Spice Cake w/Cream Cheese frosting

By mariannefeldman

SPICE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Serves 12 to 14. Published January 1, 2008. From Cook's Illustrated.

To save time, let the eggs, buttermilk, and butter come up to temperature while the browned butter and spice mixture cools. To prevent unsightly air holes in the finished cake, be sure to follow the instructions for removing air bubbles in the batter (see illustrations below). Leftover cake can be stored, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The cake should be brought to room temperature before serving.


INGREDIENTS
Cake
2 1/4cups unbleached all-purpose flour (11 1/4 ounces), plus extra for dusting pans
1tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2teaspoon ground allspice
1/2teaspoon ground cloves
1/4teaspoon ground nutmeg
16tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2teaspoon baking powder
1/2teaspoon baking soda
1/2teaspoon table salt
2large eggs at room temperature
3 large egg yolks at room temperature
1teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces)
2tablespoons light molasses or mild molasses
1tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1cup buttermilk , at room temperature
Frosting
5tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 5 pieces, softened
1 1/4cups confectioners' sugar (4 1/2 ounces)
8ounces cream cheese , cut into 4 pieces , softened
1/2teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13- by 9-inch baking pan. Combine spices in small bowl; reserve 1/2 teaspoon of spice mixture for frosting.

2. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in 8-inch skillet over medium heat until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling pan constantly, until butter is light brown and has faint nutty aroma, 2 to 4 minutes. Add spices and continue to cook, stirring constantly, 15 seconds. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. In small bowl, gently whisk eggs, yolks, and vanilla to combine. In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream remaining 12 tablespoons butter with sugar and molasses at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides and bottom of bowl twice with rubber spatula. Reduce to medium speed and add cooled butter and spice mixture, ginger, and half of egg mixture; mix until incorporated, about 15 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg mixture; scrape down bowl again. Reduce to low speed; add about one-third flour mixture, followed by half of buttermilk, mixing until just incorporated after each addition, about 5 seconds. Repeat using half of remaining flour mixture and all of remaining buttermilk. Scrape bowl and add remaining flour mixture; mix at medium speed until batter is thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Remove bowl from mixer and fold batter once or twice with rubber spatula to incorporate any remaining flour.

4. Transfer batter to prepared pan; following illustrations at left, zigzag tip of metal spatula through batter, pulling it to pan edges. Lightly tap pan against counter 3 or 4 times to dislodge any large air bubbles; smooth surface with spatula.

5. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 32 to 37 minutes. Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.

6. For the frosting: In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter, sugar, and reserved 1/2 teaspoon spice mixture at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cream cheese one piece at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.

7. Run paring knife around edge of cake to loosen from pan. Using spatula, spread frosting evenly over surface of cake. Sprinkle cake with walnuts, if using. Cut into squares and serve.

STEP-BY-STEP
Removing Trapped Air Bubbles

In cakes with a thick batter, such as spice cake or carrot cake, trapped air bubbles can lead to a finished cake with unsightly holes. Here's how we got rid of them:


1. Run the tip of a metal spatula through the batter in a zigzag motion, pulling it to the edges of the pan.


2. Gently tap the pan against the counter three or four times to release any air bubbles that have risen to the surface.

STEP-BY-STEP
Keys to Spice Flavor


1. BROWNED BUTTER: Browning the butter imparts a faint nuttiness that deepens the cake's spice flavor.


2. BLOOMED SPICES: Blooming the spices in the browned butter brings out their volatile oils, boosting their impact.


3. A HINT OF MOLASSES: Molasses adds a bittersweet note that underscores the warm flavor of the spices.


4. GRATED GINGER: Finely grated ginger adds a fresh, zesty quality to the cake that dried ginger can't provide.

Ingredients

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Preparation

Step 1

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