Moist, flavorful, and tender but dense home made spice cake is topped with a beneficiant layer of the silkiest brown butter cream cheese frosting. Make it as a sheet cake, layer cake, cupcakes, or a Bundt cake! Full of comforting heat spices, this dessert is ideal for cool fall days.
I initially revealed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new pictures and extra success suggestions. I now present you precisely learn how to flip this cake right into a layer cake (see beneath!).
Chocolate? You’ll neglect all about it after one chew of this spice cake. It’s dense, moist, and flavorful sufficient that frosting isn’t even a requirement. I can’t imagine I’m saying this however, when accomplished proper, tremendous moist spice cake doesn’t want frosting.
However that clearly received’t cease us from including it anyway! Essentially the most luscious brown butter cream cheese frosting takes this already-amazing spice cake to an entire new degree.
One reader, Veronica, commented: “What a success! I used to be in search of a wonderful spice cake recipe and that is it!!! I took it to a soccer social gathering and other people couldn’t cease raving about it or consuming it! Tremendous moist, tremendous flavorful! ★★★★★“
One reader, Nicqui, commented: “OMG that is essentially the most scrumptious cake. Tremendous moist and the spice combine is fabulous. I’ve made many spice desserts and so they often prove dry and dense however this was excellent. ★★★★★“
This Spice Cake Is:
- Mushy and moist like banana cake
- Cozy and comforting, completely spiced
- Straightforward to make—no mixer required for the batter
- Scrumptious with out frosting, and even higher when it’s topped with easy + silky brown butter cream cheese frosting
- Versatile—make it as a sheet cake, layer cake, cupcakes, or Bundt cake
- An incredible make-ahead recipe (it’s even tastier on day 2!)
This spice cake is dense, but tender and so-very-rich. It has tight crumbs and a moist texture. And extra taste in 1 chew than in a whole cupcake—we’re speaking gingerbread-level taste. It’s definitely one in all my favourite fall cake recipes.
Plus, you possibly can see that I used this very batter as the start line for my favourite apple cake. Such an ideal base recipe!
Selecting the Proper Elements
Some key components you want:
- Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the bottom. You want sturdy all-purpose flour as an alternative of cake flour on this recipe due to the heavy, moist batter.
- Fall Spices + Molasses: For mega spice taste we use a lot of cozy spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. I at all times add 1 Tablespoon of molasses, however when you don’t have any readily available, you possibly can simply go away it out. I cherished its additional sturdy taste contained in the cake, however I did check the cake with out it. Nonetheless fantastic.
- Oil: Oil ensures a moist crumb.
- Brown Sugar: We use solely brown sugar on this spice cake recipe as a result of you recognize that’s the place the most effective taste lies. I desire darkish brown sugar for even deeper taste.
- Applesauce: Applesauce provides taste and moisture.
- Apple: 1 cup of shredded apple provides a lot taste and moisture—it’s what makes this spice cake actually the most effective I’ve ever tasted. It’s also possible to use shredded zucchini or carrot as an alternative, or be happy to skip it.
Plus, baking powder, baking soda, eggs, vanilla, and salt.
Overview: Easy methods to Make Spice Cake
It is a very merely cake to arrange—it truly jogs my memory of pumpkin cake when it comes to preparation, ease, style, and texture. You don’t even want your mixer!
Choose the pan you’re utilizing. At the moment I’ve each the quarter sheet pan (9×13-inch) and 3-layer cake choice pictured. Be sure the pan you’re utilizing is greased. If making a layer cake, line your spherical pans with parchment paper rounds.
You may make both of those measurement desserts, or a 2-layer cake, Bundt cake, or cupcakes:
Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Everyone knows that cream cheese frosting is spice cake’s good buddy, however do you know that spice cake’s BEST buddy occurs to be brown butter cream cheese frosting?
I’m unsure why I waited so lengthy to show common cream cheese frosting into brown butter cream cheese frosting? This is identical frosting we use on this zucchini cake, and it’s fairly probably the most effective frosting I’ve ever had—tangy and candy, however not as tooth-decaying candy as American-style buttercream. Creamy, thick, silky, easy.
Right here’s learn how to make it:
- Brown butter on the range. I wrote a whole tutorial on learn how to brown butter so you possibly can study precisely the way it’s accomplished!
- Refrigerate it till stable, then cream it.
- Beat in cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt.
These specks of nutty toasty buttery goodness deliver cream cheese frosting up about 700 notches on the scrumptious scale.
Time-saving tip: Browning the butter and refrigerating it till stable is an entire additional step, however you are able to do this earlier than you even begin making the cake. By the point the baked cake has cooled, the brown butter can be re-solidified and able to be whipped into frosting.
That stated, when you merely don’t have the time to brown the butter and let it re-solidify, this cake is simply as tasty with common cream cheese frosting, or with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting we use on banana cupcakes. You might even use white chocolate buttercream frosting or garnish every slice with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.
Different Dimension Spice Desserts
This spice cake is extremely versatile, which is without doubt one of the many issues I like about it! There’s sufficient batter for a layer cake, Bundt cake, or cupcakes.
- 2-Layer 9-inch Cake: Divide the batter equally between two 9-inch cake pans and bake the layers for about 26 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart of the cake comes out clear.
- 3-Layer 8-inch Cake: Divide the batter equally amongst three 8-inch cake pans and bake the layers for about 25 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. (Pictured beneath.) See recipe Word about learn how to enhance the quantity of frosting.
- Bundt Cake: This batter suits splendidly right into a 10-12 cup Bundt pan and takes round 55–65 minutes. Begin checking across the 50-minute mark, and use a toothpick to check for doneness.
