The Ultimate Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: A Cozy, Flavorful Delight for Any Season

Step into a world where comforting aromas fill your kitchen and every bite is a journey of delightful flavors. This isn’t just any cake; it’s a testament to the timeless appeal of warm spices beautifully complemented by a dreamy, tangy frosting. Prepare to indulge in a slice of pure bliss with our irresistibly moist Spice Cake, elegantly crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting that will make your taste buds sing.

This delightful Spice Cake recipe is a celebration of classic flavors, masterfully blending the aromatic warmth of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves into a tender, moist crumb. Each forkful is an adventure, a perfect balance of sweet and spicy notes that evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia. And what could be better than pairing such a magnificent cake with a rich, velvety cream cheese frosting? This exquisite topping adds a layer of luxurious tanginess, creating a culinary masterpiece that is both deeply satisfying and incredibly refreshing. Whether it’s a special occasion or a simple craving for something sweet and comforting, this homemade spice cake promises to deliver pure joy with every bite.

Craving more delightful baking inspiration? Here are a few other recipes from our collection you might love to try:

• Effortlessly Easy Peach Cobbler Cake
• Easy To Make Chocolate Graham Cracker Cake
• Ultimate Biscoff Cake With Cookie Butter

Why You Should Bake This Irresistible Spice Cake

If you’re still on the fence about whether to whip up this incredible spice cake – though we doubt you will be – let us offer a few more compelling reasons why this recipe deserves a spot in your baking repertoire. This isn’t just another dessert; it’s an experience waiting to happen, designed for ease, flavor, and pure delight!

• Effortless Sheet Cake Perfection: Forget about finicky layer cakes and complicated assembly! This spice cake is designed as a simple sheet cake, making both its preparation and serving wonderfully straightforward. It’s the ultimate hassle-free indulgence, perfect for casual gatherings, potlucks, or simply satisfying your sweet tooth without the fuss. Its forgiving nature makes it a fantastic choice for bakers of all skill levels, delivering impressive results with minimal effort.
• Everyday Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavors: You’ll be amazed at how easily common pantry staples transform into a symphony of enticing spices and rich creaminess. This recipe proves that you don’t need exotic ingredients to create something truly spectacular. The magic lies in the harmonious blend of familiar flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, making this cake both accessible and profoundly delicious for everyone.
• The Perfect Seasonal Transition Treat: As the warmth of summer gently fades into the crisp embrace of autumn, this spice cake emerges as the quintessential dessert. Its cozy, comforting flavors are perfectly aligned with the season, welcoming cooler days with a comforting hug. While it’s undoubtedly a fall favorite, its delightful taste can be savored and enjoyed any time of year, bringing a touch of warmth and cheer to any occasion.
• Warm Spices for Nostalgic Bliss: Each aromatic spice in this cake – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves – plays a vital role in creating a deeply comforting and nostalgic experience. These familiar flavors wrap you in a heartwarming embrace, stirring up cherished memories of grandma’s kitchen or holiday seasons, while also helping to create new, joyful moments with every bite. It’s more than just a cake; it’s a taste of home and happiness.
• A Crown of Creamy Cream Cheese Decadence: The crowning glory of this spice cake is its dreamy, velvety cream cheese frosting. This isn’t just any topping; it’s a decadent, slightly tangy counterpoint that perfectly complements the rich, spiced cake. The frosting adds an exquisite balance of sweetness and a luxurious texture, elevating each slice into a truly indulgent and unforgettable treat. It’s the perfect creamy finish to a perfectly spiced cake, making it utterly irresistible.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Spice Cake

