Christmas Ginger Man Cake

Creating a Christmas Gingerbread Man Cake is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. Here's a recipe to make a gingerbread-flavored cake shaped like a gingerbread man and decorated with festive touches:

Ingredients:

For the Gingerbread Cake:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Decorations:

• Gingerbread man-shaped cake mold or template
• Festive decorations like icing, sprinkles, or mini gingerbread cookies

Instructions:

For the Gingerbread Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a gingerbread man-shaped cake pan or use a template to cut your cake into the desired shape.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the molasses, eggs, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
6. Pour the batter into your prepared gingerbread man-shaped cake pan or template.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until the frosting is creamy and well combined.

To Decorate:

1. Once the gingerbread man-shaped cake has cooled, frost it with the cream cheese frosting, covering the entire cake.
2. Use festive decorations like icing, sprinkles, and mini gingerbread cookies to decorate your gingerbread man cake. Create eyes, buttons, and other details to make it look like a classic gingerbread man.