Gingerbread Cake With Whipped Cream Frosting Food

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of three greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment paper; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat the first five ingredients until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flours, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger and salt; gradually beat into milk mixture., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup of the whipped cream. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer, whipped cream and nuts.

GINGERBREAD WAFFLE CAKE WITH PEPPERMINT FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat a round waffle iron to medium.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl. Whisk together the molasses, baking soda and 1 cup water in a separate large bowl. Add the sugar, oil and eggs to the molasses mixture and whisk until mostly smooth.
• Add the molasses mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until combined. Spray the waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Pour 1/2 cup of the batter into the center of the waffle iron, close the lid and cook until the waffle is lightly browned and springs back when you touch it, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the cake layer from the waffle maker using a fork and set aside on a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining batter; you should have about 10 waffled cake layers total. Let cool completely then trim any scraggly edges with a knife.
• For the peppermint frosting: Whisk together the mascarpone, confectioners' sugar and peppermint extract in a large bowl. Crush the 4 peppermint candies with a heavy pan and combine with the frosting.
• Whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. Don't worry if the whipped cream doesn't fully incorporate.
• Put a small amount of frosting in the center of a large plate or cake stand. Place a waffle layer over the frosting on the plate, pressing down slightly to anchor it. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread about 2 tablespoons frosting over the first cake layer. Place a waffle on top. Repeat the frosting and layering process, using the remaining frosting on the final layer. Sprinkle the 6 crushed peppermint candies around the edge of the top layer.

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a parchment round.
• Stir together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• Combine the brown sugar and butter in another large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined (it's fine if the mixture looks a little curdled).
• Stir the molasses into the boiling water in a large spouted measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat just until smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, invert the cakes onto the rack, then peel off and discard the parchment.
• For the frosting: Combine the butter and cream cheese in a clean mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioner's' sugar, beating until combined. Add the vanilla and gradually increase the speed to high. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed so the frosting is spreadable.
• Place one cake layer flat-side down on a cake stand or platter. Top with about 3/4 cup of the frosting, spreading almost to the edges using an offset spatula. Place the remaining cake layer on top, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting on the entire cake and smooth the top and sides with the offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake while you decorate the gingerbread cookies.
• For the decorations: Meanwhile, microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until just melted. (Alternatively, melt the chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; do not let bowl touch the water.) Let cool slightly and put into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (or use a plastic ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe eyes and smiles on the gingerbread cookie faces.
• Arrange the merry gingerbread men side by side around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing in slightly to adhere. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the nonpareils.

CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH MAPLE WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray 10-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; spray paper. Sift flour and next 6 ingredients into medium bowl. Mix in crystallized ginger.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in brown sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Gradually beat in molasses, then 1 cup boiling water. Mix in grated orange peel. Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer pan to rack and cool 15 minutes. Run knife around pan sides. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off paper. Cool.
• Make filling and frosting:
• Beat cream and maple syrup in large bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Cut cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Transfer 1 cake layer, cut side up, to platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups whipped cream mixture over. Repeat layering with 1 cake layer and 1 1/2 cups whipped cream mixture. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle crystallized ginger atop cake around edge. Garnish with orange peel strips. Cover with cake dome; chill at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.