One bite of this spicy, moist homemade gingerbread cake and you'll swear you're settled in Grandma's cozy kitchen enjoying her prizewinning recipe!
The aromas of cloves, ginger, and cinnamon drift through the house while this is baking making is seem like a holiday no matter what day of the year it is.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store homemade gingerbread
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- Gingerbread
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Old-fashioned gingerbread cake is moist and spicy.
- It's the perfect snack cake! Light enough for breakfast, but sweet enough for an evening dessert. I love this in the afternoon with a cup of coffee.
- Be sure that you use an unsulphured molasses like "Grandma's Molasses" for this cake.
This classic gingerbread recipe will instantly transport you to Christmas time as a child. Made easily with robust molasses and seasonal, warm spices, it's the perfect, cozy treat—no matter if you're a pro baker or a first-timer!
First published October 29, 2015. Last updated December 8, 2024 for editorial improvements and readability.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Though I prefer the flavors of Vietnamese or roast cinnamon, you can experiment with different types to find your favorite! Any variety will work in this recipe.
- A little bit of grated fresh orange zest is a delicious complement to the homemade gingerbread flavors! About a tablespoon or so is perfect.
- Mix in some finely chopped candied ginger for an extra pop of flavor.
- The coffee flavor isn't very strong with all the fragrant spices in this cake recipe. However, if you loathe coffee and are one of those people who can taste a drop of it in anything, substitute it for water.
- Make old-fashioned gingerbread loaves by portioning the batter evenly between two prepared 9" loaf pans. I like to eat one loaf and either wrap and freeze or gift the other!
- Garnish with some simple powdered sugar over top—that's all this perfect recipe needs! Though, I won't turn down a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, either!
- Some people like gingerbread with cream cheese frosting and caramel sauce, too. In your own kitchen, you can do anything you please!
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl (except the sugar.)
In a separate bowl, with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and eggs.
Beat in the molasses.flour mixture and coffee to the wet ingredients, alternating between the two.
Pour batter into a prepared pan and bake.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the edges of the pan. This way, you can easily lift your cake up and out of the pan for pretty presentation, if you prefer!
- Don't swap the brown sugar for white. While usually, you can, since we already have molasses in the recipe, the flavor would be too intense.
- The chipotle powder and cardamom aren't traditional but I love the spice and flavor that they add! Leave them out if you're boring... just kidding! But, they do enhance the spices of gingerbread in my opinion.
- Always use fresh spices! A good rule of thumb is if they've been in the pantry for longer than six months, you're due for a replacement!
- Watch carefully not to over-bake the gingerbread because it does dry out quickly.
- Check it at 35 minutes with a toothpick in the center of the cake, then every 2-3 minutes after that.
- To prevent overbaking after you remove the gingerbread from the oven, immediately place the pan on a cooling rack so that the bottom of the pan/cake can begin to cool off.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Make sure the molasses is unsulphured, or you'll be sorry when you take the first bite! I like the flavor of Grandma's molasses best.
🥫 Leftover love: how to store homemade gingerbread
You can store leftover gingerbread tightly covered at room temperature for about 3-4 days. Freeze for longer storage.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up
There are several types of cinnamon and each has a different flavor. Experiment to see which you like best. I love the Korintje cinnamon in this recipe!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
| Name | Flavor | Best in | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceylon cinnamon | floral, light, fruity, subtle | custards, fruit butters, elegant desserts, French toast | Sri Lanka |
| Saigon cinnamon (sometimes called Vietnamese cinnamon) | spicy, rich, sweet | cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, donuts, pumpkin pie spice | Vietnam |
| Cassia cinnamon (normal cinnamon) | sweet, delicate spice | baked goods, this is the cinnamon you probably have in your cupboard | China |
| Korintje cinnamon | rich, spicy, hints of clove and pepper | chai, chutney, curries, holiday treats | Indonesia |
| Roasted cinnamon | rich, deep, warm, toasty | baked goods, chili, hot cocoa, cocktails, | usually made from Ceylon or Cassia |
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Unsulphured molasses has no additives. Molasses with sulphur in it can taste really chemically, and in traditional gingerbread we want the delicious flavor of molasses to shine! Any type of molasses can be sold with or without sulphur, so read the bottle carefully.
Use an unsulphured molasses like "Grandma's Molasses".
In this recipe, I wouldn't recommend it! Treacle, or golden syrup, is kind of like molasses, but it doesn't deliver the same deep, rich flavor as dark molasses, like Grandma's blackstrap.
Nope, similar flavor, but different structurally! This old-fashioned recipe produces a "quick bread" or cakey texture. If you want to build a gingerbread house, you need to use gingerbread cookies—for which your gingerbread men will thank you!
