You know when you find that one clothing item that drapes perfectly, clings in the just the right place, is flattering and comfortable, is basically the unicorn of clothing items actually come true? The item that makes us look like we’re wearing mascara and having a good hair day even if neither are true? Ugh – it’s so elusive and when we find it we consider breaking the bank to have it in every color because it is perfect and these bodies are so hard to live in and dress well. Welp, this gingerbread cake is that perfect piece of clothing!
It’s perfect. It’s THE cake. If there were only one cake you need on this earth – this is it. And I’m not speaking hyperbolically. These are just facts.
The base of today’s cake is a classic pound cake. If you’ve been following along with the Washington Post Voraciously Baking Basics Newsletter, this is our Grandmother’s Perfect Pound Cake. It’s classic and iconic and somehow… all of our grandmother’s made the same cake, claimed the genius for themselves, and we’re all ok with it because the cake is that good.
A perfect balance of fat, sugar, eggs, and flour brings this cake together flawlessly, though each step should be followed with care. There’s a science to how this cake rises and – we respect science especially where perfect cakes are involved.
Today’s version incorporates a gingerbread swirl. Tis the season, and this cake is sturdy enough to handle a flavor addition. This cake fits seamlessly into every season – like having one in every color – it’s timeless like that.
If you can make this cake (and you totally can!) you really don’t need to know any other cake. This can be the one. Your signature.
Here’s what you’ll need for this perfect gingerbread cake:
• softened butter and shortening. Shortening is actually key to the success of this cake. Want to talk about the science? Butter is made up of water, milk solids and fat – great – lots of the fat and flavor we want in our baked goods. Shortening is 100% fat which will help the cakes have a tender crumb, will keep the cake moist, and will help trap air within the batter as it whips in the mixer, helping the cake to rise. It’s a small amount that plays a key role so try not to skip it, k?
• granulated sugar, plenty.
• vanilla – the good stuff. I used a good vanilla extract and a vanilla bean. (My favorite vanilla is from Jones & Company – they sell the highest quality, most fragrant vanilla I’ve found.)
• 5 large eggs, crucial for adding moisture, structure, and richness to the cake.
• all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
• whole milk, at room temperature.
• molasses and loads of gingerbread spices for the swirl layer. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Now is our time!
Now let’s cake!
We’ll start by creaming the shortening in the bowl alone just to soften it to pliable. Room temperature butter and room temperature shortening are a slightly different consistency and shortening tends to lump a bit. Give it a whirl first. Add the butter. Mix until the two just come together.
Add the sugar and on medium-low speed, cream the fat and sugar. The mixture will be the palest yellow and visibly begin to aerate to fluff.
(Ps – you can also make this using an electric hand beater!)
See how fluffy the fat and sugar are after about 4 minutes on the mixer? It’s magic!
Now it’s time of the eggs!
The eggs bring a majority of lift to this cake and that work begins as they’re mixed into the batter.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, for one minute between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the next egg. The time will allow the eggs to aerate the batter – it’s all essential to this cake.
This is the consistency of the cake batter once all of the eggs are added. See how fluffy it looks? That’s just what we want!
Time for flavor.
I added a few good glugs of vanilla extract.
And scraped the seeds of a vanilla bean too… just to be extra… because it’s the holidays, ya know?
We’ll mix baking powder and salt into the flour and spoon half of the flour mixture into the batter.
On low speed, begin the incorporate the dry ingredients while slowly streaming in all of the milk.
The batter will loosen and may start to look curdled. That’s ok! We’re getting there.
Add the remaining flour and give the whole mixture a good whip on the mixer. This is a lot of cake batter so use a spatula to scrape down into the bottom of the bowl to bring up any hidden bits of butter and sugar. Make sure the batter is uniformly incorporated and smooth. It should feel irresistible – that’s how you know you’re on to something.
In a small bowl, scoop two cups of the prepared batter.
This is the portion we’re going to gingerbread.
Add a generous amount of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and a hint of cloves and allspice.
Molasses is essential too. I used 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses.
Now we have to get everything in the pan.
But here’s the thing . We’ve come so far incorporated our ingredients so carefully – we should also prepare the pan well.
Grease each nook and cranny with shortening and dust lightly with flour. The flour help you see any parts of the pan you might have missed with shortening. Hit it up!
After greasing I scooped half of the plain batter into the pan. Atop the plain batter, scoop half of the gingerbread batter and spread to an even layer.
Top with the remaining half of plain batter – and the remaining half of gingerbread batter.
I used a small offset spatula to gently dig down into the batter and swirl them just a bit.
Set in a preheated oven to bake.
This Christmas cake takes a very good while in the oven – an hour – sometimes a few minutes over an hour. Middle rack, please.
Resist the urge to open the oven or rotate the pan within the first 40 minutes or so. This cake is tender in its rise because most of the rise comes from eggs and the aeration of the batter and there’s a critical point in its rise where the cake could fall if it’s fused with. So… ya know… leave it be and trust the process for a while.