To embark on your homemade spice cake baking adventure, you’ll need a selection of simple yet powerful ingredients. While we’ve highlighted some key items below, a full, detailed list can be found in the recipe card. These are the building blocks that will ensure your cake is nothing short of perfection, delivering that signature moist crumb and aromatic flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: This foundational ingredient is crucial for providing the necessary structure and tender crumb of the cake. When properly measured and mixed, it works with leavening agents to create a cake that rises beautifully and holds its shape, ensuring every slice is consistent and delightful.
• Baking Powder: A primary leavening agent, baking powder is responsible for the cake’s light and airy texture. It creates gas bubbles during baking, helping the batter to rise and achieve that wonderful, fluffy consistency we all love in a perfect homemade cake.
• Baking Soda: Working in tandem with baking powder and often activated by acidic ingredients (like buttermilk or brown sugar), baking soda further enhances the cake’s rise. It contributes to a tender, delicate crumb, preventing the cake from becoming dense and ensuring a pleasant mouthfeel.
• Aromatic Spices (Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves): These are the stars of our spice cake, infusing it with their warm, complex, and inviting flavors. Cinnamon offers sweetness, ginger provides a gentle zing, nutmeg adds a nutty depth, and cloves deliver a rich, pungent note. Together, they create the signature comforting aroma and taste that define a truly great spice cake, evoking warmth and coziness. Make sure your spices are fresh for the most vibrant flavor!
• Vegetable Oil: Unlike butter, which can make cakes denser, vegetable oil contributes significantly to a consistently moist and tender crumb. It helps keep the cake soft and prevents it from drying out, ensuring each bite is deliciously succulent, even days after baking.
• Brown Sugar: More than just a sweetener, brown sugar plays a dual role. Its molasses content adds deep, caramel-like notes that enhance the spice flavors, while also contributing crucial moisture to the cake. This results in a richer taste and a wonderfully soft, chewy texture.
• Unsweetened Applesauce: A fantastic ingredient that adds natural sweetness and considerable moisture to the cake without adding excess fat. Applesauce helps keep the cake incredibly tender and can even lend a subtle fruity undertone that complements the spices beautifully.
• Large Eggs (Room Temperature): Eggs bind the ingredients, add richness, and contribute to the cake’s structure and rise. Using room temperature eggs is vital as they emulsify more easily with other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform batter and a finer crumb.
• Buttermilk (Room Temperature): The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking soda, aiding in leavening and contributing to a tender, moist cake. It also imparts a subtle tang that balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile. Like eggs, ensuring it’s at room temperature is key for optimal batter consistency.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A touch of high-quality vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors in the cake, adding a layer of sophisticated sweetness and warmth that ties everything together.
• Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature): For the cream cheese frosting, butter is essential for a rich, smooth, and stable base. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in your frosting.
• Cream Cheese (Room Temperature): The defining ingredient for the luscious frosting! Its tangy, slightly savory notes perfectly cut through the sweetness of the cake, creating a balanced and utterly addictive topping. Ensure it’s softened to avoid lumps.
• Powdered Sugar (Sifted): Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this provides the sweetness and structure for the frosting. Sifting is non-negotiable for a silky-smooth, lump-free consistency.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: A small amount of heavy cream helps achieve the perfect light, fluffy consistency in the cream cheese frosting, making it easier to spread and adding to its luxurious texture.

Mastering the Spice Cake Batter: Expert Tips for Success

This fantastic spice cake recipe is designed for simplicity, often requiring just two bowls and a whisk – no fancy hand or stand mixers needed! To ensure your cake turns out perfectly moist and flavorful every time, here are our best tips for crafting the ideal batter.

• Accurate Measurements are Key: Baking is a science, and precision is paramount. For flour, always use the “spoon and level” method: spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. This prevents over-packing, which can lead to a dry, dense cake. An extra ounce of flour can drastically change your cake’s texture.
• Sift Dry Ingredients (or Whisk Thoroughly): Sifting your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, salt) helps to break up any lumps and ensures they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. This prevents pockets of concentrated leavening agents or spices, leading to a uniform rise and flavor. If you don’t have a sifter, a good old whisk can do the trick just as effectively, but make sure to whisk vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
• Gentle Mixing is Essential: When combining your wet and dry ingredients, mix them gently until *just* combined. Overmixing is the enemy of a tender cake! It develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough, chewy texture rather than a soft, fluffy one. A few streaks of flour are better than an overmixed batter; any remaining small lumps will typically bake out.
• Room Temperature Ingredients for Uniformity: This tip applies to eggs, buttermilk, and even applesauce. Ingredients at room temperature emulsify more easily, meaning they blend together smoothly and evenly. This creates a more homogeneous batter, which in turn leads to a cake with a finer, more consistent crumb. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to seize, leading to a lumpy texture and uneven baking.
• Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients Gradually: To prevent overmixing and ensure a smooth batter, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Typically, you’d add about a third of the dry, mix lightly, then half the buttermilk, mix, then another third of dry, the rest of the buttermilk, and finally the last of the dry. This method allows for better incorporation and helps maintain the batter’s delicate structure.
• Don’t Overmix – Seriously!: We can’t stress this enough. Once the wet and dry ingredients have come together, stop mixing. Even a few extra seconds can begin to overdevelop the gluten, leading to a cake that is dense and tough. A light hand here makes all the difference for a tender, moist crumb.
• Bake Immediately After Mixing: The leavening agents (baking powder and baking soda) begin to activate as soon as they come into contact with moisture. For optimal rise and texture, transfer your batter to the prepared pan and get it into the preheated oven without delay. Waiting too long can cause the leavening power to diminish, resulting in a flatter cake.
• Use the Correct Pan Size: The recipe specifies a 9×13-inch pan for a reason. Using a pan that is too small can cause the batter to overflow or result in an undercooked center. A pan that is too large can lead to a thin, dry cake. Stick to the recommended size for even baking and a perfect rise, ensuring the proper ratio of crust to tender interior.
• Always Preheat Your Oven Thoroughly: A properly preheated oven ensures that the cake begins baking at the correct temperature from the moment it enters. This is vital for activating the leavening agents and achieving a good rise and even bake. Allow your oven to preheat for at least 20-30 minutes, even after it indicates it’s ready, to ensure it’s truly up to temperature and will cook your cake evenly.
• Test for Doneness Reliably: The best way to check if your cake is done is to insert a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. If it comes out with wet batter, it needs more time. Be careful not to overbake, as this can result in a dry cake; it’s better to underbake slightly than overbake significantly.
• Prepare Your Pan Properly: Don’t underestimate the importance of greasing and lining your pan. For this sheet cake, greasing the pan and then lining it with parchment paper (leaving an overhang for easy lifting) ensures that your cake will release cleanly and effortlessly, preventing sticking and crumbling. This simple step saves a lot of frustration!

Achieving Silky Smooth Cream Cheese Frosting: Pro Tips

A glorious spice cake deserves an equally glorious frosting! If you’ve ever struggled with lumpy or runny cream cheese frosting, fear not. These expert tips will guide you to a perfectly smooth, fluffy, and stable buttercream that will crown your cake with perfection every single time.

• Softened Ingredients are Non-Negotiable: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for lump-free cream cheese frosting. Ensure both your unsalted butter and cream cheese are at true room temperature. This means they should be soft enough to indent with a finger but not greasy or melted. If ingredients are too cold, they won’t cream together smoothly, resulting in lumps. If they’re too warm, the frosting can become runny and unstable.
• Gradual Mixing, Starting Slow: Begin by beating the softened butter and cream cheese together on medium speed for at least 2-3 minutes. This allows them to fully combine and become light and creamy. When adding powdered sugar, start on low speed to avoid a “sugar cloud” in your kitchen, then gradually increase to medium speed to incorporate it completely.
• Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar) can often contain tiny lumps that are difficult to smooth out once mixed. Sifting it before adding it to your creamed butter and cream cheese mixture is the simplest way to guarantee a truly smooth, velvety frosting. Don’t skip this step for the best texture!
• Scrape Down the Bowl Frequently: During the mixing process, ingredients can stick to the sides and bottom of your mixing bowl, remaining unmixed. Pause occasionally (every minute or so) to scrape these down with a rubber spatula. This ensures all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, preventing unmixed pockets and guaranteeing a uniformly smooth frosting from top to bottom.
• Enhance Flavor with Vanilla and a Pinch of Salt: While the primary flavors are cream cheese and butter, a good quality pure vanilla extract deepens the overall richness and aroma, adding a layer of sophisticated sweetness. A tiny pinch of salt (a quarter teaspoon for a typical recipe) is a secret weapon that balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors, preventing the frosting from being overly sweet or flat.
• Mind the Mixing Time: After adding all ingredients, beat the frosting on medium-high speed for about 3-5 minutes. This incorporates air, making the frosting light and fluffy. However, be cautious not to overbeat, especially with cream cheese. Over-whipping can sometimes make cream cheese frosting too soft or even separate, as cream cheese can break down if overworked. Stop once it’s light, fluffy, and holds its shape beautifully.
• Fixing Common Frosting Issues:
  • If too runny: This can happen if ingredients were too warm or overbeaten. Gradually add more sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, beating until desired consistency is reached. You can also try chilling the frosting in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes, then re-whipping it briefly.
  • If too stiff: If your frosting is too thick to spread, add a very small amount (1 teaspoon at a time) of heavy whipping cream or milk, beating until smooth and spreadable. Be careful not to add too much at once.
  • If lumpy: This usually means the cream cheese wasn’t soft enough or the powdered sugar wasn’t sifted. If you can’t fix it by continued beating and scraping, you might have to try warming a small portion and re-blending, or as a last resort, starting over with properly softened and sifted ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spice Cake

Curious about how to get the most out of your spice cake? Here are some common questions and detailed answers to help you along your baking journey. If you have more questions after reading, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help!

Q: Can I use a different pan size for the sheet cake?

A: While this recipe is optimized for a 9×13-inch pan, you certainly can use a different size, but you’ll need to adjust the baking time accordingly. If using a smaller pan (like an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan), the cake will be thicker and require more baking time – typically an additional 10-20 minutes. If using a larger pan (like a half-sheet pan), it will be thinner and bake faster, possibly by 10-15 minutes. Always keep a close eye on the cake and use the toothpick test for doneness to ensure it’s baked through without drying out.

Q: Can I make the cake in advance?

A: Absolutely! This spice cake is a great make-ahead dessert. You can bake the cake a day or two in advance. Once completely cooled, wrap the unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap (or aluminum foil) and store it in the refrigerator. Frost the cake on the day you plan to serve it for the freshest results and best frosting texture. Making it ahead also allows the warm spice flavors to meld and deepen beautifully.

