Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Hard Sauce is a Martha Stewart recipe that is just delicious! A soft and moist cake filled with warm winter spices. The lemon hard sauce is a must to go with this simple and wonderful cake!
There is nothing like coming home from a hard day of school to a slice of Gingerbread Cake. Even better is a slice of Gingerbread Cake with a dollop of Lemon Hard Sauce. And maybe a hot cup of tea.
Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Hard Sauce
When I was little, my mom used to make the best Gingerbread Cake. It was a permanent baking fixture in her kitchen during the whole month of December. It was simple and satisfying. While my mom was busy mixing the ingredients, I would be sneaking under the Christmas tree shaking my presents to figure out what I got.
My brother would be peeling the tape a little off of his and then he would stealthily try to re-tape it. We were stinkers. (Sorry mom!) Mmmm. And then that smell would waft throughout the house. The rich smell of ginger mixed with cinnamon and other spices. I didn’t know the other spices names yet. I was too little.
When we were in New York last week, our friend Nicole made the most amazing Gingerbread Cake. I swear I will get my hands on the recipe and try her recipe. It was dark. Almost black. It was gooey and amazingly moist. She served us the cake after dinner with vanilla ice-cream. Another wonderful way to eat Gingerbread Cake. Or you may like simple...like a simple dusting of confectioner’s sugar.
I love to make my kids quick and tasty snacks to have after school. For the cooler days, a lovely slice of Gingerbread Cake and a hot cup of tea is just the perfect treat for my little munchkins. They also get apple slices and tangerines. We big people like our Gingerbread Cake with that healthy spoonful of Lemon Hard Sauce I was telling you about.
I think Lemon Hard Sauce can cure just about any thing. It’s tangy and sweet and goes so well with the flavors in the Gingerbread Cake.
Some other cake recipes to enjoy:
Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Hard Sauce
Ingredients
- Gingerbread cake
- 8 tablespoons 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus more for the pan
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ⅔ cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 large eggs room temperature,lightly beaten
- Lemon Hard Sauce
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1-2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-by-9-inch cake pan; set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a large bowl, sift together flour, ground spices, salt, and baking powder; set aside.
- In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter until light. Beat in brown sugar until fluffy. Next, beat in molasses and grated ginger, baking-soda mixture, and flour mixture. Finally, beat in eggs.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, (approximately 30 to 35 minutes). Let cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Serve with the Lemon Hard Sauce or a nice dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
- For the Lemon Hard Sauce:
- In a medium sized bowl, on medium-high speed beat the softened butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice until just creamy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla into the bowl in small doses and beat until it is nice and fluffy.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Shulie says
As if you read my mind. Just visited your blog yesterday to look if you posted a new recipe... and here you did just that, all for me?! 🙂 Looks like a cake that will go great with my tea!! Shulie
wenderly says
My mouth is watering...seriously, yum.
Chef Dennis says
wow....the lemon hard sauce on that flavorful gingerbead cake is almost too much to handl....almost.....I would love to have been there while it was baking...oh how I must have smelled incredible!!
Dennis
Lindsay @Eat, Knit, Grow says
Yum gingerbread! And the sauce looks divine!
bakinginlisbon says
Love it, the lemon hard sauce is a must!
BakingWithoutaBox says
I can't decide which is more wonderfully tempting - the simple sugar dusting or the lemon hard sauce. Think I'll have to try both ;)What a lovely cake recipe. I'll be saving this one.
Jill Colonna says
I just love gooey gingerbread - never had it with a lemon sauce before. And Lemon Hard Sauce? Looks scrumptious!
Anonymous says
Wow this cake looks so yummy! I love the gingerbread and lemon combo too. That sounds so scrumptious!
Corrine says
Mmmm that looks yummy!
The Gonzo Mama says
It's the perfect time of year for gingerbread! I can't wait to veganize this recipe and try it!
Kate @ Diethood.com says
Oh, yum, that's delicious! I think I would probably lick the lemon sauce off of every piece before eating the entire cake!
Marzia says
i love this gingerbread cake!! kisses from tuscany 🙂
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Mmmm gingerbread cake, you just know I LOVE your cake! 😉 What a great idea to make lemon hard sauce to put on top. I have to try out the hard sauce, it sounds incredible. Can I live by you please and eat everything you make? I think I'd be in heaven.
Angie's Recipes says
The cake looks awesome! Love the sauce too.
Tiffany says
I've never heard of hard sauce before! The lemon-gingerbread combo sounds fantastic!
Christina says
Gingerbread with lemon? Who would have thought it! Sounds yummy!
Steph says
I love gingrebread cake! I didn't get around to making it this holiday season, but seeing this is making me think it's not too late 🙂
Evan Thomas says
I'm drooling. That lemon sauce would be good for just about anything.
Jennifer says
I love gingerbread. Never tried with lemon, though. Your sauce looks devine. Sounds like it might be time to add a little lemon to my gingerbread.
Claire Gallam says
This looks INCREDIBLY decadent. Like, I just gained weight reading it. But I don't mind b/c it looks fabulous 🙂 Another great cake!
