Layered Spice Cake Recipes

LAYERED SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line four 7" or three 8" pans with parchment rounds and grease with non-stick baking spray.
• Mix together 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 2 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger and 1/2 tsp nutmeg in a large bowl until fully combined.
• Mix 1/2 cup of unsalted butter slowly into the dry ingredients on a low speed. Continue to mix until no large chunks of butter remain.
• Mix in 4 large eggs on low until just incorporated, 2 at a time.
• Add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Mix on a low speed until just incorporated.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then beat on a low speed for a few more seconds to make sure everything is properly mixed together.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake for 32-34 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes, then run a small offset spatula around perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan.
• Flip the cake layers onto a wire rack to cool.
• Use a serrated knife to level the tops of the layers once they're fully cooled.
• If you make these cake layers in advance and freeze them, let them thaw for about 20 minutes before making your cake. The cake layers should still be slightly cold to the touch, which will make it easier to assemble your cake.
• While the cake layers bake and cool, make the cinnamon cream cheese buttercream frosting.
• Beat 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) and 1 cup of cream cheese on a medium speed for 30 seconds with a paddle attachment until smooth.
• Mix in 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of salt.
• Slowly add in 7 cups of powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Halfway through add 2 Tbsp of heavy cream to make the frosting easier to mix.
• If the frosting is too thick, add in additional cream (1 TBSP at a time). If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar (quarter of a cup at a time).
• Stack and frost the spiced cake layers on a greaseproof cake board using a dab of frosting to help stick the first cake layer to the board.
• Spread an even layer of buttercream between each cake layer.
• Cover the cake in a thin coat of frosting. Smooth using a bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (20 minutes) or freezer (5 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.
• Add a second, thicker layer of frosting to the cake, and smooth using a bench scraper then decorate as desired! I colored my leftover buttercream with some gel food coloring and spread streaks of it up the sides of the cake to create a Fall-inspired look.

MOIST, TENDER SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
• Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
• Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.

SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs; beat well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until the cake tests done. Cool. For frosting, cream shortening and butter in a bowl. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Frost cake.

SUGAR-AND-SPICE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray, line with parchment, and spray parchment. Sift flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Continue to beat until smooth, about 1 minute more.
• Divide batter among cake pans, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks, and let cool for 20 minutes. Turn out cakes from pans, remove parchment, and flip right side up. Let cool completely.
• Trim tops of cakes to create a flat surface. Cut cakes in half horizontally. Spread 1/2 cup jam onto 1 layer, then spread 1 cup frosting over jam. Top with another cake layer. Repeat layering cakes with jam and frosting, leaving top layer (bottom side up) uncovered.Spread remaining frosting on top of cake, and garnish withcinnamon-sugar.