Gingerbread Cake with Crumb Topping
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyThis Gingerbread Cake with Crumb Topping is a festive and easy-to-make dessert for the Christmas and winter seasons. That being said, this gingerbread cake recipe might be my (and your) new favorite holiday dessert recipe!
Yes, my friend. I’m back with another gingerbread recipe. I just can’t get enough. This gingerbread cake with crumb topping was inspired by a cake recipe I made last fall.
Last year I shared this amazing pumpkin cake with crumb topping. It was an easy-to-make cake with delicious results. This year, I wanted to take the cake recipe and adapt it to the holiday and winter seasons. And of course, that is what led me to create/make this gingerbread cake with a crumb topping. It exceeded my expectations and I may even like it better than the pumpkin version. (Shhh, don’t tell!)
Why You’ll Love This Cake Recipe
The holiday season is a busy one. I always like having a few go-to recipes in my back pocket when I’m expecting company or hosting a dinner. This gingerbread cake recipe is going to the top of my dessert pile. It’s that good.
In addition to the magnificent flavor, I love that this gingerbread cake is very easy to prepare and that you’re likely to have most of the ingredients in your pantry. If you have an hour, you can whip up and bake this Christmas cake recipe including some homemade whipped cream to top it all off. Love that!
If you enjoy gingerbread as much as I do, you’re in luck because I have an entire blog post dedicated to my favorite gingerbread recipes. I cover everything from cookies to cocktails. You can find that post HERE.
Ready to bake? Good! Me too.
I’m going to walk you through the ingredient list, and then I’ll share step-by-step instructions on how to make this gingerbread cake with crumb topping.
Ingredients
As I mentioned above, I’m guessing that you already have a lot of these ingredients in your pantry which is one of the things that makes this recipe so easy. However, let’s run through the list to make sure you’re good to go.
- unsalted butter – Kerrygold is the go-to in my kitchen.
- sugar
- egg – I typically always use large eggs.
- molasses – Molasses is a must-have ingredient in my pantry during the holidays. It adds color and flavor to this cake.
- cake flour – Cake flour is made from soft milled wheat which gives this cake a softer feel. You can substitute all-purpose flour here; it will just slightly change the texture of the cake.
- baking powder
- baking soda
- seasonal spices – Ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves give this cake its signature gingerbread flavor.
- kosher salt – I actually use this Maldon flake sea salt for any recipe that calls for salt. It’s my favorite. (I buy it by the tub.)
- whole milk
- dark brown sugar – I like dark brown sugar here for that really deep brown color.
- all-purpose flour
- pecans – You could go without nuts, or use walnuts instead, but I really like the crunch they add.
- lemon zest – I know it might sound strange to include lemon here, but I need you to trust me on this one. It’s a game-changer. I love what it adds to this recipe.
- homemade whipped cream – You can find my homemade whipped cream recipe HERE. It’s simple to make and significantly better than anything you could buy at the store.
I should also mention here that I used some gingerbread cookies to decorate my table. Early in the holiday season, I bake up a batch of this gingerbread cookie dough and make royal icing. I cut, bake, and decorate two or so dozen cookies and use them all season long to decorate my baked goods and my home.
I also have a great blog post where I share lots of ideas for decorating your home with these gingerbread cookies. You don’t want to miss it.
It’s time to bake!
How to Make
Following are the steps to make this Gingerbread Cake. I’ve also provided a printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking pan with baking spray. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and molasses. Beat to combine.
- Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- Add this to the wet ingredients alternating with the milk.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Start baking for 30 minutes.
- While the cake begins to bake, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse sand. Stir in the pecans, lemon zest, and salt.
- After 30 minutes of baking, sprinkle the topping over the gingerbread cake.
- Continue to bake for 10-15 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Once the cake is cooled you’re ready to slice and serve with some homemade whipped cream.
I told you it was easy. Consider yourself warned as this may become one of your new favorites too!
More Gingerbread Recipes You’ll Enjoy
I hope you enjoyed another Christmas favorite from my home to yours. May this gingerbread cake with crumb topping brighten your spirits and satisfy your holiday sweet tooth.
If you give this recipe a try, please let me know. Come back here and leave a comment with a five-star rating and/or share a photo on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me @inspiredbycharm so I don’t miss it.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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Gingerbread Cake with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 ½ cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup whole milk
Topping:
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup cold butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- pinch of salt
- whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking pan with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer) cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and molasses. Beat to combine.
- In a large bowl whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Add this to the wet ingredients alternating with the milk.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the topping. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and ginger. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse sand. Stir in the pecans, lemon zest, and salt.
- After 30 minutes of baking, sprinkle the topping over the gingerbread cake. Then continue to bake for 10-15 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
- Serve with whipped cream.
Can’t wait to try this for Christmas Eve dinner. PS. The link to your homemade whipped cream is missing/not working.
I’ve made your pumpkin cake and if this is anything like that I know it will be a winner. Thank you!
You’re going to love it. Happy baking!
xo Michael
This looks so tempting!
Oh my! I am a HUGE gingerbread fan. Looks amazing.
This looks and sounds incredible! I have celiac disease, so I am going to try to adapt it with a sifted gluten free flour mix. Cross your fingers it will be half as good as your original looks! You have inspired me to start trying to bake again. I got pretty discouraged early on after my diagnosis more than a decade ago, but now I am slowly learning how to take beautiful recipes like yours and make them gluten free, so I can enjoy yummy baked goods once again! Thank you!
This reminded me of my mother’s ginger cake served with a warn lemon sauce. Yum. Since I don’t know how to make the sauce, your recipe with lemon zest will be my go-to from now on. Thank you!