Christine Wu says
Lemon hard sauce? At first I thought it's called hard sauce because you put hard liquor in it.. hehe. Silly me! Never tried gingerbread cake before but yours sounds so good!
Evan @swEEts says
I love gingerbread! And I would love to come home after a long day at work to a slice of this for sure! I've never heard of lemon hard sauce and I actually would never think to mix lemon and gingerbread, but if you say its delicious then it has to be!
Lizzy says
What a moist, gorgeous slice of cake. I love those same kitchen aromas...something about cinnamon and ginger that I can't resist. And since this recipe comes from your sweet mom, I love it even more 🙂
Maria says
I would love a piece, please!!!
Nisrine|Dinners and Dreams says
I love gingerbread flavor. This is perfect especially with the lemon sauce.
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
Hard sauce... oh how I love thee. GREAT recipe. This sounds absolutely amazing. The flavours pair so nicely! And you're right. There IS nothing better than coming home to cake.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Oh my goodness, I totally forgot to make gingerbread for the holidays! Okay, I need to remedy that right away.
SaraOneTribeGourmet says
oh yum! I would love a piece of this gingerbread cake with warm cup of tea please! 🙂 Lovely memories! Thanks for sharing!
Kimberly(Unrivaledkitch) says
ginger anything is s favorite of mine. this looks fantastic. I'll have to bake this the next time i get around to baking
thanks for the inspiration
beautiful job
Kimberly
Sandra says
Stunning photos, and looks so tempting and tasty as always! I love the addition of the photo when you were a kid! So cute!!!
Monet says
You are too cute! I loved seeing that Christmas picture...such sweet smiles...such precious little face. I cherish recipes that have memories attached to them, and I know that your own children are going to have such fond memories when they grow up. Thank you for sharing this, Lora. I hope you are having a wonderful night.
Amy Bakes Everything says
Love the cake with hard sauce! I think hard sauce is completely underrated and should be eaten on everything.
Stephanie says
Mmm, looks yum! I bet your house smelled amazing while it baked.
Jamie says
Oh you were too cute and you haven't changes a speck! I love soft, gooey gingerbread cake and lemon is the perfect accompaniment!
Carol Egbert says
Gingerbread and Lemon Hard Sauce are perfect especially when the is a foot of new snow outside the kitchen. Great recipe, Thanks!
Pauline says
I am spying on good gingerbread recipes - not very subtly as I appear to have a left some sticky finger prints everywhere - have saved this one. Cheers Pauline
Susan says
Gingerbread brings back such memories for me! It was a favorite inexpensive and easy dessert that my Mom made for us when all the kids were still at home! Warm gingerbread with whipped cream! Your lemon sauce sounds spectacular, though! ginger and lemon complement each other beautifully!
claire says
Wow this cake looks so amazing! I love the gingerbread and lemon combo too-reminds me of xmas! That sounds so amazing and the perfect treat!
C&G says
It sounds amazing and it looks delicious!
Koci says
I am seriously about to start drooling! Your descriptions of the gingerbread cake and hard sauce make it sound truly heavenly. Usually I just top my gingerbread treats with maple syrup, but I think I've got to give hard sauce a try!
Bridgett says
The lemon hard sauce sounds divine up against the flavors of the gingerbread. I love this recipe!
Magic of Spice says
I just love the idea of gingerbread and lemon flavors...looks so good 🙂
Raina says
Sounds wonderful, love the addition of the lemon hard sauce. That must put this right over the top. I love the photo of you and your brother. You look so sweet all dressed up:)
Lisa {Authentic Suburban Gourmet } says
One of my favorite cakes. The lemon sauce sounds divine. What a perfect combination!!!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
Girrrrrl, I LOVE gingerbread cake. With a passion! It brings back such happy memories. THe lemon hard sauce sounds like the perfect topper!
Anonymous says
I could use this after a hard day of teaching at school 🙂 It looks like a perfect winter treat!
Sandra says
Really good flavor combos.
Grace says
Lora I really enjoy when you share stories about your childhood. I've never heard of Lemon Hard Sauce. I must try it at some point. My kids would enjoy this cake very much. They both love gingerbread but aren't crazy about citrus but ice cream sounds perfect. I was the kid that would unwrap and re-wrap. With 8 kids my mother could never remember how she wrapped the gifts - I was a real stinker!
scrambledhenfruit says
I heart gingerbread. It was one treat that my mom made quite often, and not just at Christmas. 🙂 I can smell it now- thanks for the memories! Your gingerbread looks yummy!
A little bit of everything says
gingerbread cake brings back so many memories. my grandma made the best one in whole world, at least for us, the kids 🙂
yours looks so good. I've tried simple, just dusted with powdered sugar so next time I have to make that lemon hard sauce, sounds tempting.
thanks for sharing Lola, hope you're having a wonderful week
Mary E Schuster says
This sounds amazing! I don't have a 9x9 inch pan, can I use an 8x8 and how long do I bake it?
Lora says
It is so good! Yes, you can, just check it around 30 minutes and see how it's going along. Every oven is different. It may be ready in 30-40 mins. Be sure to set a timer after you check it around 30 minutes (set for another 5-7 mins and check again).