The dessert that should be on your holiday table this year is this Gingerbread Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. With flavors of ginger, cinnamon, maple, and cream cheese this cake has Christmas written all over it. It's the dessert your guests will be talking about next year!
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Has anyone else been completely obsessed with the Holiday Baking Championship on Food Network? I can't stop watching!
I watch and then get all these crazy ideas, and think I can do this or that. They come up with some totally awesome recipe ideas completely on a whim, or at least that's the way it seems.
I was practically watching it in somewhat marathon fashion and got this idea for a cake with chocolate trees. I have never ever done anything like it before.
But I can't be the only one that thinks that I can accomplish so many things by watching these bakers and pastry chefs in a time crunch.
If the professionals can do it in a time crunch under pressure...I can do it with all the time in the world, right?!
One idea led to another and bam I had this vision in my head thanks to an older season that I had been watching.
Someone had done a maple buttercream, and I thought that would be amazing in a cream cheese frosting.
Then I thought how tasty it would be paired with a gingerbread cake. Walah, the idea was born.
The chocolate trees? Those babies weren't easy. I actually found ones that I really loved by doing a quick search on Pinterest, but geez, I didn't think that swishing some melted chocolate back and forth on parchment would be so hard.
If you're artistic at all you can do it...because I am not.
I just melted chocolate and then poured it into one of the squeeze bottles that I had bought to do the royal icing on my Cinnamon Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies. It worked out great.
I mean they aren't perfect...I like them because I made them on parchment paper, in my kitchen! I honestly felt like I was on my own little tv show baking a fancy cake!
Don't get worried by the word fancy. The only thing that makes this fancy is the fact that I made chocolate trees, and y'all may be looking and laughing at them.
But I'm super proud!
Ok, this cake is full of gingerbread flavor. I had no idea where to start on a gingerbread cake so I did a search and come back with a blogger that I'm very aware of. Her cakes are amazingly beautiful, and I knew that the cake would turn out...Tornadough Alli.
The cake is so moist and tasty. It screams Christmas!
No idea where to go with a maple cream cheese frosting, I just decided to go on a whim...you know like those folks on The Holiday Baking Championship...go big or go home...Well I was home, but I went big!
And I'm glad I went for it and took notes to share with y'all!
This cake will be on our Christmas table! It's so Christmasy and probably one of my favorite cakes that I've ever made.
I hope that y'all all make this part of your Christmas table as well.
It won't disappoint and your guests will be talking about this one for a while.
Cake Baking Tips:
- Don't overfill your cake pans. Fill about half way. If you ever have any leftover, just toss into a muffin pan!
- Always test your cakes with a toothpick inserted in the center, to see if they are done.
- To help your cake bake evenly, I like using cake pan strips.
- Never frost a warm cake. Always allow to cool completely. Yes, you can speed this up by placing the cakes into the freezer or fridge.
Cake decorating tips:
- Again, never frost a warm cake - see cake baking tips #4.
- Use a turntable to help with frosting. I like the one that I linked. It also comes with an offset spatula, which I use to frost. As well as a couple of other tools, for smoothing and creating lines on the outside of the cakes. I use them a lot.
Love cake like this Gingerbread Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting, and want some more ideas? Here are our most popular cakes:
- Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream
- Double Dark Chocolate Cake
- The Very Best Red Velvet Cake
- The Best Marble Cake with Chocolate Buttercream
Gingerbread Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
The dessert that should be on your holiday table this year is this Gingerbread Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. With flavors of ginger, cinnamon, maple, and cream cheese this cake has Christmas written all over it. It's the dessert your guests will be talking about next year!
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 sticks butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- 3 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon all spice
- 1 ½ teaspoons ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
Frosting
- 2 sticks butter, room temperature
- 1 8 ounce block cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate Trees
- 12 ounces dark chocolate chips
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9 inch round cake pans with non stick baking spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl mix together the flour, cinnamon, all spice, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, attached to a stand mixer, cream the butter for two minutes. Add the sugar and brown sugar, cream for two full minutes until nice and fluffy.
- Add the molasses and the egg. Beat until fully incorporated. With the mixer on low, alternate adding the flour mix and the milk. Starting and ending with the flour mix. Mix until incorporated, careful not to over beat.
- Pour evenly into the cake pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to completely cool before frosting.
Frosting
- Beat together the butter and cream cheese until nice and fluffy. Pour in the maple syrup and vanilla. Continue to beat until mixed. Slowly add in one cup of powdered sugar at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Frost the cake! Reserve about 4 tablespoons for the trees.
