Fresh Ginger Cake Recipe (2024)

Ratings

5

out of 5

1,679

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Martha

An excellent tip with fresh ginger is to freeze it - either whole or cut in 1 inch pieces. Frozen it keeps forever, does not need to be peeled, and can be grated, chopped or microplaned much more easily - and the fibrous threads. disappear. Fully thawed after freezing, it can be easily pressed to give ginger juice.

Shanna

I too arrived at this recipe as a result of self isolation, and it was the perfect use for the ginormous chunk of ginger my pandemic brain ordered. I even failed to add the pepper, and it is still delicious. Also this might seem like an easy tip for some, but use the same cup to measure your oil with first, and then the molasses - it will slide right out!

Julie

This is one of the greatest cake recipes of all time! I find chefs serving it at fine restaurants all over the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a gorgeously lush, dark color, extremely moist, and wonderfully portable. Keeps well for days, and is amazingly versatile. It's incredibly ginger-y, but not "hot" from the ginger. It comes together very quickly and easily. I make sure to have the ingredients on hand all through the fall and winter. Total winner!

Katherine

I tried your friend's suggestion of processing the ginger (in chunks) with the sugar in the food processor, and was pleased by the results. Please thank them.

Helen

Made this recipe after hearing Samin Nosrat recommend it on her podcast. Read other recommendations to blitz the ginger in a food processor. Made it a little healthier and still soooo indulgent by:- cutting sugar to 1/2c (still PLENTY SWEET!)- reduced molasses by 1/4c but compensated liquid volume by swapping it for unsweetened apple sauce- swapped half the oil for apple sauce- subbed 1/2c AP Flour for whole wheat flour- baked for the full hourSO DELICIOUS. Super moist & easy recipe.

Jeanette Polanski

One whole cup of chopped ginger will weigh about 4 ounces.

Lisa

This cake was delicious! Finely chopping 4 oz of fresh ginger took way too long though. A friend suggested putting the ginger in chunks in the food processor with the sugar and processing it. I'm going to try that next time.

beckmanwalt

An excellent tip with fresh ginger is to freeze it - either whole or cut in 1 inch pieces. Frozen it keeps forever, does not need to be peeled, and can be grated, chopped or microplaned much more easily - and the fibrous threads. disappear. Fully thawed after freezing, it can be easily pressed to give ginger juice.This cake was delicious! Finely chopping 4 oz of fresh ginger took way too long though. A friend suggested putting the ginger in chunks in the food processor with the sugar and proce

Lee

What is mild molasses? I don't see various "strengths" of molasses in my markets.

Philip

A follow up to my previous note. I used a microplane on the ginger so it was very ginger forward the night it was baked. The next night the cake was far more mild because the ginger mellowed—and delicious with vanilla ice cream.

Silbermuti

I made this for a (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner - so replaced 1/4 c. olive oil with pumpkin so I could call it Pumpkin Ginger Cake. As one of the guests was gluten free, I replaced the flour with 1 c. chick pea flour & 1.5 c. gluten free flour. As suggested in other reviews, I pureed the ginger with the sugar. Made it a day ahead To push it over the edge I served it with warm 'Extra' Sauce from Mark Bittman's Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe. Fabulous!! On my make again list!

Suzanne

My first quarantine cake, chosen mainly because I accidentally ordered WAY too much fresh ginger from Instacart. What a happy mistake because this cake is like a slice of heaven! I followed the recipe as stated except I only had an 8x8 pan which turns out to be the same area as a 9" round pan, so it worked out. Worried about the oil? Who cares, you deserve it after 2 weeks of sheltering in place. Enjoy!

Mblom

You completely change the ingredients and you have the nerve to critique the directions?

Esperanza Pratt

I thought the batter looked too runny when I poured it into the pan, but it came out with a lovely springy texture and moist crumb...

SD

Is treacle an appropriate substitute for molasses for this recipe?

Ginger

I had two 8” x 2” round cake pans not the 9” noted so I made a 1.5 batch of batter and it worked perfectly in my two smaller rounds. I sliced one cake after cooling and froze it. Treats for weeks!

Amy

I followed the directions to a T and I thought: 1) the cake is sooooo spicy it’s not even enjoyable, and 2) peeling, slicing, and finely chopping 4oz of fresh ginger is never going to happen again. I even made a cream cheese frosting to try to cut some of the spiciness but it’s just far too overpowering. Sadly, I was very disappointed in the cake. I won’t make it again.

melissa in ny

I made this recipe halved and baked in a 9x5 loaf pan for about 50 minutes and it seems to have come out well. Also substituted maple syrup for the molasses and applesauce for most of the oil (left about 2 tbsp of oil in) and the cake is still very moist and cakey. The “batter” as they call it is very thin, I was sure there was no way it would solidify but it did. The flavor is amazing and hard to stop eating. :)

Nancy

This cake has been a winner every time we make it and serve it to guests. We add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and sprinkle tiny pieces of crystalized ginger atop to finish it off. Delicious!

SCH

Excellent, better day 2! Served Christmas Eve with whipped cream. Used others notes and. 1) Chopped ginger with some sugar in food processor. Was worried you would notice stringiness but did not! 2) Measured out oil first then molasses, and there was no sticking. 3) Top started To burn after 30, covered with foil.

Smokey

I'm a little nervous because the chopped ginger. Is it chunky in the cake? I feel like I should have food processed the ginger but the recipe said field chopped is fine. Thoughts?!

Kristy Sturges

This is always my 'go to cake' when I cook a dessert. When I take it to someone's home, I am always asked over and over again for the recipe. It's easy to make. Fabulous to eat with, powdered sugar, whipped cream on the side or vanilla ice cream, or nothing at all. It stays moist for at least a week.

shelley

Shortcut tip: Trader Joe’s sells ginger frozen in little mini cubes…2.5 oz for the pack.Would let sit on counter and then be sure to dissolve in hot water first before mixing in with batter to be sure no ginger lumps.Cake will not be as “hot” as with fresh ginger…but if you are already freezing your ginger to grate…why not let TJ’s do it for you and spare the mess?!

Lenny

Does anyone know if this will work in a bundt pan or if I should double the recipe using a bundt pan?

Kate

Love this recipe! I grew up in the Bay Area and this cake was always a holiday staple. Made it this year for thanksgiving. I made it vegan by using ground flax seed as an egg replacer - definitely a dip in quality of texture and the outer edges were weirdly chewy, but on day 3 of leftover cake the texture was pretty close! To my vegan/egg sensitive friends trying to make this for an event, I recommend flax seeds just make it a couple days in advance

Matthew & Candice

Followed the recipe as written. Realized that to get 4 ounces of ginger peeled and chopped you need to buy like 6 or 8 ounces. Also better after 2 days. It was one of the best cakes we have ever had.

dauterman

240 grams APFlour=2 and a half cups

Lance

Quite a good cake: moist, with a light crumb, and full of flavor. Made as-written, I’ll offer one note: molasses, not ginger, was the dominant flavor. If I were, due to the recipe’s title, expecting a ginger cake, I might have been a bit let down. But as a gingerbread or ginger molasses cake? Excellent,

robin

I made this in a 9x13 pan (same measurements), baked for 45min. It’s excellent! It was even better the next day. Not too sweet, and the best with coffee or tea. I think it’s make an excellent thing to bring to church or a potluck.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Fresh Ginger Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my ginger cake not rise? ›

Why do cakes not rise? A: No or insufficient raising agent, mixture too stiff, mixture overbeaten or air knocked out, or insufficient whisking (whisked sponge). Too cool an oven.

Why is my ginger cake dry? ›

Dry cake can be caused by a number of factors, but one of the most common is an oven that runs too hot. To avoid baking at a temperature five to even 50 degrees hotter than what the dial says (and therefore over-baking and drying out your cake), invest in an oven thermometer for an accurate read.

Why does my ginger cake sink in the middle? ›

My cake has sunk in the middle.

There are three main reasons for this: a/ the oven door has been opened before the cake has set, b/ the cake didn't go in the oven as soon as the mixture was ready or c/ there's too much raising agent.

How can I make my cake rise higher? ›

So with that in mind, here are our tips:
  1. Add a leavening agent to the flour. ...
  2. Make sure your butter is room temperature, and beat the butter and sugar together until properly creamed. ...
  3. Be careful with the cake batter. ...
  4. Check your oven is at the correct temperature.

What to do if gingerbread recipe is too dry? ›

Too much flour will make your cookies crumbly and dry. If your dough is too crumbly: mix in 1 tbsp of milk until the dough is soft and pliable again. Be sure to chill your dough for at least 3 hours. This will help the flavor of the dough and consistency so it doesn't spread when baking.

Why is my cake not moist enough? ›

The ratio of wet to dry ingredients determines a cake's moisture level. If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

Why is my ginger cake rubbery? ›

Too much raising agent would cause the cake to rise up a lot then shrink back on cooling, giving a rubbery texture. If the surface of the cake is wrinkled or has bubbles, then this is a sign that there is too much raising agent.

Why did my ginger cake crack on top? ›

If your oven is too hot, the outside of your cake will bake much more quickly than the inside, leading to a peak or crack. The top of your cake may also get too dark. Oven thermostats can be wildly off, so if this often happens, invest in a separate oven thermometer.

Can you still eat a cake that has sunk? ›

If your cake was cooked to the proper temperature, chances are it is still edible even if it sunk in the center. Check that it's baked through the middle, then try a small piece of your cake. It might not taste good if the ingredient measurements were off. Notice the texture to make sure it's not too dense or spongy.

Why is my cake pale yellow and not golden brown? ›

Likewise, if your cake isn't brown enough it is likely because it is under-cooked or the recipe used insufficient egg or sugar.

What does ginger do to your stomach? ›

Ginger is not just delicious. Gingerol, a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility ― the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn't linger as long in the gut. Nausea relief.

How to tell if ginger has gone bad? ›

Other visual cues that indicate it's time to toss the ginger include blemishes or mold on the exterior or cut ends, or a discolored interior (dark yellow, brown, gray cast) when sliced. Texture: Fresh ginger is firm, so if it's soft or mushy to the touch, it's a tell-tale sign that the ginger has gone bad.

What is the reason for cake not rising? ›

Categories
QuestionsCommon Cake Mistakes
Why did my cake not rise? Why is my cake dense?○ Not enough leavening (baking powder/baking soda) ○ Too much sugar ○ Too much fat ○ Too much liquid ○ Oven temperature too low
13 more rows

Why is my gingerbread flat? ›

The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot.

Why did my orange cake not rise? ›

Not Enough Leavening Agent

Baking powder and baking soda are common leavening agents, which means they help baked goods rise during their cooking time. If you do not have enough of these ingredients in your recipe, then they will not emit enough gas and your cake will not rise.

Why did my cake come out flat? ›

If your cake sinks, it could be a sign that you've been impatient. To avoid a sunken cake, you need to resist the urge to open the oven door a long time before the cake is cooked. The bubbles inside the cake are expanding in the oven's heat, creating maximum volume as the batter reaches its setting point.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5406

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.