Q: Is it necessary to sift the dry ingredients?

A: Sifting the dry ingredients is highly recommended as it helps to aerate the flour, break up any lumps, and ensure an even distribution of the leavening agents and spices. This leads to a smoother batter and a more uniform, tender crumb in your finished cake. If you don’t have a sifter, a good alternative is to whisk them together very thoroughly (for at least 30-60 seconds) in a large bowl to achieve a similar effect of lightness and even distribution.

Q: How do I prevent my cream cheese frosting from being lumpy?
A: The ultimate key to a smooth cream cheese frosting is using butter and cream cheese that are properly softened to room temperature. They should be soft enough to easily indent with your finger. Ensure you beat them together thoroughly until light and creamy before adding any other ingredients. Sifting your powdered sugar is also crucial to avoid any granular texture. If you still encounter tiny lumps, beat the frosting for a bit longer with an electric mixer, or for ultimate smoothness, you can gently press it through a fine-mesh sieve (though this is rarely needed if ingredients are properly prepared).

Q: Can I add nuts or raisins to my spice cake?

A: Yes, absolutely! Nuts like chopped pecans or walnuts, or dried fruits such as raisins or dried cranberries, make wonderful additions to spice cake, adding extra texture and complementary flavors. Fold them gently into the batter during the final stages of mixing, right before pouring it into the pan. About 1/2 to 1 cup of additions usually works well, depending on your preference. For best results, lightly toss dried fruits or nuts in a tablespoon of flour before adding to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.

Q: What if I don’t have buttermilk?

A: No buttermilk? No problem! You can easily make a homemade substitute that works almost identically. For every 1/2 cup of buttermilk required, simply measure 1/2 cup of regular milk (whole milk, 2%, or even non-dairy milk like almond or soy) and stir in 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature until it slightly curdles. This acidity will mimic the effects of buttermilk in the recipe, helping to activate the baking soda and create a moist, tender cake.

Storing Your Spice Cake for Lasting Freshness

Proper storage is key to enjoying your delicious spice cake with cream cheese frosting for as long as possible. Because of the cream cheese frosting, this cake benefits significantly from refrigeration, which helps maintain both its freshness and structural integrity. To store it, place the entire cake or individual slices in an airtight container. If an airtight container isn’t available, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out and absorbing other refrigerator odors. Stored in the refrigerator, your spice cake will remain wonderfully fresh for up to 3-4 days. While it can be kept at room temperature for a day or two if your kitchen isn’t too warm, refrigeration is highly recommended for optimal quality and safety, especially with the dairy-based frosting.

Freezing Your Spice Cake

Planning ahead or simply want to save some of this delectable spice cake with cream cheese frosting for a future craving? Freezing is an excellent option! To freeze your cake, first ensure it is completely cooled down to room temperature. For best results, it’s often easiest to freeze individual slices rather than the entire cake. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap, then follow with a layer of aluminum foil. This double-layer protection is crucial for preventing freezer burn, which can compromise the cake’s texture and flavor. If freezing a whole unfrosted cake, wrap it similarly, then frost after thawing. Store the wrapped cake or slices in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen slices or whole cake in the refrigerator overnight, or at room temperature for a few hours. Allow the cake to come fully to room temperature before serving; this ensures the best texture and allows the full depth of flavors to shine through once more.

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The Perfect Spice Cake Recipe

Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By Molly Murphy

Discover the ultimate blend of spiced flavors in this delectable cake, elegantly crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting. This easy-to-follow recipe ensures a perfectly moist and flavorful treat every time.

5 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

 

 

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour spoon and level
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 ¾ cup brown sugar packed
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk room temperature

For the cream cheese frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar measured and then sifted
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch metal pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting. You can use metal binder clips to secure the parchment paper if needed.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves until thoroughly combined and lump-free. Set this dry mixture aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, packed brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, room temperature large eggs, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the room temperature buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the ingredients together until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense cake.
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting. (Note: My oven tends to run cooler, so my cake took the full baking time.)

For the cream cheese frosting

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the room temperature unsalted butter and cream cheese. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light, creamy, and completely smooth.
• Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Continue beating for an additional 2 minutes until extra fluffy.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, followed by the heavy whipping cream, pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Mix until just combined.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for another 3 to 5 minutes until the frosting is incredibly smooth, light, and wonderfully fluffy. Be careful not to overbeat, as this can make the frosting too soft.
• For the best, most consistent texture, use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to manually stir and eliminate any trapped air pockets, gently folding the frosting until perfectly smooth.
• Once the spice cake is completely cooled, use an offset spatula to generously frost the top with the prepared cream cheese frosting. This cake can be served immediately at room temperature for a softer frosting, or chilled for a firmer frosting, based on your preference. Enjoy your homemade delight!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!