
- Don't over beat or it will become too soft. If the frosting becomes too soft, just refrigerate a short while to firm it up a bit.This frosting will pipe best if used while still chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use let it soften slightly (do not microwave) and remix.
SPICED PUMPKIN LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
When it comes to dessert, I am a chocoholic first and fruit-pie lover second; but after several test batches to perfect this cake, I am completely won over, and so is everyone who has tasted it. This is simply a spectacular cake-moist and light with spiced pumpkin flavor and sweet bites of coconut and pineapple. In addition, it is a snap to make. It requires two 9-inch cake pans to make the layers, but the cake itself can be mixed together with a rubber spatula and bowl. If all the cake ingredients are pre-measured and the cake pans prepared, this can be a fun kitchen project to do with children, especially since it can be made ahead and frozen.
Provided by Diane Morgan
Categories Cake Mixer Egg Dessert Bake Thanksgiving Cream Cheese Dried Fruit Coconut Pineapple Spice Pumpkin Cinnamon Butter Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Serves 12
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch sides. Line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper. Sprinkle the pans with flour, tap the pans to evenly distribute the flour, and then shake off the excess flour. Set aside.
- To make the cake, in a large bowl, sift together the 2 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, oil, and vanilla. In another medium bowl, combine the pumpkin purée, coconut, crushed pineapple, and currants.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Add the pumpkin mixture and stir just until combined. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading it evenly. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. Transfer to wire racks and let cool in the pans for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around the edge of the pans to loosen the cakes. Invert the cakes onto the racks and peel off the parchment paper. Let cool completely before frosting the cakes.
- To make the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed for about 3 minutes until smooth. Add the butter and beat for about 2 minutes until combined. Add the pumpkin purée and beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and beat for about 3 minutes until fluffy.
- Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or platter. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the frosting over the top of the first cake layer. Spread the frosting right to the edge of the top without frosting the sides of the cake. Carefully place the second cake on top, lining up the edges. Spread the remaining frosting over the top of the cake without frosting the sides. Swirl the frosting to decorate the top. Refrigerate the cake to set the frosting. Remove from the refrigerator 30 to 40 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- Mise en place. Before you start baking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready to go. This will help you stay organized and avoid any mishaps.
- Measure your ingredients carefully. Baking is a science, and precise measurements are essential for success. Use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients, if possible.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to incorporate air into the batter, making your cake light and airy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will help to prevent the batter from curdling.
- Gently fold in the dry ingredients. Do not overmix the batter, as this can make the cake tough.
- Bake the cake in a preheated oven. This will help to ensure that the cake bakes evenly.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Use a piping bag to apply the frosting. This will help you to create a smooth, even finish.
Conclusion:
This pumpkin gingerbread layer cake with cream cheese frosting is a delicious and festive dessert that is perfect for any occasion. The cake is moist and flavorful, with a perfect balance of pumpkin and gingerbread spices. The cream cheese frosting is rich and creamy, and it complements the cake perfectly. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make this cake at home. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!
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