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If there’s anything that truly screams Christmas, it’s gingerbread. Therefore, I can’t think of a better way to kick the holiday season off than with this Cream Cheese Swirled Chai Gingerbread Cake. This sweet, super moist gingerbread cake is made with brown sugar, molasses, and a touch of vanilla extract. It’s spiced up with the warming flavors of chai and baked with a swirl of cream cheese throughout the center. The final touch is a generous drizzle of buttery lemon glaze. This perfectly sweet and spiced up version of gingerbread cake is so delicious. Perfect for baking on cold December days while cozied up inside!
This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes.
There’s nothing I love more than a festive dessert. I know I’ve said this many times, but this time of year is truly my favorite. Something about the holidays always brings out my most creative side. I love the types of recipes I share in November and December more than any others throughout the year. This gingerbread cake turned out even better than I envisioned, so I am so excited to share the recipe with you guys.
Not only is this cake delicious, it’s also simple to make. This truly is a wintery cake…warming, lightly spiced, a touch buttery, and slightly decadent… just about as close to perfect as a cake can get.
This time of year, my fridge is stocked with my favorite Land O Lakes® Extra Creamy Butter. You may not know this, but the variety of butter you use can really make a difference, especially when baking. I love the rich buttery flavor and hints of salt in Land O Lakes® Extra Creamy Butter. It creams wonderfully into batters and always turns out a moist delicious cake.
The first step is to cream the butter with brown sugar and molasses. The sugar adds sweetness, while the molasses adds that classic gingerbread color and rich flavor. Once the wet ingredients have been thoroughly mixed in, add the dry.
For my dry mix, I use the basics…flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
But for the spices? I didn’t use just ginger. I also incorporated the spices used in a steaming cup of chai tea…ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and pepper. It’s the ultimate spice blend that gives you a very gingery gingerbread cake, hinting of the flavor of chai.
Once the batter is mixed up, there is one last key ingredient, cream cheese. At the last minute, I decided to add a swirl of creamy cream cheese to the center of this cake. Something about all the spices and rich molasses paired with cream cheese sounded so good to me.
And you know? The cream cheese ended up truly complementing all the spices. It adds a nice creaminess to every bite…so delicious.
Layer the batter with the cream cheese and bake. As the cake bakes, your house will be filled with the smells of ginger and cinnamon. At this point, holiday music should be playing. And in a wintry movie world, a fire will be roaring, snow will be falling, and the lights on your tree will be twinkling away.
The perfect picture, right? To me, yes. But again, I love this cozy time of year. If it snowed every day this month, I’d be happy. It’s a great excuse to stay inside and bake…specifically this gingerbread cake.
Originally, I had a completely different icing in mind for this cake, but after my first round of testing, I knew I wanted an icing that would lighten the cake while enhancing its flavors.
Enter this lemony, buttery, vanilla icing. It has hints of sweet butter, lemon, and plenty of vanilla. It’s perfect for finishing this spiced gingerbread cake and adds just the right amount of sweetness.
every chance you get this month.
No really, I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this cake. I’ve already made it several times over the last two weeks. It’s the easiest cake to mix up, and it always comes out looking impressive with the swirl of cream cheese inside and that pretty off-white icing on top.
I’ve enjoyed this cake slightly warm with a cup of cocoa. I’ve also gifted it twice to friends as a holiday thank you (it wraps up beautifully in a cute little gift box).
So my suggestion? Take some time off this weekend for a little holiday baking. Nothing is better than a gingerbread cake baking in the oven on a cozy wintery weekend.
PS. Looking for more gingerbread recipes…check out some of these oldies but goodies!
If you make this cream cheese swirled chai gingerbread cake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
{This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
This looks amazing!! Can it work in a different size of pan??
Hi Becky! You can divide the batter between 2 regular loaf pans. That works really well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Love your twists on gingerbread! Need to get this made this month… have just the Bundt tin xx
Thank you Kelly! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
I can’t wait to try this recipe for Christmas dinner!
Thank you Jen! xTiegan
Hey Tieghan!
I love this gingerbread Bundt cake! Haha I was just looking for gingerbread Bundt cake recipes last night but didn’t find any that I liked. This one seems lovely and I’m excited to bake it for my sister over the holidays. 🙂 What gingerbread recipe (that you’ve baked so far on the blog) do you think is your favorite? I always bake your ginger cookies dipped in chocolate (and I don’t often bake the same thing twice!) but have to try this Bundt cake. Have you thought of making any biscotti cookies for the blog? I LOVE making biscotti (it’s so simple) and am wondering your thoughts.
I’m looking forward to tomorrows post and hope you’re enjoying the holiday season!
Hi Kristin! I am so glad you like this! I hope you and your sister love it! Oh my goodness, I don’t think I could choose one… I love gingerbread so Ill leave some links below haha! I have not thought of making those cookies but maybe I should?? They are good! I hope you have an amazing holiday season! xTieghan
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/gingerbread-cupcakes/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/gingerbread-latte-salted-caramel-sugar-video/
This was my dinner tonight. The lemon glaze is life! So good and spicy.
I am so glad you loved this! Thank you Beth! xTieghan
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, Tieghan. Thank you for this and the rest of your prodigious recipe sharing. Congratulations on all that you have achieved since launching your successful career at such a tender age. Happy holidays to you and your family. Cheers, Ardith
Thank you so much Ardith! I am so glad you like this! xTieghan
Have you made this in a loaf pan before? I’m thinking it might make a good gift for a friend this season…
HI! Yes, this works well when divided between 2 loaf pans. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Chai Gingerbread cake OMG. WOW thank you Santa! An early Christmas present. Can’t wait to make it. Happy Holidays
Thank you so much Stuart! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
this looks amazing!! cant wait to try!!
Thank you so much Stephanie! I hope you love this! xTieghan
I just bought a bundt pan just to make this recipe! Since I am new to this, I thought you butter and flour the pan for bundt cakes? Your instructions say butter only, is this correct?
Hi Ciarra! I only butter my pans and find that to work really well. I do not think you need any flour. Just make sure to butter the pan and get all the nooks and crannies really well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
My husband would love this! It looks amazing!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I hope you both love this! Thank you Paige! xTieghan
Can this be made into a sheet cake for a large crowd?
Hey Andrea! I have not tested it, but I would imagine this would fit nicely into a 9×13 inch baking dish. You will need to adjust the cooking times, but keep an eye on it and I think it should be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Could the cream cheese be omitted? My husband doesn’t care for cream cheese but loves gingerbread.
Hey Marsha!! Yes, you can easily just omit the cream cheese. The cake will still be delicious! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
OH, This Looks Delish!! Need to make this for Christmas!! My grocery store does not carry the Land O Lakes Extra Creamy Salted Butter 🙁 Can I just use the regular Salted Butter from Land O Lakes? If so, would that alter the taste?
Hey Leslie! regular salted butter will be great and will taste very similar! 🙂 Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
you’re making me drool all over the heyboard, you know
Thank you Ruth! xTieghan