Gingerbread originally came from an Old French word, gingebras, which referred to preserved ginger. It's also related to the French pain d' epices, which is spice bread, as well as German Pferrerkuchen and Lebkuchen.
Oh, it tastes like the flavors of Christmas! If that's not specific enough for ya, it kind of reminds me of pumpkin pie but minus the pumpkin. It has similar spices, but goes heavier on ginger and molasses—the perfect winter dessert!
This gingerbread recipe has the fluffy, soft texture of a spice cake. Don't confuse it with gingerbread cookies, which are small, flat, and, well, if you don't know what a cookie is, you're missing out!
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
Dice the gingerbread into small squares and add a layer to a bowl. Sprinkle with coffee or Kalhua. Add a layer of whipped cream over the top. Add another layer of gingerbread and repeat ending with the whipped cream. Dust with cinnamon and chill before serving.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
I adapted this recipe from 1975 Farm Journal's Country Fair Cookbook. I personally don't consider this vintage but a lot of you will.
I like to enjoy the gingerbread slightly warmed (a few seconds in the microwave does the trick!) However, you can also enjoy it at room temperature. Be sure to add a dollop of fresh whipped cream to the top - yum!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Homemade Gingerbread
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons Ground ginger
- ¾ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground chipotle, (more if you like it spicier)
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ cup Butter
- ½ cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Grandma's Molasses, or other unsulphured type
- ½ cup Coffee, extra strong, hot, and black
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, chipotle, and salt.
- Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and beat well.
- Beat in the molasses.
- Add the dry ingredients alternately with the hot coffee, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Spoon into the prepared baking dish.
- Smooth the top and bake for 45 minutes or until done.
Notes
- Try different types of cinnamon and see what you like best. I like Vietnamese cinnamon and roast cinnamon the best.
- Use fresh spices. If you've had yours in the pantry for more than 6 months throw them out.
- Make SURE the molasses is unsulphured or you will be sorry the first time you take a bite.
- Be sure not to over-bake it because it does dry it out.
- Check at 35 minutes then check it every 2 or 3 minutes after that.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Don't lose this recipe!
Gingerbread
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Linda Youngs says
My mom served her homemade gingerbread with a sauce poured over the top. For the life of me, I can't remember or find what that sauce was called. Do you know? She was from Georgia & Alabama, so it might have been a southern thing! LOL
Marye says
Generally a custard sauce. 🙂
Diana WRIGHT says
would this recipe work for making it into muffins, and if so would the temperature change and how long would I cook them for? The recipe sounds so yummy!!!!
Pam says
Want to 3x the recipe but when I do, the instructions still say to use a 9x9 pan. I don't want to make 3 pans. Would a 10x13 work for a 3x amount? Thank you!
Marye says
Yeah, the pan sized don't change, Pam. Um ... I think it would make a 13x9 and an 8x8 but I'm not sure. Sorry.
Stacy says
I really want to try this, but I live in Colorado; do you have high altitude adjustments?
Marye Audet says
I don't but King Arthur Flour does! https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/high-altitude-baking.html
Gail says
I have used that cinnamon before and it is wonderful. Plus it reminded me that t am out ?
Marye Audet says
LOL! Glad to have helped
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
I adore gingerbread and love the extra spices and flavors you have added. There is nothing better than homemade gingerbread in my book.
Marye Audet says
I agree!
Kristen says
I love gingerbread, but I rarely make it. I make mine with lemon sauce, but I'd take it any way I can get it!
Marye Audet says
That sounds good!
Florian @ContentenessCooking says
This looks delicious! Love that this recipe can be pretty veganized! 🙂 So I can enjoy one or more slices.
Marye Audet says
Oh yeah! That shouldn't be a problem at all.. don't count on being able to stick with just one..
Sara says
I have actually never made my own gingerbread, this looks like the perfect recipe to try! Perfect for the holidays!
Marye Audet says
Sara you should give it a try!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Oh Wow - I have never made my own gingerbread - reading through your ingredient list makes me almost smell this baking - wow - love the extra spice in their - cardamom is one of my favs! I have gotta try this soon!
Marye Audet says
It really does smell good.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
This looks so incredibly tender and delicious - absolutely GORGEOUS!
Marye Audet says
Thank you Ashley!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
I too love homemade gingerbread Marye. And have also not made it for decades. I'm so excited to try your recipe, fall is the perfect time for gingerbread!
Marye Audet says
I totally agree!
Barrett @dirtylaundrykitchen.com says
I love soft gingerbread cakes like this. Looks good and it's almost time for gingerbread here in Philly. Just a little colder and I'll be there.
Marye Audet says
Perfect!