Maple Syrup Spice Cake

By sheilaolim

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon each salt, ground cloves and nutmeg
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter or shortening, softened
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup whipped cream
• Ground nutmeg, optional

Preparation

Step 1

1Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 13 × 9-inch cake pan.
.2Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ground cloves and nutmeg.
.3Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at high speed until creamy. Add egg yolks and beat until blended. Add flour mixture alternately with half-and-half and maple syrup, beating well after each addition.
.4Place egg whites in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter.
.5Spoon batter into prepared cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack.
.6Cut into squares. Top each serving with whipped cream. Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.