Fresh Ginger Cake Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Martha

An excellent tip with fresh ginger is to freeze it - either whole or cut in 1 inch pieces. Frozen it keeps forever, does not need to be peeled, and can be grated, chopped or microplaned much more easily - and the fibrous threads. disappear. Fully thawed after freezing, it can be easily pressed to give ginger juice.

Shanna

I too arrived at this recipe as a result of self isolation, and it was the perfect use for the ginormous chunk of ginger my pandemic brain ordered. I even failed to add the pepper, and it is still delicious. Also this might seem like an easy tip for some, but use the same cup to measure your oil with first, and then the molasses - it will slide right out!

Julie

This is one of the greatest cake recipes of all time! I find chefs serving it at fine restaurants all over the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a gorgeously lush, dark color, extremely moist, and wonderfully portable. Keeps well for days, and is amazingly versatile. It's incredibly ginger-y, but not "hot" from the ginger. It comes together very quickly and easily. I make sure to have the ingredients on hand all through the fall and winter. Total winner!

Katherine

I tried your friend's suggestion of processing the ginger (in chunks) with the sugar in the food processor, and was pleased by the results. Please thank them.

Helen

Made this recipe after hearing Samin Nosrat recommend it on her podcast. Read other recommendations to blitz the ginger in a food processor. Made it a little healthier and still soooo indulgent by:- cutting sugar to 1/2c (still PLENTY SWEET!)- reduced molasses by 1/4c but compensated liquid volume by swapping it for unsweetened apple sauce- swapped half the oil for apple sauce- subbed 1/2c AP Flour for whole wheat flour- baked for the full hourSO DELICIOUS. Super moist & easy recipe.

Jeanette Polanski

One whole cup of chopped ginger will weigh about 4 ounces.

Lisa

This cake was delicious! Finely chopping 4 oz of fresh ginger took way too long though. A friend suggested putting the ginger in chunks in the food processor with the sugar and processing it. I'm going to try that next time.

beckmanwalt

An excellent tip with fresh ginger is to freeze it - either whole or cut in 1 inch pieces. Frozen it keeps forever, does not need to be peeled, and can be grated, chopped or microplaned much more easily - and the fibrous threads. disappear. Fully thawed after freezing, it can be easily pressed to give ginger juice.This cake was delicious! Finely chopping 4 oz of fresh ginger took way too long though. A friend suggested putting the ginger in chunks in the food processor with the sugar and proce

Lee

What is mild molasses? I don't see various "strengths" of molasses in my markets.

Philip

A follow up to my previous note. I used a microplane on the ginger so it was very ginger forward the night it was baked. The next night the cake was far more mild because the ginger mellowed—and delicious with vanilla ice cream.

Silbermuti

I made this for a (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner - so replaced 1/4 c. olive oil with pumpkin so I could call it Pumpkin Ginger Cake. As one of the guests was gluten free, I replaced the flour with 1 c. chick pea flour & 1.5 c. gluten free flour. As suggested in other reviews, I pureed the ginger with the sugar. Made it a day ahead To push it over the edge I served it with warm 'Extra' Sauce from Mark Bittman's Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe. Fabulous!! On my make again list!

Suzanne

My first quarantine cake, chosen mainly because I accidentally ordered WAY too much fresh ginger from Instacart. What a happy mistake because this cake is like a slice of heaven! I followed the recipe as stated except I only had an 8x8 pan which turns out to be the same area as a 9" round pan, so it worked out. Worried about the oil? Who cares, you deserve it after 2 weeks of sheltering in place. Enjoy!

Mblom

You completely change the ingredients and you have the nerve to critique the directions?

Esperanza Pratt

I thought the batter looked too runny when I poured it into the pan, but it came out with a lovely springy texture and moist crumb...

Peter Larson

Visiting NYC for Christmas, Susan brought this to Lethe's for a fantastic Christmas. This cake is marvelous, and Susan gave me the recipe link. Since then, I've made it twice as is. I served it with whipped cream abundantly mixed with crystallized ginger. All were very happy!!

SD

Is treacle an appropriate substitute for molasses for this recipe?

Ginger

I had two 8” x 2” round cake pans not the 9” noted so I made a 1.5 batch of batter and it worked perfectly in my two smaller rounds. I sliced one cake after cooling and froze it. Treats for weeks!

Amy

I followed the directions to a T and I thought: 1) the cake is sooooo spicy it’s not even enjoyable, and 2) peeling, slicing, and finely chopping 4oz of fresh ginger is never going to happen again. I even made a cream cheese frosting to try to cut some of the spiciness but it’s just far too overpowering. Sadly, I was very disappointed in the cake. I won’t make it again.

melissa in ny

I made this recipe halved and baked in a 9x5 loaf pan for about 50 minutes and it seems to have come out well. Also substituted maple syrup for the molasses and applesauce for most of the oil (left about 2 tbsp of oil in) and the cake is still very moist and cakey. The “batter” as they call it is very thin, I was sure there was no way it would solidify but it did. The flavor is amazing and hard to stop eating. :)

Nancy

This cake has been a winner every time we make it and serve it to guests. We add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and sprinkle tiny pieces of crystalized ginger atop to finish it off. Delicious!

SCH

Excellent, better day 2! Served Christmas Eve with whipped cream. Used others notes and. 1) Chopped ginger with some sugar in food processor. Was worried you would notice stringiness but did not! 2) Measured out oil first then molasses, and there was no sticking. 3) Top started To burn after 30, covered with foil.

