Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cake

By carvalhohm2

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (seeds from about 4 whole pods)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (grated fresh nutmeg)
• 1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (about 3 whole cloves)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated gingerroot
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup chopped chocolate or chips
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 4 tablespoons miniature chocolate chips

Details

Servings 16
Cooking time 105mins
Adapted from bettycrocker.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square pan with cooking parchment paper; grease paper well (especially the corners).

2 Grind spices if using whole. In small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves; set aside.

3 In bowl of stand electric mixer or in large bowl with hand-held electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter until creamy. Add brown sugar and grated gingerroot; beat about 3 minutes or until light and creamy. Scrape side and bottom of bowl; beat in molasses. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until completely combined and scraping bowl after each addition. (Batter may look curdled at this point, but that is okay.)

4 Gently fold in half of the flour mixture; fold in milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Fold in remaining flour mixture until completely combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into pan; smooth top.

5 Bake in center of oven 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 45 to 60 minutes.

6 To make Frosting, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until combined and slightly fluffy. Spread frosting over cooled cake. Sprinkle with miniature chocolate chips.