- Cupcakes: This recipe makes about 24 standard-size cupcakes. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 18–21 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. See recipe Word about learn how to enhance the quantity of frosting.
Extra Recipes Spice Cake Followers Will Love
Description
Moist, flavorful, and tender but dense home made spice cake is topped with a beneficiant layer of the silkiest brown butter cream cheese frosting. Make it as a sheet cake, layer cake, cupcakes, or a Bundt cake! Full of comforting heat spices, this dessert is ideal for cool fall days.
Cake
- 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon floor cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon floor ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon floor nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon floor cloves
- 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
- 1 and three/4 cup (350g) packed darkish brown sugar
- 1 cup (240g) unsweetened applesauce
- 4 massive eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (150g) shredded apple (or shredded carrot/zucchini)
- non-obligatory: 1 Tablespoon (15ml) unsulphured or darkish molasses (don’t use blackstrap; I desire Grandma’s model)
Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, reduce into 4 slices
- 8 ounces (226g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 and 1/2 cups (300g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan. I at all times use this glass pan. See recipe Notes for different pan measurement choices.
- Make the cake: In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Put aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the oil, brown sugar, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and molasses (if utilizing). Pour the moist components into the dry components and whisk till mixed. Some small lumps are OK. Fold within the shredded apple till mixed.
- Unfold the batter evenly into the ready pan. Bake for 38–40 minutes. Baking occasions fluctuate, so keep watch over yours. The cake is completed when a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear with only a few moist crumbs. Should you discover the highest of the cake is browning too rapidly within the oven, loosely cowl it with aluminum foil (I often do that across the 25-minute mark).
- Take away the cake from the oven and set on a cooling rack. Enable to chill fully.
- Brown the butter for the frosting: Set out a medium heatproof bowl since you’ll want it on the finish of this step. Place the sliced butter in a light-colored skillet or saucepan. A light-weight-colored inside is essential for figuring out when the butter begins to brown. Soften the butter over medium warmth and stir or whisk consistently. As soon as melted, the butter will start to foam. Proceed stirring/whisking, retaining a detailed eye on it. After about 5–7 minutes, the butter will start browning and also you’ll discover flippantly browned specks forming on the backside of the pan. The butter can have a nutty aroma. The colour will step by step deepen, from yellow to golden to golden-brown; as soon as it’s a lightweight caramel-brown coloration, take away from warmth instantly and pour into the bowl, together with any brown solids which have shaped on the underside of the pan. Cool for 10 minutes, then switch to the fridge to chill fully and solidify.
- Make the frosting: In a big bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the solidified brown butter on excessive velocity till creamy and easy. Add the cream cheese and beat once more till easy and mixed. Scrape down the perimeters and backside of the bowl as wanted. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low velocity for 30 seconds, then step by step enhance to excessive velocity and beat for two minutes.
- Unfold the frosting on the cooled cake. Refrigerate for half-hour earlier than serving. This helps units the frosting and makes slicing simpler.
- Cowl leftover cake tightly and retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: Put together cake via step 5. Cowl the cake tightly and set at room temperature for as much as 2 days or freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, and produce to room temperature earlier than serving. Proceed with step 6.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Field Grater | 9×13-inch Baking Pan | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer) | Gentle-Coloured Skillet | Silicone Whisk | Icing Spatula
- Quarter Sheet Pan: I actually wish to bake quarter sheet desserts in a glass 9×13-inch pan or this metallic pan that comes with a lid.
- Can I change or scale back the oil? Vegetable oil is a good choice for this cake. You possibly can change with a neutral-flavored oil reminiscent of avocado oil or canola oil. Be happy to make use of melted refined coconut oil (refined doesn’t have a lot of a coconut taste) and ensure each different ingredient within the cake batter is room temperature, so the oil doesn’t solidify. Don’t change with melted butter as a result of the cake will style dry. You possibly can change a small quantity of the oil with applesauce if wanted, however remember the fact that the cake will start to style dry/rubbery the extra oil you change.
- Applesauce: It’s greatest to make use of unsweetened applesauce on this recipe—you want a moist ingredient that received’t overpower the opposite flavors within the cake. Be happy to make use of mashed banana, pumpkin puree, or canned crushed pineapple as an alternative, however remember the fact that the flavour of the cake will change.
- Shredded Apple: You possibly can skip the shredded apple (or carrot/zucchini) if wanted. The cake is loads moist with out it. Or be happy to switch with chopped apple.
- Brown Butter in Frosting: For extra info and troubleshooting, see this submit on learn how to brown butter.
- Layer Cake: Grease three 8-inch or two 9-inch spherical cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the desserts seamlessly launch from the pans. Divide batter evenly between the ready pans. Bake for about 25–26 minutes. The desserts are accomplished when a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. The frosting recipe above is sufficient for a skinny layer on a 2-layer cake, however just isn’t sufficient for a 3 layer cake. As an alternative, use the brown butter cream cheese frosting recipe/ratios from this banana layer cake so you may have sufficient. Earlier than utilizing, refrigerate the ready frosting for at the least half-hour so it’s sturdier and might maintain up the layers. Right here’s learn how to assemble a layer cake.
- Bundt Cake: This cake batter will match right into a greased 10-cup or bigger Bundt pan. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 55–65 minutes. The baking time varies relying in your oven; hold your eye on the cake after 50 minutes. Be happy to cowl the cake loosely with aluminum foil about midway via to forestall heavy browning on high. Enable the cake to chill within the pan set on a cooling rack for 1 hour, then invert onto a serving plate.
- Cupcakes: Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 19–21 minutes. Yields about 2 dozen. This frosting recipe right here just isn’t sufficient for two dozen cupcakes. As an alternative, use the brown butter cream cheese frosting recipe/ratios from this banana layer cake.
