Gingerbread with Spiced Rum Buttercream ~ a holiday dessert with all the bells and whistles of the old time ginger molasses cake, brought up to speed with a to-die-for spiced rum frosting.
My mother used to make a square gingerbread cake, I think it was probably from a box mix, and she always topped each piece with a little blob of redi-whip. I loved it, but I have to admit, this one is waaaaay better.
My version is earthy, luxurious, heavily spiced and enriched with a whole cup of molasses. Sometimes you’ll see this kind of gingerbread cake made with fresh ginger, but for some reason I prefer to use only the dried spices, the bite of the fresh ginger seems out of place to me. If you love that zesty flavor, then by all means grate some into this batter.
Most gingerbread cakes are served with a modest dusting of powdered sugar or, like my mom did, a dollop of whipped cream. I’ve stepped it up to include a generous layer of spiced rum buttercream which absolutely makes this cake spectacular. And yes, you can really taste the spiced rum!
The light is streaming through the window at a decidedly different angle these days, but Los Angeles is still in the throes of summer. I think we’re the last place in the country to get a whiff of fall. The thermometer read 105 yesterday.
1. 0. 5.
Send good thoughts our way, please.
In the meantime, I offer up the most wonderful, old-timey seasonal dessert, in hopes that it might appease whichever spirits are in charge of cool breezes, nips in the air, and chilly mornings. Just in case your good thoughts aren’t enough. I have to cover all my bases…
I loved this cake. And not just because cake is my weak spot. I could barely make it through a quick photo shoot. That first bite, the point, that bit that droops down under the weight of the frosting there, that’s the best part.
Here’s hoping for a cold front from the north!
Gingerbread with Spiced Rum Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (1/2 cup = 4 oz. / 1 stick
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 eggs
dry ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup fine ground almond flour, or use more all purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
spiced buttercream
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
- 3 Tbsp spiced rum
- 1 Tbsp milk , or cream (to thin frosting), or more as needed
Instructions
- Set oven to 350°F.
- Combine the boiling water with the baking soda and set aside.
- Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use an electric hand mixer and a medium mixing bowl.) Beat the butter until fluffy, then add the sugar and beat well to combine.
- Add the molasses and the water/baking soda mixture.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fully combined.
- In a medium mixing bowl or on a piece of parchment paper, sift together dry ingredients. Add them to the bowl of wet ingredients and mix on low speed to combine.
- Pour batter into a well greased pan. *NOTE: This recipe makes enough batter for a 9x12 rectangle baking pan, but I wanted to use my 9" round springform pan, so I had enough batter left to make 6 cupcakes. Go either way, but be sure to grease up your pan well, this cake is sticky.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes for the rectangle, and a little longer for a springform pan, 40-45 minutes. Cupcakes will take about 14 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool on a rack before topping cake with frosting.
- To make the frosting, blend the soft butter and sugar with a wooden spoon.
- Add the rum and then the milk or cream, a tablespoon at a time, beating well, until the frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.
Nutrition
Other gingerbread treats to try ~
Yum. I just took this out of the oven n my house smells so heavenly.
This looks really good! Found you on saving room for dessert!
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OMG, it’s finally sufficiently fall to have gingerbread! Hooray! It looks so moist and sticky and delicious. 🙂
Wow, Sue, that looks fantastic!
I didn’t know I liked gingerbread that much until I read your wonderful description Sue! Now I’m feeling all old fashioned and wanting to fire up the oven! This looks fantastic!
Oh and don’t feel too deprived; here in NC the last few days have been nasty – humid and hot and not at all what I have in mind for this time of the year!
Thanks Chris, I did hear that the south was getting hit with the hot weather too. Does anybody still argue that global warming is a sham?
dark dark gingerbread – tick
deeply intense autumnal spices – tick
spiced rum buttercream – hick (sorry, tick)
divine little cake – tick x
You crack me up.
How good does this look!! You can’t beat some of the old fashion recipes. This is a definite pin.
I agree, old recipes are fun to explore.
This looks so good….I can practically smell it from here. 105º in October! Of course I miss CA in some ways, but i am enjoying a bit of fall.
I bet you are…I’m a teeny bit jealous!
Yum, I love homemade gingerbread. My mother used to serve it with warm lemon sauce and whipped cream. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I actually have some spiced rum in the cupboard so I can make your frosting. Luscious photos, Sue.
The thought of lemon sauce on it makes my mouth water, too. I think lemon and ginger is a British favorite, I love those Carr’s lemon filled ginger cookies, and now that you’ve mentioned it, I would love to make something with that combination.
ooh..looks beautiful! i hope this can be perfect to gift my wife on her birthday but I was thinking more along the lines of a fruity scent.
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