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Molasses Spice Cake

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    An array of aromatic spices makes this molasses cake enticing, with or without the cream cheese frosting and brown-sugar glaze.
    Martha Stewart Living, October 2007
    • Yield Makes one 9-inch cake
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    Ingredients

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
    • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    • Pinch of ground cloves
    • 4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
    • 1/3 cup sour cream, room temperature
    • 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
    • 3 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
    • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1 to 2 lemons)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
    • 1 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar
    • Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Brown-Sugar Glaze

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9-by-2-inch round cake pan. Line bottom with parchment, and butter the parchment.
    2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, molasses, ginger, lemon zest, and vanilla.
    3. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream mixture.
    4. Scrape batter into prepared pan, and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack, remove parchment, and turn right side up. Let cool completely. (Cake can be wrapped tightly in plastic and refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
    5. Spread frosting over top of cake. Drizzle with glaze. Serve immediately.

    Recipe Reviews

    • booandollie
      29 Feb, 2012

      We loved this cake, it was moist and full of flavor :-)

    • Omemee
      30 Dec, 2010

      Tried this wonderful cake and the center was not cooked through so put back in oven for 20 more minutes.

    • shiloh78
      27 Oct, 2008

      Super delicious!! The best homemade cake I have ever had. Perfect for the season, and great to serve as a dessert for a dinner party. Make the caramel sauce just before serving--takes about 10minutes for it to thicken.

    • pedro
      21 Dec, 2007

      i love this cake.just the right amount of kick.just wonderful.

    • foodiegalore
      26 Nov, 2007

      What a great cake..moist and yummy. The frosting and the glaze make this a real keeper for all who love spice cake.

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