This Gingerbread Cake is incredibly moist and tender and when paired with the lemon sauce, absolutely irresistible. You have got to try this recipe if you’ve never paired gingerbread and lemon before. Life-changing, I tell ya!

Gingerbread Cake
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Gingerbread Cake

I know that gingerbreads are typically reserved for the holiday season, but I crave the flavor combination of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon year round.  The tangy lemon zest pairing in this gingerbread cake recipe takes it to a whole new level.  You could make it any time.  Trust me though, every holiday season, this gingerbread cake with lemon sauce is on repeat weekly.

This is every baker’s dream cake, it is packed with so much flavor and it is so easy!  Plus, it just feels warm and cozy.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee and plop down in front of the fireplace and enjoy every last bite.

Drizzled with Lemon Sauce

Tips for the Perfect Gingerbread Cake

  • Make sure your eggs are at room temperature.
  • You can substitute butter for the shortening in this recipe. (They are usually interchangeable in cake recipes)
  • The quality of your molasses can make a big difference in this cake. I recommend using Unsulphured molasses.
  • I doubled all of the spices to create the MOST flavorful Gingerbread Cake ever. (The original recipe uses half the amounts.)
  • This cake also pairs great with whipped cream, ice cream, or cream cheese toppings!
  • Grate a little lemon zest on the top to add a beautiful visual to your already perfect cake.  It just throws the whole thing over the top!
That lemony sauce puts this cake over the top!
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Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Sauce

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 42 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
This Gingerbread Cake is incredibly moist and tender and when paired with the lemon sauce, absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients

Gingerbread Cake

  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup molasses, (unsulphured recommended)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose our
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup hot water

Lemon Sauce

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • pinch kosher salt
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • lemon zest, for garnish

Instructions

Bread

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening, sugar, molasses, and egg until smooth.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon until combined. Reduce the speed to low and add about ⅓ of the flour mixture, followed by half of the hot water. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add ½ of the remaining flour. Pour in the remaining water and the rest of the flour.
  • Transfer to the prepared baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Set baking pan on a cooling rack.

Lemon Sauce

  • When ready, make the lemon sauce by stirring together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, nutmeg, and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium heat. Continue to cook until bubbly, thickened and smooth. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring occasionally while preparing the next steps.
  • In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks. Remove the saucepan from heat and slowly stir about ¼ cup of the sugar mixture with the egg yolks.
  • Transfer back to the saucepan and heat on medium until boiling. Cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and lemon juice.
  • Spoon the lemon sauce over the cake and garnish with the lemon zest.

Did you make this recipe?

You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.

Adapted from Taste of Home. Photography by The PKP Way.

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Reader Comments

  1. IMO..The contents in hot pot ..part are added to till quickly (temper them) so eggs don’t scramble in the hot cream/sugar ingredients. ? 🙂

  2. Hi Loriann.. no reply yet so let me see if i can help any? Hoping the recipe is correct. The hot mix in pot.. a 1/4 of that is added to yolks whisking to temper from cooking in pot

  3. Am I missing something?? On the gingerbread with lemon sauce recipe in the 3rd step makes no sense . can you please explain. Thank you

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