Molasses Spice Cake

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This molasses spice cake combines exotic flavors with the sweetness of molasses for an upgraded version of Christmas cake. Ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, molasses, and espresso get a boost from a pinch of dry mustard, along with a syrup made from Seville orange syrup. It’s unusually divine.

Molasses Spice Cake with a third cut out, on a metal plate with a knife next to it.

If you prefer your spice cake with more bitter notes, serve it while still slightly warm. If you prefer your spice cake to have a more pronounced sweet as opposed to savory notes, let it stand at least 8 hours at room temperature.–Renee Erickson

Molasses Spice Cake FAQs

What kind of molasses should I use in molasses spice cake?

Molasses is a sweet, earthy, and mildly bitter ingredient that gives this cake tons of flavor. Light molasses is more delicate than dark (sometimes called robust or full-flavored) molasses, which has a bold, strong flavor. Use whichever you prefer or have on hand. Do not use blackstrap molasses, however. It’s just too bitter for a cake like this.

Can I make molasses spice cake ahead of time?

Actually, we would recommend that you do. Make the cake a day before you plan to serve it so that the flavors have a chance to meld and soften a bit. Any farther ahead than that, however, and you’ll find the cake isn’t as moist as you might like.

What are Seville oranges?

This recipe calls for either navel or Seville oranges, and if you’re not familiar with Sevilles, you might be in for a bit of a surprise. While navel oranges are the quintessential orange, Sevilles have a decidedly bitter peel and quite a sour juice, which is prized for making British marmalade and used in certain alcohols. Use Sevilles if you want even more flavor in your cake.

Molasses Spice Cake

Molasses Spice Cake with a third cut out, on a metal plate with a knife next to it.
When I discover a cake that’s filled with curious flavors like mustard, coffee, black pepper, and ginger, and is also simple to bake, I stick with it.
Renee Erickson & Jess Thomson

Prep 50 mins
Cook 1 hr
Total 1 hr 50 mins
Dessert
American
12 servings
520 kcal
4 from 1 vote
Print RecipeBuy the A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus cookbook

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Equipment

  • Bundt pan

Ingredients 

For the molasses spice cake

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted, plus more for pan
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for the pan
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
  • 4 shots espresso or 2/3 cup strong brewed coffee plus enough whole milk to equal 1 cup cooled
  • 2 cups heavy cream whipped just before serving (optional)

For the candied orange peel & syrup

  • 2 navel or Seville oranges preferably organic
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions
 

Make the molasses spice cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Butter and flour a Bundt pan, being careful to thoroughly coat all the nooks and crannies.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, mustard, and black pepper until well blended.
  • In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, until it lightens in color and texture. Add the eggs, molasses, and espresso and mix on low speed just until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. The batter may appear a little lumpy, and that's perfectly okay. Add the flour and spice mixture and, still on low speed, mix just until the flour is completely incorporated and no streaks remain.
  • Scrape the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the cake is puffed and a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out squeaky clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Then invert the cake onto a wire rack situated on a baking sheet and let cool until the syrup is ready.

Make the candied orange peel & syrup

  • While the cake bakes, halve and juice the oranges and then strain the juice into a liquid measuring cup. Carefully cut the bitter white pith and whatever remains from the orange segments from the orange peels, saving just the orange zest portion of the peel and composting the rest. Slice the peel into strips 1/4 inch thick. Toss the strips in a small saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Drain the strips, discarding the water. Let cool.
  • Add enough cold water to the reserved orange juice to measure 1 cup liquid. Dump this liquid and the sugar into the pan with the poached orange peel. Return the peel to heat and cook at a gentle boil for about 10 minutes, or until the peels are very shiny and almost translucent. Transfer the candied orange peel to a piece of parchment paper to dry. Reserve the syrup.

Assemble everything for serving

  • After the molasses spice cake has been turned out of its pan, bring the reserved syrup back to a simmer just until it's warmed through. Then brush some of the syrup all over the top and sides of the warm cake to saturate it. Let the syrup soak in for a few minutes, then brush again, repeating over and over again until you’ve used all the syrup.
  • Serve the cake slightly warm or at room temperature, sliced into wedges, sprinkled with candied orange peel, and dolloped with freshly whipped cream.
Print RecipeBuy the A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus cookbook

Want it? Click it.

Show Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 520kcal (26%)Carbohydrates: 75g (25%)Protein: 5g (10%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 14g (88%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 106mg (35%)Sodium: 514mg (22%)Potassium: 548mg (16%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 52g (58%)Vitamin A: 914IU (18%)Vitamin C: 12mg (15%)Calcium: 108mg (11%)Iron: 3mg (17%)

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Molasses, ginger, and spices—my favorite combo. This molasses spice cake was incredibly moist and came together rather easily. Though there are many steps from start to finish, it’s a fairly easy recipe. The cake turned out to be very moist and delicious. It wasn’t too sweet, and the addition of the glaze brought the right amount of sweetness to the cake.

The timing of the cake was bang on at about 50 minutes. I really loved making this cake. It’s a winner. I’m going to use chai spice the next time around.

If you enjoy gingerbread flavors, then you’ll love this cake with candied orange peel garnish. This is a delicious cake. The flavors are perfect! The crumb is light, and the cake is moist. This molasses spice cake has definitely earned a spot in my holiday baking rotation. The batter came together easily.

Since I didn’t have espresso, I used coffee. I poured the batter into my 12-cup Bundt pan with enough room left that I suppose a slightly smaller capacity pan would work as well. The cake was done in 50 minutes. It took 3 rounds of glazing with a few minutes between each to use up all the syrup. It was certainly worth it! The finished product was bursting with flavor and was incredibly moist.

I ate a piece warm—okay, 2 pieces—and another at room temperature and I’d recommend serving it warm when possible, although I loved it both ways. I buttered and floured my bundt pan as directed, but I gave it a quick squirt of nonstick cook spray too. (I found the spray easier to use on my pan’s hard-to-reach crevices. My cake was released very easily.)

Disclaimer: Your home is going to smell like Christmas on steroids! My molasses ran out at 3/4 cup. I made the executive decision to stick with it instead of the 1 cup called for in the recipe.

The recipe calls for eating the cake warm or at room temperature. When I first tasted the cake after all the glaze was absorbed, the texture was tender and rich, but the only taste that stood out was bitterness. After 8 hours, I mustered the courage to give this cake the benefit of doubt, and it made me a firm believer in second chances in life. The candied orange peel syrup had been seamlessly absorbed by the cake. The spices shined through. It was literally like tasting Christmas in one bite. WOW! Kudos!

Do NOT slice the cake for at least 8 hours. Even though the irresistible aromas are going to tempt you, allow the flavors to marry. Honestly, you don’t even require the additional candied peels and whipped cream to gild the lily.

Originally published December 10, 2015


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