Old Fashioned Spice Cake Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2024)

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This Spice Cake Recipe is perfect for holiday parties and when you bake it in a sheet pan, it makes sharing even easier. Balanced flavors make this a hit!

This Old Fashioned Spice Cake Recipe is perfect for a crowd!

A large sheet pan spice cake that can feed a crowd? Um, yes, please! This spice cake recipe is the bee’s knees and even has an amazing frosting that you are going to love.

How many times do you find out last minute about a pot luck happening and have nothing available to throw together or can’t think of a large dish that fits in your budget and time constraints? Trust me, you aren’t alone!

This spice cake recipe can feed a crowd, be pulled together in no time and not ruin your grocery budget. -It’s like the magical unicorn you didn’t know you needed.

What does spice cake taste like?

It tastes exactly like autumn, in the form of a delicious cake. That being said, it’s pretty close to a carrot cake in flavor, but without the shredded veggies.

Spice Cake Recipe Ingredients

For the spice cake

Flour
Salt
Baking soda
Sugar
Nutmeg
Cloves
Allspice
Cinnamon
Ginger
Pepper
Water
Vegetable oil
Vinegar
Vanilla

‌

For the cream cheese buttercream

Cream cheese
Butter
Maple extract
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Powdered sugar
Cream or milk

‌For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to make Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine your flour, sugar, spices and whisk them together.
Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour your oil, water, vanilla, and vinegar into the well.
Whisk everything together until just combined.
Spray half a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Then spray again. This helps to get the paper to lay flat and makes clean up easier!
Pour your cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out into an even layer.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick can come out clean.

How to make Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting for Spice Cake

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and maple extract. Whisk until smooth. You can also use a stand mixer or a hand-held electric mixer.
Add in the spices and the powdered sugar and continue whisking until fluffy.
Slowly add in your cream as you mix, you may find that you don’t need to use all of it.
You want the consistency to be thick enough that it holds its shape, but also be smooth.
After the cake has finished cooling, spread the spice cake frosting evenly over the top of the cake and sprinkle lightly with more cinnamon. Enjoy!

How to Serve Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Aside from grabbing a spoon and eating this delicous cake right from the pan (no judgment here!), there are a few ways to serve spice cake. Serve it up as is and let the cream cheese frosting speak for itself, or top it with some chopped nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s also good with a scoop of vanilla and caramel sauce or fresh fruit on the side. Slice into small squares and serve as finger food at your next gathering, or enjoy some with a cup of coffee or tea – the choice is yours!

How to Store Leftover Spice Cake

The fridge is the best place to store spice cake because of the cream cheese frosting. Pop your leftover cake slices in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 3-7 days or until the expiry date on the cream cheese package. Leftover frosting that hasn’t been used can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (expiry date dependent).

You can also freeze spice cake; just don’t put any frosting on it. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the cake thaw in the fridge overnight and add your frosting.

Spice Cake from Scratch FAQs

Can I make this in a different pan?

Yes you can! If you don’t want to make a large sheet pan cke, you can also choose between cupcakes, a 9×13 baking dish or cake pans. Just make sure that you adjust the baking time accordingly.

What is the difference between spice cake and carrot cake?

The biggest difference between these two cakes is the addition of carrots in carrot cake. They both have similar spices and are often topped with cream cheese frosting, but the carrots are what sets them apart.

Why is it called spice cake?

Spice cake is a term used to describe a cake that is flavored with different spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. This is why you’ll see it referred to as ‘spice cake’ rather than a specific flavor like ‘cinnamon cake’.

Why is my spice cake dry?

Always follow the recommended measurements and instructions when making your spice cake from scratch. Too little liquid or too much flour can result in a dry cake! Also, make sure your oven temperature is accurate and you’re not overbaking the cake.

‌Pro tip: I have listed vinegar as an ingredient in this spice cake recipe. Why? Well, vinegar helps to activate the baking soda and create a lighter, fluffier texture. It’ll also help your cake come out nice and moist. So, don’t miss out on this ingredient if you’re worried about a dry cake!

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5 from 3 votes

Spice Cake Recipe (Easy!)

This Spice Cake Recipe is perfect for holiday parties and when you bake it in a sheet pan, it makes sharing even easier. Balanced flavors make this a hit!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword spice cake, spice cake frosting, spice cake recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Spice Cake

3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1 pinch pepper
2 cups water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla

For the Cream Cheese Buttercream

4 ounces cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 teaspoons maple extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon cream or milk

Instructions

For the Spice Cake

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Combine flour, sugar, and spices and whisk together.
Create a well in the dry ingredients.
Add oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla to the dry ingredients.
Whisk until just combined.
Spray a half sheet pan and line with parchment. Spray again.
Pour batter into a sheet pan and smooth into an even layer.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For the Cinnamon Frosting

Combine cream cheese, butter, and maple extract.
Whisk until smooth and combined, 1-2 minutes (I use a hand mixer, a kitchen-aid or by hand works too).
Add spices and powdered sugar.
Whisk until fluffy, adjusting the consistency with the cream 2-3 minutes. You may not need all of it so add it gradually, 1 teaspoon at a time.
The consistency of the icing should be smooth but hold its shape.
After the cake has cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, if desired.

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Notes

Bake two 9 inch pans for 20-25 minutes, checking at 20.

Bake 9x13 pan for 40-45 minutes, checking at 40.

Nutrition

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