Chocolate Trees
- Melt the chocolate chips according to the directions on the package using a microwave safe large measuring cup. (I only use Ghirardelli) Once melted, pour into a small plastic piping bottle fitted with a #2 tip. (you can also use a piping bag, I just think the bottles are easier) Lay a piece of parchment paper on the counter and begin piping the trees. You can make them any size you'd like. You can make them taller than the cake, the same sizes I did, or various sizes. Place the trees in the fridge or freezer to firm up, and then using a bit of the leftover frosting, smear a little bit on the cake where you want the trees placed, and using an offset spatula, remove the trees from the parchment paper, and place them carefully along the sides/and top of the cake.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1017Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 380mgCarbohydrates: 182gFiber: 2gSugar: 159gProtein: 5g
Alli Smith
You had me at Gingerbread AND Maple Cream Cheese. What a beautiful cake and it is definitely calling my name. I'd love a piece for breakfast!
candy
First we love gingerbread anything so this cake would be a big hit. Adding the cream cheese frosting makes it perfect. Love simple tree decorations.
Jeanette
Now if this is not the perfect Christmas cake I don't know what is. I love the idea of a gingerbread cake. YUM!
Joan Cajic
Looks amazing, gingerbread just remind me of the holiday season then thrown in cream cheese and it's utter bliss. Thank you for sharing.
jen
I think you did awesome on the trees! The older I get, the less patience I have, so I'm not sure if I could have done these trees as well as you did. The name, Gingerbread and Maple Cream Cheese just has me wanting to try this for myself!
Krystal Butherus
Now this sounds super delicious! I love cream cheese frosting! I've never had a gingerbread cake, so this should be really awesome!
Laura @ MommyDearest
You had me at Cream Cheese Icing. I think your trees are fantastic. I remember the first time I tried to make something with melted chocolate it turned out looking awful, but making things yourself in your own kitchen has got to be one of the best feelings. The end result of the cake is Beautiful.
Melissa Chapman
I wish anything I have ever made looks as good as that cake, how perfect. I do not think I could make it as good as yours but if I bake I have got to try.
Soonjoo
How can I ignore this recipe when I love gingerbread, maple and cream cheese! Yum! Love to try them! Perfect for holidays!
Amber Myers
Gingerbread is one of my favorite things! This would be so flipping delicious. And I love cream cheese frosting!
Rebecca Bryant
You had me at gingerbread. How could I possible not love this cake when it's all three of my favorite flavors in one dessert.
Heather
Yummy! I never heard of gingerbread cake, I love a good cream cheese frosting. Can't wait to make this!
Sarah Bailey
Oh my goodness I bet this tastes absolutely amazing. I have to admit I had never had gingerbread cake till lately and I’ve fallen in love I need to try more recipes.
Liz Mays
I'm liking the sound of this cake. Some gingerbread flavor would be super good right now!
Lisa Favre
I love the fact that you use cream cheese frosting for this cake! The flavors you used are just perfect for the holidays.
Karen Morse
That must smell really amazing! It looks so pretty and it's perfect for the season. I would love to have that on my table for Christmas! I'm sure the family will enjoy it.
Erica
I'm super impressed by your chocolate trees too! I'm not very artistic, so something like this would definitely be an accomplishment. I'm just realizing this year that I love gingerbread. Is it weird I never knew that before? Anyway, your cake looks delish.
serena
That holiday baking championship has sucked me in also. Some of the stuff they "whip up" looks pretty tasty!
Sue Reddel
This cake looks so beautiful and moist. Those chocolate trees are simply adorable and add a nice finishing touch.
Terri Steffes
This looks very good and I love the flavors here. Gingerbread and winter are a wonderful combination.
Dian
This look soo delicious ... i love Gingerbread, and the photos are awesome
Jenny
You totally had me at Gingerbread and Maple Cream Cheese. Yum. Your place must have smelled amazing while baking this treat!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations
This looks delicious! I love the flavour combinations too. Now I totally have to try this.
Shell
Oh my gosh my son would absolutely adore eating this delicious cake! It looks so cute and easy to prepare! I bet this smells just lovely as it bakes!!!
Brianne
What a beautiful and festive cake. I am so going to attempt making this for next week!
Jessica Joachim
Yum! I have a total soft spot for gingerbread! This looks really delicious and I may have to try it out for my Christmas party coming up! I am sure the whole family would love it.
Serena hale
Never had gingerbread cake. Looks so tasty. I have got to get some gingerbread cake in my belly.
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Kita Bryant
This looks absolutely perfect for a dessert. Gorgeous look too! That's a plus!
Hannah Marie
I am a fan of ALL things gingerbread so when I frist saw your recipe, I knew I'd be in for a treat (and boy, was I!?). This cake looks like something out of a magazine. Too pretty to eat. ALMOST.
Deb Dutta
The Gingerbread looks AWESOME! Love the recipe I totally need to try it 🙂
Kristyn
I love gingerbread cookies but don't like that they are so crunchy so I bet I would LOVE this! Definitely going to make this for family next week. http://www.carolinafirefliesblog.com
kim
That's really cute how you made that cake. I love gingerbread anything, but I can't believe I've never made a gingerbread cake. I love cream frosting too.
Debra Hawkins
I really love cream cheese frosting. I am going to have to try it with the maple in it!
Yona Williams
The combination of the gingerbread and maple cream cheese sounds delicious. I Pinned this recipe because I will probably make this one of these days.
Megan
Wow not only does this cake look delicious, it's so pretty too! I'm inspired!
rika
Amazing looking cake! I love cream cheese frosting, and i love the idea of adding maple to sweeten it,
Angela Tolsma
I love how your trees turned out! It's so amazing how hard it is to melt chocolate and make designs with it! This cake sounds like something my in laws will love!
Our Family World
Gingerbread is always a welcome treat for my family, but you took it to a different level with this gingerbread cake! I love that maple cream cheese frosting! I will have to try this recipe soon.
David Elliott
This dessert looks and sounds intense from top to bottom. Gingerbread is such a deep rick flavor, although I imagine the Maple Cream Cheese frosting will give it a run for it's money. I would definitely love to see how this tastes.
Rachel
My husband loves gingerbread anything so I am going to have to give this a try. THanks for sharing.
Jessica
The cake looks amazing! I'm not a fan of gingerbread but I love cream cheese frosting! Perfect for the season!
Shoshana Sue
You and I need to curl up together and watch the Holiday Baking Championship- I am its number one fan! You are probably second lol. This creation of yours is simply marvelous- I am in love and I will get my hands dirty soon with this gingerbread cake recipe.
Ruth Infante
oh my goodness! This cake looks fantastic! I would love to make this for my family for the holidays!
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com
I love gingerbread, but have never made a cake out of it! I am definitely going to give this a try...YUM!!!
AnnMarie John
Is there any more Christmas-y dessert than this lovely cake? I think it's awesome that it's a combination of maple cream cheese and gingerbread! I'm sure it tastes like heaven!
LaToyia Dennis
OMG! I am going to try this. I love gingerbread...and this looks delish.
reesa
Wow this sounds delicious! And your cake skills are superb! I love the little trees!
Brittany Giles
THIS LOOKS AMAZING I BET IF I TRIED IT IT WOULD NOT LOOK AS GREAT AS THIS. CAN YOU JUST COME COOK IT FOR ME? LOL
Meryland Cuevas
This looks so delicious and so pretty the way you decorate it. I love the double layer. Mouth watering.
Heather
This cake is so gorgeous and I love that it's a simple decoration idea. I'm looking forward to sharing this with family over the holiday weekend coming up!
Cyn Gagen
Oh gosh, that is a beautiful cake. I'm looking for the perfect gingerbread cake to make this year and this might just be it!
Kitty
Wow that looks yummm... I wish I can grab a slice right away... Wanna try it for my holiday part this week 🙂
Kimberly Lewis
this sounds and looks so good! I guess I better get baking in a minute!
anosa
mmm! very nice and festive recipe! I have to try this. im sure this recipe can be easily adapted to being dairy free.
Angie
Oh yummmmm this looks SO delicious! I would love to make this-I like gingerbread but not hard gingerbread, so a cake would be perfect!
Danielle
I’m the furthest from a baker but sure do love to eat. Nothing like a sweet, moist cake to enjoy over the holidays. From appearance those trees don’t look too difficult but again I know nothing about making sweets. For the new year I’m hoping to try to bake one thing a month.
kim
This looks so fabulous! I love gingerbread around the holidays!
Cindy Ingalls
This cake looks and sounds heavenly. I'm a sucker for cream cheese icing, especially when paired with a spiced cake. The two flavor combos go together so well.
G&D Blog
This looks delectable. I would love to try this Gingerbread cake, and with cream cheese?! Hmmm..makes me drool now, with the photos that you got here
Andrea
This is like the holidays and for precisely for me Christmas in a cake. I really want to make this, I might have to convince my mom to bake this when she comes. LOL Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Lynnette Joselly
omg this looks and sounds amazing. Just save me a slice with a cup of cafe con leche on the side and I am good!