Smokey

I'm a little nervous because the chopped ginger. Is it chunky in the cake? I feel like I should have food processed the ginger but the recipe said field chopped is fine. Thoughts?!

Kristy Sturges

This is always my 'go to cake' when I cook a dessert. When I take it to someone's home, I am always asked over and over again for the recipe. It's easy to make. Fabulous to eat with, powdered sugar, whipped cream on the side or vanilla ice cream, or nothing at all. It stays moist for at least a week.

shelley

Shortcut tip: Trader Joe’s sells ginger frozen in little mini cubes…2.5 oz for the pack.Would let sit on counter and then be sure to dissolve in hot water first before mixing in with batter to be sure no ginger lumps.Cake will not be as “hot” as with fresh ginger…but if you are already freezing your ginger to grate…why not let TJ’s do it for you and spare the mess?!

Lenny

Does anyone know if this will work in a bundt pan or if I should double the recipe using a bundt pan?

Kate

Love this recipe! I grew up in the Bay Area and this cake was always a holiday staple. Made it this year for thanksgiving. I made it vegan by using ground flax seed as an egg replacer - definitely a dip in quality of texture and the outer edges were weirdly chewy, but on day 3 of leftover cake the texture was pretty close! To my vegan/egg sensitive friends trying to make this for an event, I recommend flax seeds just make it a couple days in advance

Matthew & Candice

Followed the recipe as written. Realized that to get 4 ounces of ginger peeled and chopped you need to buy like 6 or 8 ounces. Also better after 2 days. It was one of the best cakes we have ever had.

dauterman

240 grams APFlour=2 and a half cups

Lance

Quite a good cake: moist, with a light crumb, and full of flavor. Made as-written, I’ll offer one note: molasses, not ginger, was the dominant flavor. If I were, due to the recipe’s title, expecting a ginger cake, I might have been a bit let down. But as a gingerbread or ginger molasses cake? Excellent,

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Fresh Ginger Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my ginger cake not rise? ›

Why do cakes not rise? A: No or insufficient raising agent, mixture too stiff, mixture overbeaten or air knocked out, or insufficient whisking (whisked sponge). Too cool an oven.

Why is my ginger cake dry? ›

Dry cake can be caused by a number of factors, but one of the most common is an oven that runs too hot. To avoid baking at a temperature five to even 50 degrees hotter than what the dial says (and therefore over-baking and drying out your cake), invest in an oven thermometer for an accurate read.

Does ginger lose potency when boiled? ›

Gingerols, the most abundant constituents of fresh ginger, are decreased when heated. However, the contents of their dehydrated/degraded derivatives, shogaols, and zingerone, are increased.

Why don't my cakes rise enough? ›

Cakes that don't rise properly or have a surface covered in little holes are often the result of not getting the cake into the oven quickly enough; a common mistake that happens because you forgot to turn the oven on before you started, or you get distracted with something else mid-way through mixing.

Why didn't my cake rise enough? ›

Adding too much baking powder can result in your cake having a distinct peak on the top as a result of too many air bubbles in the mix. Always measure carefully. 2. Using old or stale baking powder, or baking powder that has been improperly stored, can result in not enough rise, and flat dense cakes.

What are the best things to do with fresh ginger? ›

Ginger has a unique flavor. It has kind of a spicy bite, but some how it still works equally well with both sweet and savory dishes. It's great in cookies, smoothies, stir fries, curries, and even meatloaf. Yes, meatloaf.

How long to cook raw ginger? ›

1 ounce of freshly sliced ginger for every 1 cup (240 ml) of water should only need to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Why is my cake not moist and fluffy? ›

The ratio of wet to dry ingredients determines a cake's moisture level. If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

How to make cake moist? ›

Seven Bakery Secrets to Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

How to stop cake from being dry? ›

Don't overbake! This is probably the most important tip when it comes to keeping cakes nice and moist. If your batter is left in the oven too long the heat can cause the ingredients to become dry and crumbly. If you're a serial over-baker, investing in an oven thermometer can keep you on the straight and narrow.

What are the side effects of too much ginger? ›

It can cause mild side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, burping, and general stomach discomfort. Taking higher doses of 5 grams daily increases the risk for side effects. When applied to the skin: Ginger is possibly safe when used short-term. It might cause skin irritation for some people.

Is ginger good for high blood pressure? ›

Human studies have shown that taking ginger supplements may reduce blood pressure. One study in more than 4,000 people found that those who consumed the most ginger — 2–4 grams per day — had the lowest risk of developing high blood pressure. Ginger is flavorful and easy to incorporate into your diet with meals.

What temperature destroys ginger? ›

Ginger does not grow well in temperatures below 55°F. Temperatures below freezing cause damage to the leaves and also kills the rhizomes. In cooler climates, choose your warmest location to plant ginger.

Why is my cake not puffy? ›

If your oven is too cold, you'll see that your cake will not rise enough. If the oven is too hot, your cake will rise too fast and collapse when you bake it. Check the baking time in your recipe – it usually depends on the size of the cake.

Can you eat a cake that has sunk in the middle? ›

If your cake was cooked to the proper temperature, chances are it is still edible even if it sunk in the center. Check that it's baked through the middle, then try a small piece of your cake. It might not taste good if the ingredient measurements were off. Notice the texture to make sure it's not too dense or spongy.

How do you bake a cake that doesn't rise in the middle? ›

wrap the outside of the cake pan with a damp towel: The damp towel will insulate the edges of the pan, slowing the baking process. use cake strips (which you can buy on Amazon): cake strips work just like a wet towel. You soak cake strips in water and wrap them around the outside of the pan to insulate the cake.

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