Gingerbread Spice Cake Recipe

This is the cake recipe used in the Individual Gingerbread [Cake] Houses. It's such a simple and easy recipe that doesn't take much time or thinking!

The recipe calls for a 9" square pan, but I used my 10x15" baking sheet for a single sheet cake. It is also fantastic in cupcake form (which I have also tried).

Gingerbread Spice Cake
In a large bowl with a mixer at low speed, mix well the following ingredients:
2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves (I used Chinese five-spice powder since I didn't have any ground cloves on hand)
1 cup boiling water

Individual Gingerbread [Cake] Houses

For the holidays, you can't beat home sweet home!

A casual question from a friend ("Are you thinking of having a dinner party again this year?") turned into a month or two of planning, dreaming, and finally, lots of baking which I have admittedly been recently neglecting!

When thinking of the desserts, I came across a recipe for a gingerbread spice cake which looked rich, dense, and oh-so-aromatic. I knew that I had to serve this, and was thinking of a way to plate it when I had the idea to serve them as individual pseudo-contemporary-architecture gingerbread houses.

Repost: Heather and Martin's Wedding Cake

This last weekend, I had the wonderful privilege to be involved with wedding of two good friends, Heather and Martin. Not only are they a fantastic couple, but they have a great sense of humour, wonderful design taste, and are also amazingly grounded and mellow.

Heather and Martin

Chocolate Yule Log with Passionfruit Wine Jelly

What says holiday cheer more than lights, candles, and flowers on the dining table?

I'll tell you what:

Mushrooms!

... mushrooms?

(Not the result of leaving food out for too long)

Flourless Chocolate Cake

This story has a few parts to it. First off, a bittersweet beginning of a going-away party for a friend moving away for a new job. What more appropriate pairing than extra dark chocolate?

Lavender and Lemon Cake with Lemon Swiss Meringue Buttercream

I'm trying something new this time - a full recipe card to keep for your own records, and perfect for sharing with friends and family!

I was hoping to have these made up for the wedding so that guests could take home a hard copy, but that ship has clearly sailed.

Click on the image to open up the PDF recipe card!

Hazelnut Sponge with Cinnamon Buttercream

Wow. It's been a long time since I've last posted, so to make amends I'm finally updating!

To keep in the spirit of untimeliness, the cake featured was actually made last December. Woops.

(Hence the Christmas ornaments)

As the title indicates, it is a hazelnut sponge cake with cinnamon buttercream between the layers. The outside was masked with ground filberts (also typically known as hazelnuts, to the confusion of anyone looking for them at Bulk Barn).