Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Brown sugar and molasses provide a bold flavor and mellow sweetness.
  • Buttermilk helps with tenderness and rise.
  • Whole wheat flour adds a nutty, graham cracker–like flavor.
  • Ginger and cinnamon do the heavy lifting, but warm hints of nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, and Chinese five-spice powder add complexity and depth.

Fanciful gingerbread houses and singing gingerbread men are the stuff of fairy tales, but, alas, no stories extol the magic of a simple gingerbread cake. Which is a shame, as it figured so prominently in my childhood. It was the sort of dessert I could always find at potlucks and family gatherings once the weather turned cool.

Considering the time and place (suburban Kentucky in the mid-'80s), I expect most of those cakes came from a box, but that doesn't stop me from recalling them fondly. They were always tender and rich, gingery but not aggressively so, with a slick layer of lemon glaze over the top—a bright and sunny counterpoint to the earthy spice cake below.

How to Make a Better Gingerbread Sheet Cake

My made-from-scratch version of gingerbread sheet cake differs in a few key ways. Instead of using a lemon glaze, which turns crusty over time, I balance the dark flavors of gingerbread with a tangy cream cheese frosting that stays silky-smooth, no matter how long it's left out.

To make the cake itself, I use a blend of all-purpose and whole wheat flour.

Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (1)

Whole wheat flour plays off the cinnamon and other spices to give the cake a cozy, graham cracker–like vibe. With a roughly 2:1 ratio of all-purpose to whole wheat flour by weight, it's a gentle effect, but if you're crazy about the hearty flavor of whole wheat, the recipe leaves plenty of room to play with the proportions.

Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2)

When it comes to spicing the cake, I don't hold back, calling for a blend of black pepper, Chinese five-spice powder, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and (of course) ginger. The instantly familiar flavors of ginger and cinnamon don't require much explanation in a cake like this, but the others might.

I use a bit of nutmeg to add a woodsy aroma, a pinch of cloves to bring out the citrusy notes of molasses, and Chinese five-spice powder for a herbaceousness that breathes a little more dimension into the mix as a whole.

Rather thancreaming together the butter and sugar, I whip the eggs and sugar together, drizzling melted butter in at the end. The most important thing to remember during the whipping phase (especially if you're using a hand mixer rather than a stand mixer) is to let the color, volume, and consistency of the egg-and-sugar mixture be your guide—the specific timeline can vary considerably depending on the wattage of your mixer, so use your eyes rather than a stopwatch. When properly aerated, the mixture should be thick, fluffy, and pale.

Cultured Buttermilk Keeps the Batter Thick

Along with the all-purpose and whole wheat flour, I incorporate a good deal of cultured buttermilk into the batter. It adds a big dose of moisture without thinning the batter, so it stays nice and thick. (For this reason,DIY buttermilk substitutions won't work here—plain milk will make the batter runny and thin.)

In my book, gingerbread is a casual weeknight affair, or a last-minute dessert for a potluck, so I bake it off in a 9- by 13-inch anodized aluminum cake pan. If you'd prefer a layer cake, the recipe can be doubled and baked as three eight-inch or two nine-inch rounds.

As with brownies, I serve this sheet cake in simple squares, with swirls ofcream cheese frostingon top (though tangywhipped Greek yogurtor tartfreeze-dried-cranberry whipped creamcould play a similar role).

Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (3)

Whether it's served as a snack on a chilly afternoon or as the finale to a holiday meal, gingerbread cake is just about the perfect seasonal dessert—as easy to prepare as it is to devour.

November 2017

Recipe Details

Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Active15 mins

Total75 mins

Serves12 squares

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces light brown sugar (about 1 cup, packed; 225g)

  • 3 ounces unsulfured molasses,not blackstrap(about 1/4 cup; 85g)

  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon (2g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/4 teaspoonChinese five-spice powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

  • 3 large eggs, straight from the fridge (about 5 1/4 ounces; 150g)

  • 8 ounces unsalted butter(2 sticks; 225g), melted and cooled to about 100°F (38°C)

  • 5 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/4 cups, spooned; 155g)

  • 2 1/2 ounces whole wheat flour, not stone-ground (about 1/2 cup, spooned; 70g); see notes

  • 8 ounces cultured lowfat buttermilk or kefir (about 1 cup; 225g)

To Serve:

  • 1 batchfast and easy cream cheese frostingor 1 batchwhipped Greek yogurt (optional)

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9- by 13-inch anodized aluminum cake pan with parchment, then grease lightly with pan spray.

  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cloves, five-spice powder, black pepper, and eggs. Mix on low until moistened, then increase to high and whip until foamy and thick, about 8 minutes.

    Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (4)

  3. Reduce speed to low and drizzle in melted butter, then add all-purpose and whole wheat flours, followed by buttermilk. Once combined, shut off mixer and fold batter once or twice from the bottom up with a flexible spatula, then scrape into prepared pan.

    Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (5)

  4. Bake until cake is puffed and firm (though crust will retain a light impression when pressed with a fingertip), about 32 minutes. Cool in pan until firm, then slice into squares with a knife. If desired, top with swirls of cream cheese frosting or whipped Greek yogurt.

    Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (6)

Special Equipment

Stand mixer, flexible spatula, 9- by 13-inch anodized aluminum cake pan

Notes

If you don't have whole wheat flour on hand, feel free to use an equal amount of all-purpose flour instead; the cake won't be quite as flavorful and tender, but it'll be close enough in a pinch.

Read More

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Gingerbread Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated on a cake? ›

So does it need refrigeration? Food Network Kitchens: Yes, you should always refrigerate any cake or cupcake that has cream cheese frosting.

How long does gingerbread cake keep? ›

You can store gingerbread cake in the fridge in an airtight sealed container or tightly wrapped, and it will last up to a week. Keep in mind though, the longer it is in the fridge the faster it will dry out. Gingerbread cake actually freezes really well!

Can you freeze cream cheese frosting? ›

Leftover cream cheese frosting can be saved. Cream cheese frosting can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freeze up to 3 months. Label it and mark it with a date. Move it to the fridge to thaw when you need to use it.

Can you freeze gingerbread? ›

Store for up to two weeks in an airtight container in a cool place. The gingerbread can also be frozen and if you are freezing leftovers then you may prefer to wrap individual portions with food wrap and then put these in an airtight container.

Can I leave a cake with cream cheese frosting out overnight? ›

Unfortunately, cream cheese frosting is susceptible to becoming a breeding ground for bacteria, and leaving a cake with cream cheese frosting out overnight is an easy way to ruin it. Brush up on the best ways to store cake with cream cheese frosting in the fridge and freezer.

What happens if you don t refrigerate cream cheese frosting? ›

At room temperature, cream cheese frosting only lasts two hours, which is why it needs to be refrigerated if you don't want to waste leftovers. Cream cheese frosting will usually last in the refrigerator for up to a week, which gives you plenty of time to use it on various baked goods.

Does gingerbread go bad? ›

The general rule of thumb is a couple of weeks. It depends how its prepared and if you used a lot of icing. Also, gingerbread like any other bread turns stale quite fast. Eating it after 1–2 week with tea shouldn't be a problem.

How long does gingerbread last at room temperature? ›

Just the right amount of spice, buttery richness and the deep toffee flavour of brown sugar and golden syrup make this gingerbread recipe so special. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to five days and you can freeze it too, so you can make it ahead of time.

Does gingerbread house icing go bad? ›

Typically in today's modern world, royal icing made with meringue powder stores well in an airtight container at room temperature for at least 2 weeks. Some people even say 4. You'll know it's bad if you open it and it has puffed up a lot (bacteria growth) and/or it smells sour.

Does cake with cream cheese frosting freeze well? ›

You can freeze frosted cakes as long as the frosting is freezer-stable. Delicate meringue-based frostings will not freeze well, but buttercream and cream cheese frostings will freeze nicely.

How long does cream cheese frosting last on a cake? ›

Cream cheese frosting, alone or on cake or cupcakes, can sit at a cool room temperature for up to 8 hours before it should be refrigerated. The frosting can be made and transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

How do you defrost a cake with cream cheese frosting? ›

Thawing cakes is easy. Transfer the wrapped cakes from the freezer to the refrigerator one day before decorating/serving. I usually take them out of the freezer container to thaw. The cakes take at least 8 hours to thaw completely in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze gingerbread with icing? ›

After your cookies are baked and iced with royal icing, they can be frozen. Once your iced cookies have completely dried, place them in an airtight container, like a plastic freezer bag or Tupperware, with sheets of waxed paper in between any layers, and pop them in your freezer.

How long can gingerbread be frozen? ›

Cooled gingerbread house pieces can be made up to 1 week in advance, cover tightly and store at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months, thaw at room temperature before using.

How do you store gingerbread after baking? ›

This gingerbread will keep for a total of up to two weeks if stored in an airtight container in a cool place, though is at its very best within the first week. So adjust the "eat by" date according to when you made the gingerbread. We would suggest keeping the pieces of cut gingerbread as large as possible.

How do you store a cake with cream cheese frosting overnight? ›

If your cake is frosted with cream cheese or ganache, make sure to cover it and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. Covering your cake prevents the air from making it dry.

Does a cake with Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

Store cake LOOSELY covered. Cover and refrigerate leftover frosting up to 30 days.

How do you store cream cheese frosting on cupcakes? ›

Place Homemade Frosted Cupcakes in an Airtight Container

In most cases, you can leave cupcakes on the counter, but if your cupcakes are filled or decorated with anything containing dairy, like cream cheese frosting or custard, you'll want to store them in the refrigerator for food safety.

Do cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing need to be refrigerated? ›

Do you need to refrigerate cinnamon rolls? Unfrosted cinnamon rolls do not need to be refrigerated and will keep best at room temperature. Iced cinnamon rolls, and especially rolls with cream cheese frosting, should be stored in the fridge.

References

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