Ginger molasses cake

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 6″ cake pans with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large bowl, cream together sugar, molasses, and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Carefully fold dry ingredients into wet until mostly combined.

Step 4

Fold in apples. Distribute batter evenly into prepared pans (1 1/2 cups of batter per pan).

Step 5

Bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Step 6

To make frosting, whip mascarpone in a standing mixer on high speed for 1 minute. Lower speed and add in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, ginger, and salt, mixing until combined.

Step 7

Place the first layer of cake onto a cake stand, then top with a heaping ½ cup of frosting. Spread to edges, smoothing evenly. Repeat with second and third layer.

Step 8

Add remaining frosting to sides of cake, then use a cake scraper or flat cake knife to smooth frosting out around edges.

Step 9

Top cake with candied ginger pieces and fall-like branches. I chose purple/green branches with small buds on them!