Description
Spice cake elevates holiday baking with classic seasonal flavors nestled between rich eggnog buttercream layers. Warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger create a festive dessert perfect for winter celebrations when you want something special.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.5 cups (590 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1.75 cups (350 g) light brown sugar
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) unsweetened applesauce
- 1.5 cups (340 g) unsalted butter
- 1.5 tsps ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp unsulphured molasses
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 4.5 cups (570 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
- 7 tbsps eggnog
- 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp ground clove
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 0.25 tsp pure ground black pepper
- 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Heat oven to 350°F and thoroughly coat three 8-inch round cake pans with grease and flour.
- Dry Ingredient Assembly: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and black pepper in a single mixing bowl, whisking until perfectly integrated.
- Wet Ingredient Foundation: Vigorously beat brown sugar, vegetable oil, molasses, and applesauce into a smooth, uniform mixture, then individually incorporate eggs, ensuring complete blending after each addition.
- Batter Composition: Fold vanilla extract into wet ingredients, then gradually incorporate dry ingredient mixture on low speed, carefully scraping bowl sides to maintain consistent texture.
- Baking Process: Evenly distribute batter across prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, confirming doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean.
- Cooling Stage: Rest cake layers completely, creating a stable foundation for frosting and allowing thermal relaxation.
- Buttercream Creation: Whip butter until light, gradually introducing confectioners’ sugar, then blend eggnog, nutmeg, and heavy cream until achieving a luxurious, fluffy consistency.
- Ganache Preparation: Simmer heavy cream and pour over white chocolate chips, stirring until developing a silky, smooth texture, then allow brief cooling for ideal drizzling consistency.
- Cake Assembly: Layer eggnog buttercream between cake tiers, completely enrobing exterior with remaining frosting, then elegantly drizzle white chocolate ganache across the top, permitting delicate cascades along sides.
- Final Flourish: Optionally dust cake surface with ground cinnamon or nutmeg for an elevated, festive presentation.
Notes
- Spice Selection Matters: Choose fresh, high-quality whole spices and grind them just before mixing for maximum flavor intensity and aromatic depth.
- Moisture Management: Applesauce and vegetable oil ensure an incredibly tender, moist cake texture that stays soft for days after baking.
- Temperature Control: Allow ingredients like eggs and butter to reach room temperature before mixing to guarantee smooth, even cake batter integration.
- Ganache Technique: Cool white chocolate ganache until it reaches a perfect drizzling consistency – not too runny or stiff – for those Instagram-worthy cake decorations.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 466
- Sugar: 44 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg