Heavenly Spiced Cake Recipes

MOIST LIGHT FRUIT CAKE (THE BEST EVER)!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160 °Celsius. Grease and line cake tin with parchment paper and wrap the tin with 2 layers of brown paper or baking strips.
• Chop the fruits if you like them chopped and mix with ground almond. Leave aside.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in all essences, lemon juice, and molasses and mix well.
• Gently fold in the sifted dry ingredients alternately with orange juice. Mix until flour is well incorporated in the batter.
• Add the mixed fruits into the batter and mix well.
• Pour batter into a greased and lined cake tin and bake for about 2 hours and 10 minutes on the lowest rack.
• Remove cake from the oven and let it rest in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove cake from tin and let it cool completely.
• Once completely cooled, wrap it neatly in parchment paper, followed by cling wrap and foil and store in a cool, dry place for 1 week before icing or cutting the cake.

SUPER MOIST SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch pan. I always use this glass pan.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and other spices together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk the oil, brown sugar, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and molasses (if using) together in a medium bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Fold in the shredded apple until combined.
• Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top of the cake is browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
• Remove the cake from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely. After about 45 minutes, I usually place it in the refrigerator to speed things up.
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add 3 confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar (I add it). Spread the frosting on the cooled cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. This helps sets the frosting and makes cutting easier.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

HEAVENLY SPICED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cream together butter and sugar, brown sugar until smooth.
• Add eggs and vanilla, blend for 1 minute.
• Stir all dry ingredients together.
• Alternate adding scoops of dry ingredients and buttermilk to the creamed mixture while beating until all ingredients are combined.
• Blend until there are no lumps.
• Pour into two 9 inch rounds and bake for~40 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Allow cakes to cool.
• If you wish to stack the cakes you should cut the rounded tops off with a bread knife once they have cooled so that they will stack flat, save the removed portion for apple filling.
• To make fried apple filling, scoop a trough into the top of the first cake layer for the apple filling, about 1 inch deep but leave the edges to form a shallow dish or basin in the cake.
• Save the crumbs from this procedure.
• Peel and core 2 baking apples.
• Chop apples and put into a skillet along with 3 T butter, about 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Heat on medium heat, stir occasionally to prevent burning but allow the apples to brown slightly (this turns the sugars to caramel).
• Once the apples have stopped sweating and are caramelized, add the juice from 1/2 lemon or lime and 1/4 cup of apple juice.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the cake crumbs until all liquid has been absorbed.
• Spoon this into the shallow trough on the cake and place the second cake on top.
• To make frosting, ceam butter and cheese together.
• Blend in vanilla and add sugar.
• Once sugar is incorporated turn mixer to high and whip until light and creamy.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake, sprinkle with additional cinnamon or nutmeg if desired.