A recipe for a super moist, light, and fluffy gingerbread cake full of ginger, molasses, spices, and topped with a lemon cream cheese icing!
I’ve said before that I’m not a huge ginger person. It’s weird to say that considering I’ll still eat and thoroughly enjoy every single gingerbread-type item that you put in front of me. I just pick other things over it. There are exceptions though. Namely, my family’s Cracked Top Ginger Cookies. They’re the best. I was also a huge fan of these Gingersnap Chocolate Ganache Truffles. But again, I’d probably pick other things over gingery stuff most of the time.
That said, I looooved this Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Icing. Every time I’d walk into the kitchen and see it on the counter, I’d stop to think “am I in the mood for ginger? Hmmmm.” Then due to an overwhelming need for a little sugar rush, I’d take a bite and remember how good it is. This cake is soooo moist, spicy, and molasses-y. I underestimate the deliciousness of ginger over and over again.
The bottom line is, I really do like it. Like, a lot. I just sort of forget until a sugar craving strikes and I give into whatever confectionery treat is nearby! Recently, it was this gingerbread cake, and I had to make it because… well… Christmas is coming. Obvi. The holidays are not the same to me without 3 things: eggnog, peppermint, and gingerbread. Okay, I can think of about 854 more things that I need for Christmas to feel like Christmas, but for now, we’ll focus strictly on the gingerbread. It had to happen, for Christmas’ sake.
This was the kind of cake where S.O. and I left two forks right in the pan at all times, and were just eating it straight out of the pan anytime we walked through the kitchen. No semblance of manners whatsoever. We weren’t shy about it. Totally unabashed, forks right in the cake. Not a care.
It literally is the most moist cake ever. It’s fluffy, light, and bursting with molasses flavors, ginger and other spices. And the icing? A perfect counterpart to the cake. Gingerbread and lemon are a dynamic duo, after all. The lemon cream cheese icing is tangy, sweet, and creamy… you’ll want to laden your cake with a whole mess of this stuff. I’m not going to say that the icing is the best part because both the cake and icing are fantastic, buuuuut the icing is really where the sugar’s at. You get me?
Easy Gingerbread Snack Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For cake:
- 1 c. shortening
- 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
- 1/2 c. white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 c. water
- 1/3 c. molasses
- 2 1/2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. cloves
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- pinch of salt
For frosting:
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 2 tbsp. butter softened
- 2 c. powdered sugar approximately
- 1 tsp. lemon extract
- 1 - 7 oz. jar marshmallow fluff
- a few drops yellow food coloring optional
Instructions
To prepare cake:
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In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugars until fluffy.
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Add eggs and beat until well-combined.
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Add in water and molasses. Beat until well-combined.
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In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
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Add to mixing bowl and beat until just combined.
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Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
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Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean.
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Cool completely on a wire rack.
To prepare frosting:
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In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and lemon extract.
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Beat until smooth and well-combined.
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Fold in marshmallow fluff.
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If frosting needs to be slightly thicker, add powdered sugar as needed.
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Frost cake. Enjoy!
Cake is adapted from this recipe by Taste of Home.
Mmm, yum. That looks amazing. I’m with you on the gingerbread though, not usually my first choice, but I always really love it when I eat it! And Christmas really isn’t Christmas without gingerbread in some form or another!
Right? It’s not my first choice at all, but I always love anything ginger-y that I eat! It’s odd. This cake was so good though because it was also just ridiculously moist! I’m excited for Christmas, but still NO shopping done. Ack!
I’m not a huge ginger fan either, unless it’s in gingerbread cookies, cakes, brownies, anything Christmas related. I’ve never had a gingerbread cake before so I’m absolutely loving this! My husband and I would totally eat this right out of the pan, too. I love how moist and fluffy it looks! And that lemon frosting on top is perfect! Delish!
Haha! Isn’t that funny? Most people seem to be just okay on ginger stuff, except around the holidays when it just seems so fitting! I always like what I try, I just don’t reach for it first. Yes, straight out of the pan. That’s the way we roll in this house. I guess we were raised by wolves! Haha. 🙂
I love this, so simple but such amazing flavor!!!
Thanks so much, Amanda!! I think ginger with citrus always seems to work, ya know? Have a great weekend! TGIF!
Oh yum!!! I don’t think I would have ever thought to pair ginger bread with lemon, what a fun flavor combo! This looks great!
Thanks, Annie! I like ginger stuff with citrus like orange and lemon. They just seem to work! You’ll have to try those flavors together! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
Yay!! I love this simple and amazing cake. I’ve been ignoring gingerbread this year…I need to get some starting with this cake!
Lol! But you’ve been making up for it with awesome eggnog and cranberry recipes!! Really gorgeous stuff on your blog this week! TGIF! Have a great weekend, Zainab!
Wow you have combined 2 of my favorite flavors Sarah – ginger & lemon!! Looks so good!!
Yay! I’m so glad you like those flavors! I hope you have a great weekend, Manali!
This is my idea of a perfect gingerbread cake! Absolutely swooning over that lemon frosting! Gorgeous. 🙂
Thanks so much, Sarah! I keep meaning to stop by your blog, btw! I’ll pop over there momentarily! Thanks for your kind comment! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
I love this recipe!! It reminds me of the snack cakes my mom would but in our lunch boxes…but, you know, fancied up. 🙂
Haha! Thanks so much! I’m glad you like it. It went pretty quickly in my house. Wow, I would’ve loved cake in my lunch box growing up. YUM. 🙂
ooh these sound delicious Sarah, love the lemon icing 🙂
Gingerbread and lemon sound amazing! I love simple cakes that are full of flavor! This looks incredibly delicious and I really wish I had a slice right now 🙂
Sarah, I really love a simple cake like this… especially with ginger. I pick things over, too. But, I’m especially intrigued by the combination of the ginger and lemon. I really would love to devour this right now!
Oh, delicious!! I’m totally guilty of keeping forks/spoons in pans of baked goods that are just TOO good to not sneak a bite of when walking past. I’m a gingerbread fan and this cake looks so so perfect. Love the lemon icing, too!
Right? Most of the time, it’s just the two of us eating the desserts in the house, so we just dive straight in! Who needs a plate? Haha. Thanks, Alyssa! 🙂
The lemon icing sounds like a fabulous combination with the gingerbread cake!
Yes! Citrus and gingerbread make a great flavor team! 🙂
I adore gingerbread, I plan on making some soon. Paired with lemon, I can imagine this combination is delicious. This has been featured as one of my favourites over at Sweet and Savoury Sunday. Stop by, grab a button and link up again with us this week. Have a great day!
Oh, great! That’s wonderful news! Thanks so much for the feature, and I’ll see you at the party later! 🙂
I’m totally in love with this! YUMMY! Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you being a part of our party.
Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Thanks so much for the party, as always! 🙂
Gingerbread and lemon are such a tantalizing taste combination and I would never have thought of it myself. Yum!
Thanks! There’s something about gingerbread and citrus that just works together! Give it a try! Thanks so much for your kind comment! 🙂