Description
A moist gingerbread cake with a silky vanilla cream sauce, balancing warmth and elegance for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- A pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150 g) dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) molasses
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) hot strong tea or hot water
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) heavy cream
- 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped, or 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional, for finishing)
- Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
- Toasted sliced almonds or finely chopped candied ginger (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter and flour an 8- or 9-inch round pan, tapping out excess flour.
- Whisk together sifted flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and salt.
- Cream butter and brown sugar until light and aerated, about 2–3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until glossy, then stir in molasses.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures, alternating with hot tea or water, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Fold until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35–45 minutes until a skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
- Make the vanilla cream sauce: Combine cream, sugar, and vanilla bean (or extract) in a saucepan. Simmer gently until thickened, about 4–6 minutes. Remove from heat, swirl in butter, and strain if necessary.
- Serve slices of cake drizzled with warm vanilla cream sauce and garnish with confectioners’ sugar and toasted almonds or candied ginger.
Notes
For best results, use room temperature ingredients, and avoid overmixing the batter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg