One-Layer Gingerbread Cake
 
Makes 1 (9-inch) cake
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1⁄2 cup (161 grams) unsulphured molasses
  • 1⁄2 cup (170 grams) light corn syrup
  • 1 cup (223 grams) freshly squeezed orange juice with pulp
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1⁄2 cup (70 grams) minced fresh ginger
  • 2 large eggs (100 grams)
  • 21⁄2 cups (313 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cinnamon
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cloves
  • 1 cup (113 grams) chopped pecans
  • 1⁄4 cup (35 grams) diced candied orange zest*
  • Meringue Frosting (recipe follows)
  • Gingerbread Ski Chalet
  • Garnish: confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Wrap bottom and sides of pan with a double layer of foil.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat granulated sugar, molasses, corn syrup, orange juice, melted butter, ginger, and eggs at medium speed until combined.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cloves. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating until combined. Fold in pecans and candied orange zest. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  4. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 55 minutes to 1 hour. (Begin checking at 55 minutes.) Let cool completely in pan. Remove foil and cake from pan.
  5. Place cake on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread Meringue Frosting on top of cake, piling it high and creating mounds of “snow” on top of cake. Place Gingerbread Ski Chalet on one side. Dust cake with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Notes
*We used the peels of Trader Joe’s Sweetened Dried Orange Slices, available at Trader Joe’s or on amazon.com.
Recipe by Bake from Scratch at https://staging.bakefromscratch.com/one-layer-gingerbread-cake/