Fresh Ginger Cake

Published Nov. 10, 2021

Fresh Ginger Cake
Kate Sears for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
1½ hours
Rating
5(2,225)
Comments
Read comments

David Lebovitz's headily spiced cake, which Amanda Hesser wrote about in The Times in 1999, calls for a quarter-pound of fresh ginger. Mr. Lebovitz, who was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., has since had a long career as a cookbook author and blogger. But this recipe, from his cookbook “Room for Dessert,” is from relatively early in his writing career. Boldly flavored with just cinnamon, cloves, black pepper and, yes, a lot of fresh ginger, it is simplicity exemplified, coming together quickly and without a mixer. The cake — much like the recipe itself — ages well, its flavors melding and deepening over time. —Amanda Hesser

Featured in: BY THE BOOK; Simple and Sweet From a Master Baker

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:10 servings
  • 1cup mild molasses
  • 1cup granulated sugar
  • 1cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed, vegetable or canola
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2teaspoons baking soda
  • 4ounces fresh ginger, peeled, sliced and finely chopped
  • 2eggs, at room temperature
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

318 calories; 1 gram fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 73 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 45 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 284 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Position rack in center of oven and heat to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch round cake pan with 3-inch sides, or a 9-inch springform pan, with a circle of parchment paper.

  2. Step 2

    In a medium bowl, mix together the molasses, sugar and oil. In separate medium bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper.

  3. Step 3

    In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Stir in baking soda, then mix hot water into molasses mixture. Stir in ginger.

  4. Step 4

    Gradually whisk the dry ingredients into batter. Add eggs, and continue mixing until everything is thoroughly combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake for about 1 hour, until the top of cake springs back lightly when pressed or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top of cake browns too quickly before cake is done, drape a piece of foil over it and continue baking.

  5. Step 5

    Cool cake for at least 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Invert cake onto a cooling rack, and remove parchment paper.

Private Notes

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

Ratings

5 out of 5
2,225 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

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.

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!

so, don't make it

I had a bit more fresh ginger on hand ( 4.5 ounces) which I used. I put the ginger w the sugar in a mini cuisinart and the ginger was then nice and juicy. Cake was fantastic. Loved by all. Served with fresh whipped cream, BIG YUM ! Def will make again …..and again.

We used gluten free Measure for Measure flour. Chopped the fresh ginger in the mini food processor as per other comments - easy peasy! Reduced sugar to 3/4 c and added a tablespoon of Ginger Syrup (from the Ginger People) for added moistness. Sprinkled confectioners sugar on top when completely cool. It was light, moist and utterly scrumptious! May try serving with some whipped cream with a tad of ginger syrup next time. And there will definitely be a next time!!

This cake is delicious. I replaced the egg with “flax egg;” the middle of the cake was a little sunken in, but not terribly so. The second time I made it with some extra potent ginger- wow it was zingy. I may use less ginger next time if I find some like that again. I read in the comments that somebody paired it with pear compote. The cake totally doesn’t need it, but I benefited from it with my extra gingery batch- the pear softened the spice a bit.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Credits

Adapted from ''Room for Dessert'' by David Lebovitz (William Morrow Cookbooks, 1999)

or to save this recipe.