Name: Gingerbread Layer Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 12 people
Ingredients: 2½ cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ½ teaspoon salt; 3 large eggs; ½ cup vegetable oil; ¾ cup light brown sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ¾ cup molasses; ½ cup sour cream; ½ cup whole milk; 2¼ cups butter; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon; 4½ cups powdered sugar; 3-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; Caramel sauce and gingerbread men for topping

If you want a stunning and absolutely delicious holiday cake that everyone will love then this Gingerbread Layer Cake is just for you.

Close up photo of a slice on gingerbread cake on a white plate.

The Perfect Christmas Treat

Gingerbread is one of my favorite flavors, so it makes this Gingerbread Cake one of my absolute favorite cakes ever. With 3 layers you really can’t go wrong and you will be grinning after each and every bite.

When I serve this cake during the holidays it’s not just a dessert it is a talking piece. It is not only a delicious cake it is a pretty centerpiece that you will want everyone to look at and moreover eat because they will not be able to get enough.

Close up photo of a gingerbread cake on a metal cake stand.

I made this for my husband’s December birthday. It was delicious!

– Dianne

Gingerbread Layer Cake Ingredients

The base of this cake is made with traditional cake ingredients but then it is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and molasses, your normal and delicious gingerbread ingredients.

The frosting consists of butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, and cinnamon and is whipped until it is light and fluffy. The perfect spreadable frosting for any layer cake.

It is then topped off with a caramel drizzle, swirls of frosting, and cute little gingerbread men that just screams Christmas in my eyes.

Close up photo of a three layer gingerbread cake that have been cut into.

How To Make Gingerbread Layer Cake

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and prepare three 8-inch cake pans. In the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, cream together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla for 1 to 2 minutes.
Replace the paddle with a whisk attachment and add the molasses, sour cream, and milk and whisk until well combined.
Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix well until there are no dry spots and everything is combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and give a final whisk to make sure everything is combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the three cake pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
Prepare the frosting, then take one of the cake layers and place it on a cake stand or serving board. Top with about 1⁄2 to 3/4 cup frosting and smooth evenly. Repeat with each layer of cake.
Apply a crumb coat of frosting all over the outside of the cake and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly hardened. Apply the remaining frosting on the outside of your cake. Add a caramel drip and pipe the remaining frosting on the top of the cake if you wish.

Step-by-step photo collage showing how to make gingerbread cake.

A slice of three layer gingerbread cake with a bite taken out of the front.

Storage Instructions

This cake can remain at room temperature for about 2 days when properly stored in an airtight container such as a cake carrier. Since it does not contain any fruit or cream cheese it is perfectly fine being left out.

If you want to refrigerate the cake to last longer, store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It should last for about 3 to 4 days.

How To Freeze Cake

If you are making this cake ahead of time but are not serving until a later date then you can freeze each layer of the cakes separately.

Bake the cakes according to the directions and then cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap individually and place in the freezer, these will last for up to 3 months.

Let them defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then prepare the frosting and decorate the cake.

A slice of gingerbread cake on a white plate.

More wonderful holiday cakes!

Funfetti Sugar Cookie Dough Cake – A tasty sprinkle laden cake separated by sugar cookie dough.
Peppermint Cocoa Cake – Chocolate cake layered and frosted with a chocolate peppermint buttercream!
Black Forest Cake – Layers of chocolate cake, cherry pie filling, and whipped cream!
Boozy Bourbon Caramel Spice Cake – Bourbon spiced cake, caramel cream cheese frosting, and a bourbon caramel sauce!

Gingerbread Layer Cake

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Ingredients

12 people

Cake:

Frosting:

2¼ cups butter (softened)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
4½ cups powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Caramel sauce and gingerbread men for topping

Steps

Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare THREE 8-inch cake pans by coating with vegetable shortening and dust with flour and set aside.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla for 1 to 2 minutes.
Replace the paddle with a whisk attachment and add the molasses, sour cream, and milk and mix until well combined.
Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix well until there are no dry spots and everything is combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and give a final whisk to make sure everything is combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the three cake pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean.
Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes and then flip them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting

While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting by adding the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and cinnamon and mix until combined.
Add the in the powdered sugar one cup at a time fully incorporating after each addition.
Add the heavy cream and slowly increase the speed to high and whisk on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until you get a nice “whipped” consistency.

Assembly

Take one layer of cake and place it on a cake stand or serving board. Top with ½ to ¾ cup of frosting and smooth evenly over the cake. Repeat with each layer of cake.
Apply a crumb coat of frosting all over the outside of the cake and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly hardened.
Apply the remaining frosting on the outside of the cake and add a caramel drip and pipe the remaining frosting on the top of the cake as desired.

Notes

How To Store:

This cake can remain at room temperature for about 2 days when properly stored in an airtight container such as a cake carrier. Since it does not contain any fruit or cream cheese it is perfectly fine being left out.

If you want to refrigerate the cake to last longer, store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It should last for about 3 to 4 days.

If you are making this cake ahead of time but are not serving until a later date then you can freeze each layer of the cakes separately.

Bake the cakes according to the directions and then cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap individually and place in the freezer, these will last for up to 3 months.

Let them defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then prepare the frosting and decorate the cake.