Buttermilk Spice Cake With Brown Sugar Frosting

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 55 mins

Servings: 12 to 16 servings

This buttermilk spice cake is a delicious two-layer cake filled with a fabulous brown sugar frosting. The acidity of the buttermilk is balanced with baking soda, which adds to the luscious texture of this cake.

This cake will please everyone at your next family celebration, dinner party, or to take to a potluck and wow the crowd.

If you prefer a cream cheese frosting, feel free to use your favorite or this cream cheese frosting recipe.

Ingredients

For the Buttermilk Cake

• 10 ounces sifted cake flour, about 2 1/2 cups

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

For the Frosting

• 2 large egg whites

• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

• 1/3 cup cold water

• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

Make the Cake

1. Gather the ingredients.

   

2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

   

3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Set aside.

   

4. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy.

   

5. Add the 1/2 cup of brown sugar, the granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat at high speed of an electric mixer for 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl frequently while you are mixing.

   

6. Add the sifted dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, mixing at lowest speed just until smooth.

   

7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

   

8. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

   

9. Cool the cake in the pans on a rack for 5 minutes.

   

10. Then turn the layers out onto the racks to cool completely.

    

Make the Frosting and Assemble

1. Gather the ingredients.

   

2. Combine the egg whites, brown sugar, the cold water, corn syrup, salt, and vanilla extract in the top pan of a double boiler. Use an electric mixer to beat the ingredients for 1 minute at high speed.

   

3. Heat about an inch of water in the bottom section of the double boiler to a rapid boil.

   

4. Place the frosting pan on the double boiler over the rapidly boiling water and heat while beating constantly, for 7 minutes or until peaks form.

   

5. Remove the frosting from the heat and continue beating until spreading consistency is reached.

   

6. Frost the tops and sides of the cooled spice cake.

   

7. Slice, serve, and enjoy.

   

Tip

• You'll need a double boiler to make the brown sugar frosting, or fashion one with a stainless steel pan that will fit over a saucepan. Just make sure the top pan or bowl does not come in contact with the boiling water.

You Might Also Like:

• Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:​ ​​This moist cake is flavored with cinnamon, pineapple, pecans, and bananas.
• Buttermilk Cake Recipe: This versatile recipe can be used for a layer cake for any occasion.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories	275
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Cholesterol 39mg	13%
Sodium 368mg	16%
Total Carbohydrate 51g	19%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 37g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 69mg	5%
Iron 2mg	9%
Potassium 98mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.