The weather in San Diego has been quite sporadic recently. Our beautiful, sunny days interrupted by bouts of wind, rain, sub 70° temperatures and even… hail! During one of these recent cold spells, I found myself craving a Holiday-esque dessert. Something one would eat while bundled in a blanket next to a crackling fire enjoying the catty banter of the Real Housewives. My answer to this craving: Ginger Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce. Spiced with fresh ginger, ground ginger, cinnamon, clove and white pepper, this ginger cake is warm, moist and so comforting. The spiced cake is perfectly accented by a salty-sweet caramel sauce and cool whipped cream. If you find making caramel at home daunting, I urge you to just try making the cake. It is seriously legit. Continue reading for the recipe.
Ginger Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
For the cake:
- Butter and flour for the pan
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 oz. ginger, peeled and finely grated (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup neutral flavored oil (I used vegetable)
- 3/4 cup dark molasses, not blackstrap
- 4 large eggs
For the salted caramel sauce:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon sized chunks
- Freshly whipped cream, for serving
Instructions
To make the cake:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 by 8 inch cake pan with butter and dust lightly with flour.
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Sift flour, cinnamon, cloves, white pepper, ground ginger and baking soda into a bowl. Set aside.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine grated ginger, 1/2 tablespoon water, sugar, oil and molasses. Mix on low speed. Add eggs and continue mixing on low until completely combined.
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Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, continuing to mix on low, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl when needed. Once all dry ingredients are slightly incorporated, increase speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides, decrease speed to low and slowly add 3/4 cup hot tap water. Mix until just combined, scraping down the sides one last time.
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Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (40 - 45 minutes).
To make the salted caramel sauce:
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While the cake is baking, prepare your sauce. In a medium sized pot (with high walls), combine sugar and 1 3/4 cups hot water, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stir in corn syrup and cream of tartar. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat and place a lid on the pot (preferably a lid you can see through). This will prevent sugar crystals from forming on the sides of your pot. Do not stir. Cook mixture until it reaches a deep caramel color and a candy thermometer reaches 335°F.*
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Remove the pot from the heat and slowly and carefully stream in the heavy cream, stirring to incorporate (a high walled pot should keep you safe from any splattering). Stir in kosher salt and butter, one tablespoon at a time. The finished caramel sauce will be a little thin. If you want to thicken the sauce before serving, transfer sauce to a bowl or small pitcher and cool in the refrigerator for 5 - 10 minutes (but not too long!).
To serve, spoon some of the caramel sauce on a plate or shallow bowl. Place a square of ginger cake in the middle of the sauce. Finish with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
Recipe Notes
* I did not time this process. I just watched the caramel until it looked golden brown, removed the lid and tested with my thermometer. My initial reading was about 310°F, so I knew it wouldn't be much longer till the caramel was done. The key to this process is attention. Once you see your caramel getting darker, stop multitasking and pay attention 🙂
Hester Casey - Alchemy says
Oh yes! This is my kind of dessert. Love ginger cake, love caramel. Divine!
Ravienomnoms says
Oh my word, this is just an amazing dessert. I loved salted caramel sauce I really feel like it brings out the flavors in things. Also, the ginger cake looks heavenly
Anonymous says
Thanks! This cake isn’t overly sweet, so the salted caramel sauce is a perfect pairing.
Tiffany says
Wow, that does sound like the perfect cake, and the salted caramel sauce….you are killing me!
Joy says
That looks so good. I love the caramel sauce
Celia says
I make gingerbread all the time – adding salted caramel to it is such a great idea! Well…adding salted caramel to pretty much anything is great. Totally trying it out…
Anonymous says
Agreed – salted caramel sauce is pretty much magic.
Briarrose says
Oh this looks good…it may have resparked my ginger obsession. 😉 The caramel sauce is a great pairing with this cake….lovely mix of flavors.
Cakewalker says
You’ve managed to parlay your story into the dessert the way the caramel sauce and whipped cream dollop blankets the cake like a snuggly nest. Job well done!
Anonymous says
Thanks! Who wouldn’t enjoy a snuggly nest of caramel sauce ;)?
Evan says
Yum! I’ve never seen a homemade caramel sauce so thick.
Anonymous says
The sauce starts out super thin, but after a little while in the fridge, it really thickens up. I wanted to do the spoon drag for my presentation, so I needed the sauce to be thicker; however, it is just as tasty left thin!
Sandra says
Coolness!
Becky says
Great idea pairing the salted caramel with the ginger cake. I have made gingerbread before, but only topped with shipped cream. I’ll have to tr the caramel.
Leslie Hunter Uhl says
Ooooh, that looks and sounds so good! Must make, thanks!
Joanne says
That recipe is so me! I would love it from the cake to the sauce. Why can’t you use blackstrap molasses?
Anonymous says
Blackstap has a strong flavor that would overpower the subtle flavors of the cake. Dark molasses is preferred.
Kasey says
I can never say no to ginger cake and I love the look of that caramel sauce. I went to college in San Diego and days like these (raining in San Francisco) I miss it so!
Anonymous says
Who can say no to ginger cake?! I do love San Diego, but I enjoy San Francisco as well. So many delicious foodie destinations. And I haven’t even made it to wine country yet! Looking to get out to Napa this Fall.
Lizzy Do says
What a moist, gorgeous slice of cake. Your garnishing is superb!
Anonymous says
Thanks!!
Blogbytina! says
nice! its like a gingersnap cake! will be trying this soon.
Jacki C. says
Made this cake last night for a party. As my sauce was quite thin and yet very warm, I served in small shallow bowls and topped with a dollop of whipped cream that was not so thick that it couldn’t cascade down the side of the cake. I also made a batch of pink Himalayan sea salt brittle which I nestled into the top of each piece. Thanks for the great recipe. I thoroughly enjoyed making it–all four steps. It allows for a really stunning and classy presentation, just as your pictures have demonstrated.
Anonymous says
Sounds delicious! I’m sure that sea salt brittle was divine. Thanks for sharing!
Pjsearles says
brandon, you’re smokin’ hot baby.
escondido pam
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Thanks Pam! *blush*
Bebe Watson says
This looks good, but how does an 8×8 inch pan ever serve 16 people?