To test for doneness, insert a toothpick or skewer. If it comes out with moist crumbs – the cake is done. If it comes out with straight up batter – the cake needs more time.
I allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20-25 minutes. You want the cake to be just slightly warm when inverting it out of the pan.
Brush with melted butter – just because.
Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
(A powdered sugar dusting would also be lovely. Skip the butter if that’s the case.)
Would you look at this wonder!
The crumb is all the things: moist, tender, sturdy yet somehow light and delicate.
The hint of gingerbread flavor make every bite interesting. This is my perfect December cake!
I’m satisfied. I really am.
This is THE cake. The end. Amen.
Photos with friend: Jonathan Melendez.
Print
Gingerbread Swirl Bundt Cake
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 12-cup bundt cake 1x
- Category: dessert, holiday
Description
A perfectly balanced holiday cake!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- ½ cup (93 grams) vegetable shortening, plus more for greasing the pan
- 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
- 2 sticks (8 ounces/226 grams) unsalted butter, well softened
- Scant 3 cups (580 grams) sugar
- 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- seeds of 1 vanilla bean (optional)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
For the Gingerbread Swirl:
- 2 cups prepared cake batter
- 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar mixed with 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees; position the rack in the center of the oven.
- Thoroughly grease a 9-inch Bundt pan with the shortening, getting into every nook to ensure that the cake releases perfectly from the pan after baking. Dust the pan with the flour and tap out any excess.
- Place the shortening in a large bowl and, using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the shortening until softened and spread around. Add the butter and sugar and beat together on low speed until the mixture looks fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. (The mixture will seem grainy as it comes together.) Increase the speed to medium and beat the ingredients until well combined, some graininess has softened, and the texture feels more cohesive and almost fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.
- With the mixer running, add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute between each addition. After the last egg, the batter may look slightly curdled.
- Beat in the vanilla extract and seeds of the vanilla bean, if using.
- In a medium bowl thoroughly whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture. Beat on low speed until just combined and a few flour streaks remain. With the mixer motor running, add the milk and beat until just combined. The mixture may appear curdled again. Add the remaining flour and beat until combined. Using a silicone spatula, scoop batter from the bottom and sides of the bowl to the top for any hidden pockets of flour. Using the hand mixer, beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
- Spoon 2 cups of cake batter into a small bowl. Stir in molasses and spices until well combined.
- Spoon half of the plain batter into the prepared pan. Add half of the gingerbread batter atop the plain batter and smooth. Add the remaining plain cake batter and the remaining gingerbread batter on top of that. Smooth the top and use a butterknife or offset spatula to dig down into the cake batter layers and swirl slightly. Smooth the top and place on the middle rack in the oven.
- Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes, until the cake is golden brown, has risen, and cracked across the top. Insert a toothpick to test the doneness of the cake; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If not, bake the cake for 5 more minutes and test again.
- Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Run a butterknife around the edges and gently invert the cake on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Brush with melted butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
- Store, wrapped at room temperature for up to 5 days.
52 Responses
Hi Joy! My family told me I needed to pop by and tell you what a smash hit this cake was: just perfect! This has just been added to our Christmas “must bake” traditions. So nice and it was a real hit at our annual Christmas party. Thank you!
What can I use instead of the shortening? I never use the stuff and don’t want to buy just that one ingredient. Thanks!!
Since shortening is 100% fat you could try using another 100% fat that’s solid at room temperature like coconut oil, lard or tallow.
Perfection! The swirl looks so pretty and makes the cake look more complicated than it is.
Hi Joy. what can i use instead of shortening if i don’t have it where i live? I wanna make it for my sons’ christmas market st their kindergarten next week but shortening is a problem. Thanks
what adjustments would i make for high altitude?
This cake is so beautiful and delicious. Made it two weeks ago with my daughters and they loved it so much that they made it again for a holiday party tomorrow. Thanks for the fantastic recipe.
This is the best pound cake I’ve ever baked! It’s so tender and moist instead of the usual super dense and dry. This recipe is a keeper. I did do the powdered sugar sifted on top instead of the cinnamon sugar.
This recipe is perfect.
It’s light. It’s airy. It’s just sweet enough. The gingerbread swirl is the cherry on top.
I make it every year and all my friends drool over it.
Follow the instructions to a T. Joy knows her stuff. This is baking science magic.
Hi Joy. what can i use instead of shortening if i don’t have it where i live? I wanna make it for my sons’ christmas market st their kindergarten next week but shortening is a problem. Thanks
This looks like a wonderful new way to prepare a swirl cake by using a gingerbread cake recipe. I am really eager to try this recipe for the first time. Thank you for sharing this recipe and many others.
Oh yum!!! You have the most perfect hands and nails!
My bundt pan is a 10 inch. Would I need to make adjustments to the baking time? What are your recommendations? Thank you!
Oh Boy this is a keeper! Im generally not a fan of bundt cake because it is too dry, but this one is perfect. Ill go back to this again and again Im sure!
This is becoming a holiday tradition in my family because it’s soooo good!! highly recommend!~
This is hands down one of the best cakes I’ve ever made. Thanks, Joy!
We had no shortening, so I substituted coconut oil and it came out great. The flavors are clearly gingerbread while being subtle enough to pair with tea or coffee.
That’s fantastic news!
This is delicious, but the amount of sugar in the cake seems excessive. I reduced it to 400g with no problems
I can’t use shortening so great tip with the coconut oil. Thanks.
I’ve made this two years in a row — two pans last year! and am making it again in 2021. Joy’s tips on putting this together are spot on so it does take some care, but is well worth the effort. Delicious and moist and an excellent gingerbread flavour, for when you want something that isn’t chocolate but feels special.
Delicious! The amount of sugar is pretty insane though. I reduced it to 400g the second time I made it and the cake didn’t suffer at all from it.
I made this Gluten free with Cup4Cup flour, and it was divine!
This cake is fantastic it may become by go to Bundt cake. I am thinking about playing with the swirl …honey, pistachios and cardamom? …maple syrup, walnuts and pumpkin pie spices??
Yummy GINGERBREAD SWIRL BUNDT CAKE recipe
I’ve got a mini Bundt pan tray I’ve been wanting to try. Would mini versions negatively impact the magic of the rise and tenderness? Also not sure what the shortened bake time would be and want to heed the instructions not to fuss once the cakes in the oven.
Hi Joy! I am so glad I found this recipe. My mother used to make a cake like this one when we were kids and I loved it! Over time the recipe was lost so I haven’t had it in a while.
I can’t wait to try this one!
Thanks again!
Made this for Christmas dinner and although I didn’t get it as swirly looking it came out wonderfully and was enjoyed by family and friends. (The accompanying dessert was the chocolate pudding pie from your Homemade Decadence book and that was also hugely popular.)
This cake is fabulous. The texture is so nice and soft. The only problem is now I want to eat the whole thing by myself.
I’m going to make this, this weekend, for sure!!
Made this yesterday – wow! So delicious. I especially like that the gingerbread flavor is not too overpowering. I used coconut oil in place of shortening because that’s what I had on hand. The cake was still moist and delicious for me with no obvious coconut flavor, but would love to try with the shortening as a comparison.
Fabulous recipe – as always! Gonna make several of these for my neighbors!!
Even though it is predicted to be in the high thirties Celcius all week (that is mid nineties in Fahrenheit) – I am making this cake! Thanks for another amazing recipe.
This looks fantastic. Caaaaaan it be gluten free and dairy free (butter is fine, just looking for a milk sub).
Sincerely,
Someone who desperately wants to make and it this the way it is.
HI Bri – I haven’t made this cake gluten and diary free but I suspect it could work with a gf flour blend and light coconut milk.
The real question here is which Jones & Co. vanilla extract do you use? They have so many options !
They’re all great but I’ve love the extract from Tahiti!
You inspire me to be a better food writer, Joy. And I’m still searching for that perfect piece of clothing. So glad to know that the perfect cake can be checked off the list. Thank you. xoxo
Se ve espectacular esta receta, una pregunta la levadura es lo mismo que el polvo de hornear? gracias por compartirla
si
Hi Joy. I currently only have buttermilk. Do you think that would work? Thanks
Would this work in any other type of pan? I still have PTSD from the last time I tried to use a Bundt pan. ?
I really think bundt is the way to go but you’re welcome to bake it in any pan you feel happy with!
I no longer do the long butter and flour routine for bundt pans – I just spray every inch with a cooking spray like Pam “Baking” spray!
Joy! What are you doing dropping this fantastic, yummy recipe on a Tuesday? There’s no time for your moist pound cake! I’ve got meetings to take, trainings to conduct, and hours in my cubicle to clock in. Whatever you do, please do not stop giving us variations on that classic bundt cake recipe, and I’ll get around to them sometime after the new year. Lemon, Almond, Matcha, any Citrus, ginger, cardamom, coconut, cinnamon, pistachio, or cherry… if you post a bundt recipe, I will make it! #bundtlife #cakeordeath #cakeplease
By the way… do you use regular shortening or butter-flavored shorting?
Cheers from chilly West Texas!
I don’t have a bundt pan, is it possible to halve the recipe and use a loaf pan?
You would likely bake this in two or three loaf pans and it would be delicious!
This cake looks amazing! If I wanted to dress it up a bit, do you think a caramel drip would work instead of the sugar on top?
Can something be substituted for shortening!? Coconut oil? It looks amazing !
Shortening is really best here.
But is there any substitute option? we do not have shortening for sale where I live. Also could you please advice fat% in whole milk, once again here we do not have such item as “whole milk” on shelves, just milk with different fat%
Whole milk is generally 4%. I didn’t have it so I used about half a cup of 2% milk and half a cup of 10% cream. It was delicious.
Thanks Joy, many happy family members and coworkers are raving about this cake, and my reputation as Office Baker is secure!