The Perfect Fall Treat - Spice Cake
Fall and food - they go hand in hand! Maybe it's the cooler weather making you crave those comfort foods, or it's the holidays that bring to mind all of your family's favorites, but fall and food just go together!
One of our favorite fall treats is a spice cake. There's nothing like a homemade spice cake to help get in the fall and holiday spirit. The combination of warm spices baking will fill your home with a delicious fragrance.
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup raisins, chopped
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 large eggs, separated, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar
- Additional chopped pecans, optional
- Optional: Cinnamon sticks, fresh bay leaves, fresh rosemary sprigs, confectioners' sugar
DIRECTIONS:
- In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients; cook and stir over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool.
- In a large bowl, beat egg yolks; gradually stir in spice mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; gradually add to spice mixture until blended. Stir in pecans. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into the batter.
- Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. To decorate, spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake, leaving cake slightly exposed on the sides. If desired, top with pecans, cinnamon sticks, fresh bay leaves, fresh rosemary sprigs, and confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator.
We know you can't spend every day in the kitchen baking! For the days where you don't have time to bake that homemade spice cake, your home can still smell like the warm and comforting blend of fall spices with our Spice Market fragrance. A medley of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg with a touch of juniper sprigs will bring the warmth of fall to any room. The Spice Market fragrance is available in our candles, but also as a room spray and scented oil.