15 of Our Deepest, Darkest Gingerbread Cake Recipes

This old-fashioned gingerbread cake is excellent. Lemon zest is a nice addition to the sweet cream cheese frosting. —Ginger Hendricksen of Plover, WI

Holiday treats should always be full of surprises, like this unusual pairing of ginger and lime flavors in a moist and tender gingerbread. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

My husband, Ken, loves this tube cake with its bits of crystallized ginger. Feel free to drizzle it with a lemony glaze. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, NJ

If you’ve tasted a yule log sponge cake, you’ll love this version with fresh ginger and spices. The holiday stunner can be made ahead. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

These luscious cupcakes have a touch of semisweet chocolate in the batter and white chocolate in the filling. They melt away fast at our house. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

I asked my mother-in-law for this recipe once I learned it's my husband's favorite. Now I bake it whenever he needs an extra-special treat. Spice cake topped with lemony sauce makes us both smile. —Kristen Oak, Pocatello, Idaho

Start with a spice-rich batter poured atop apples and cranberries in a creamy caramel sauce, then invert when done baking for a topsy-turvy dessert that’s a real beauty. The old-time holiday taste will delight family and friends! —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

I experimented with aniseed this past holiday season and fell in love with the licorice flavor. It really enhances the gingerbread spices and fig sauce in this extraordinary cake. —Shelly Bevington-Fisher, Hermiston, Oregon

The rich molasses and spice flavor of this old-time dessert is complemented with a buttery caramel sauce.—Joy Sparks, Muskegon, Michigan

Pleasantly-spiced gingerbread and crunchy nuts are the stars in this stunning dessert. Top the delectable delight with spiced whipped cream frosting. —Sarah Hatter, Brodhead, Wisconsin

Super-moist cake gets all spiced up in this scrumptious slow-cooked dessert. If you want it a little sweeter, drizzle it with maple syrup. —Barbara Cook, Yuma, Arizona

This is a favorite dessert during the holidays and at special occasions. I’ve tried creating a glaze of some sort to drizzle over this moist, flavorful cake, but have found that it’s delicious as is. A tall glass of cold milk is the only addition I’d suggest.—Edith Ekstedt, Paso Robles, California

My father loved gingerbread so I combined two or three recipes to create this one for him. This fruity, spiced cake roll gets kudos every time I serve it. —Dawn DePew, Blacklick, Ohio

The aroma of baking gingerbread stirs up such warm memories. This one looks festive and is even on the lighter side. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana

My grandmother first used this recipe for gingerbread over 100 years ago. I remember that the kitchen smelled like heaven when Grandmother baked her gingerbread. The only thing better was when she took it out of the oven and served it with a generous topping of fresh whipped cream! —Ellouise Halstead, Union Grove, Wisconsin