Recently I baked a cake to donate to a charity auction fund-raiser for the Good Samaritans. This particular event supports women in India who are trained to use sewing as a means of supporting their families. When they graduate from their studies, they are given a sewing machine, and money from the auction helps purchase those machines. Talk about a good reason to bake!
Last year I donated a large platter of assorted cookies, but this year I hadn’t even started Christmas baking before the event. I decided that a cake would be a suitable substitute, and I found a recipe that I’d been anxious to try. I was unable to taste the cake (didn’t think it would look good to take a slice, even if it was a small one!) but the batter that stuck to the beater was delicious. I mean dreamy delicious. I will be baking this again. So, here is my Espresso Gingerbread Cake, recipe compliments of Fine Cooking.
The cake sold for $325. That’s enough to pay for 3 sewing machines, and I feel pretty good about that. I think this event is a great way to start the holiday season. The recipe is on the link listed above but I wanted to include it as well. If you try it, please let me know what you think. I don’t dare bake one until I’m having guests, since it would be dangerous to have in the house.
Espresso Gingerbread Cake
For the cake:
- 1/2 cup dark molasses
- 1/2 cup very strong brewed coffee or espresso, cooled to just warm
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; more for the pan
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1-1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature; more for the pan
- 1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
For the espresso glaze (optional):
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon dark rum (optional)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons brewed espresso
(or 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 1-1/2 tablespoons hot water)
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 10- or 12-cup bundt pan (or four 2-cup mini loaf pans). Tap out any excess flour.
In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the molasses with the brewed coffee. Sift the flour with the baking powder, salt, baking soda, espresso powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
With a stand mixer (use the paddle attachment) or a hand mixer, cream the butter in a large bowl on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs and yolks one at a time, stopping to scrape the bowl after each addition. With the mixer on low-speed, alternate adding the flour and coffee mixtures, beginning and ending with the flour. Stop the mixer at least one last time to scrape the bowl and then beat at medium speed until the batter is smooth, about 20 seconds.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan (or pans), spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Run a knife through the batter to eliminate any air pockets. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes (about 30 minutes for mini loaves). Set the pan on a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto the rack, remove the pan, and let cool until just barely warm. Drizzle with the glaze (if using) and then let cool to room temperature before serving. If you’re making the cake ahead, wrap it while still barely warm without the glaze. If you plan to freeze the cake, don’t glaze it until you’re ready to serve it or give it away.
Combine the confectioners’ sugar and rum (if using) in a bowl and, adding the espresso gradually, whisk until smooth. If necessary, add more espresso or water to thin the glaze to a drizzling consistency. When the cake is still barely warm, use a fork or spoon to drizzle the glaze over the top.
Make Ahead Tips
Wrapped tightly in plastic, the cake will hold up for as long as a week. You can also bake it up to a month ahead and freeze.
Time To Be Inspired 
Terri, that cake looks soooooooooooooo delicious! I’m so glad that it sold for such a pretty penny. You rock!
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Thanks, V. Really looking forward to baking another one so that I can actually TASTE it!
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Oh my gosh, your cake is beautiful! Sounds delicious, too. The shape and pattern reminds me of a quilt block … hmmm, now where could I have gotten that idea? 😊 Congratulations on raising so much money for a worthwhile charity. How satisfying that must be.
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What a magnificent effort all round Terri . Congratulations !
You made a wonderful job of the drizzly icing there – it looks so attractive as a huge Snowflake !
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Thanks, Poppy. It was a bit of an experiment, and I’ll have to try 2 or 3 more cakes to determine how to drizzle the glaze most effectively. Oh the calories…
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dear Teri,
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
ranu
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Thanks Terri. Your creation looked amazing and I did my best bidding it up until it was going to take me way over budget, given what I had already spent. So good to be spending time and money in support of other women on the other side of the world…
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Thanks to you for supporting this great cause and inviting me along!
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$325! Wow! Cheers to you Terri!
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Thanks, Joe. It feels good to support a great cause and have my baking appreciated!
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