why make this recipe
Gingerbread Village Cake is a delightful treat, perfect for festive gatherings or cozy family celebrations. Its rich flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg bring warmth to any occasion. This cake not only looks stunning but also tastes delicious, making it a great centerpiece for your holiday table. Plus, when you add the festive frosting and chopped pecans, it becomes even more special.
how to make Gingerbread Village Cake
Creating a Gingerbread Village Cake is a fun and enjoyable process. You’ll start by making a spiced gingerbread cake that fills your kitchen with wonderful aromas. After it cools, you can frost it with a creamy maple frosting that adds sweetness and richness. Then, decorate the cake to resemble a charming gingerbread village, complete with cookie houses, trees, and more!
Ingredients:
- Gingerbread Cake
- 180g salted butter, at room temperature
- 200g brown sugar
- 60ml (1/4 cup) molasses
- 125ml (1/2 cup) sour cream
- 125ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk
- 320g cake wheat flour
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 20ml (4 teaspoons) ground ginger
- 10ml (2 teaspoons) ground cinnamon
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) mixed spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 185g (1 1/4 cup) Food Lover’s Market Festive Food Cake Mix
- 60g (1/2 cup) pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
Gingerbread Cake Maple Frosting
- 200g butter, at room temperature
- 250g cream cheese
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 30ml (2 tablespoons) maple syrup or honey
- 200g icing sugar
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and flour your cake pans.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until creamy.
- Add the molasses, sour cream, and buttermilk to the mixture, mixing well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined.
- Fold in the Festive Food Cake mix and chopped pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla, maple syrup (or honey), and icing sugar, beating until well combined.
- Once the cakes are cool, frost the top of one cake and place the other cake on top. Frost the sides and top of the entire cake.
- Decorate the cake to make it resemble a gingerbread village. Use cookie decorations, icing, and any festive themes you like.
how to serve Gingerbread Village Cake
Serve Gingerbread Village Cake as a beautiful centerpiece during your holiday meal. You can slice it into generous pieces and serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence. It’s a festive treat that everyone will love!
how to store Gingerbread Village Cake
Store the Gingerbread Village Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to keep it fresher for longer, you can refrigerate it for up to one week. Just ensure it’s well covered to prevent it from drying out.
tips to make Gingerbread Village Cake
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Measure your ingredients carefully for the best results.
- Don’t skip the cooling time! Cooling the cake properly helps it hold together when decorating.
- Feel free to get creative with the decorations to enhance the village look!
variation
You can customize the Gingerbread Village Cake with different spices or add chocolate chips for a sweeter twist. You might even consider using a gluten-free flour blend if you have dietary restrictions.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the cake in advance?
A: Yes, you can make the cake a day ahead. Just keep it covered at room temperature until you’re ready to frost and serve.
Q: What if I can’t find the Festive Food Cake mix?
A: If you can’t find it, you can use an additional 185g of cake flour, some baking powder, and a few festive spices to replicate the mix.
Q: How can I decorate my Gingerbread Village Cake?
A: Use gingerbread cookies, icing, candy, and any other festive decorations you like to create a charming village scene!
Gingerbread Village Cake
Ingredients
Gingerbread Cake
- 180 g salted butter, at room temperature
- 200 g brown sugar
- 60 ml molasses (1/4 cup)
- 125 ml sour cream (1/2 cup)
- 125 ml buttermilk (1/2 cup)
- 320 g cake wheat flour
- 5 ml baking powder (1 teaspoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 20 ml ground ginger (4 teaspoons)
- 10 ml ground cinnamon (2 teaspoons)
- 5 ml mixed spice (1 teaspoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 185 g Food Lover’s Market Festive Food Cake Mix
- 60 g pecans, toasted and roughly chopped (1/2 cup)
Gingerbread Cake Maple Frosting
- 200 g butter, at room temperature
- 250 g cream cheese
- 5 ml vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
- 30 ml maple syrup or honey (2 tablespoons)
- 200 g icing sugar
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and flour your cake pans.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until creamy.
- Add the molasses, sour cream, and buttermilk to the mixture, mixing well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined.
- Fold in the Festive Food Cake mix and chopped pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
Baking
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
Frosting
- For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the vanilla, maple syrup (or honey), and icing sugar, beating until well combined.
Assembly
- Once the cakes are cool, frost the top of one cake and place the other cake on top.
- Frost the sides and top of the entire cake.
- Decorate the cake to make it resemble a gingerbread village using cookie decorations, icing, and any festive themes you like.
