Description
Festive spice cake with eggnog buttercream delivers winter holiday magic in delightful layers of warm cinnamon and creamy richness. Rich seasonal flavors blend perfectly for gatherings where you’ll savor each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Flour and Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups (591 ml) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
Spices:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cloves
Wet Ingredients and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (237 ml) buttermilk
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F (175°C) and lining three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper, ensuring even surface coverage.
- Create the dry mixture by combining flour, leavening agents, salt, and warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in a comprehensive blend.
- Develop the wet base by creaming butter and brown sugar until achieving a pale, voluminous texture, then integrate eggs individually to maintain smooth consistency.
- Incorporate vanilla extract into the butter mixture, providing depth and aromatic complexity to the cake’s flavor profile.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk to maintain a silky, well-integrated batter without overmixing.
- Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent baking.
- Bake cake layers for 25-30 minutes, monitoring doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean, then allow cakes to cool completely at room temperature.
- Whip butter until smooth and creamy, creating a foundational texture for the buttercream.
- Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, blending until achieving a velvety, lump-free consistency.
- Enhance buttercream with eggnog, nutmeg, and vanilla extract, adjusting liquid content for optimal spreadability.
- Position first cake layer on serving plate, spreading a generous layer of eggnog buttercream.
- Stack remaining layers, applying buttercream between each for consistent flavor distribution.
- Complete cake decoration by coating exterior with a delicate layer of buttercream, creating an elegant semi-naked aesthetic.
Notes
- Precision matters when measuring spices, as too much can overpower the delicate cake flavor and create an unbalanced taste profile.
- Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake texture, preventing potential lumpy batter.
- Use fresh, high-quality spices to enhance the warm, aromatic notes that define this seasonal cake’s character.
- Experiment with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk or coconut buttermilk for a vegan-friendly version without compromising the rich, comforting taste.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg