If there’s one cake that encompasses the Christmas season for me, it’s this Sticky Gingerbread Cake. Deep flavours of ginger, nutmeg and molasses are whipped up to make this fluffy cake, before being topped with a sweet, sticky orange and lemon icing. Spicy, rich and indulgent- Merry Christmas!

You’ll find that this cake has layers of flavours, making it the perfect festive treat served with mulled wine or even a cup of tea!

Christmas baking couldn’t get more simple- simply mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and whisk the wet ingredients in another, then stir together just before baking. This keeps the raising agents deactivated until it hits the oven, ensuring a fluffy cake once baked. I use a 2″ deep baking dish for this, expect a little rise for the perfect squares of cake.

So delighted to share one of my favourite festive recipes with you.

Makes 1 batch, aprox 12 squares

Ingredients

150g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp cinnamon

50ml Provamel almond milk

120ml sunflower oil

2 rounded tbsp molasses or black treacle

2 rounded tbsp golden syrup

2 tbsp vanilla soya yoghurt

For the St. Clement’s Drizzle:

5 tbsp icing sugar

Zest of 1 unwaxed orange

Juice of 1/2 unwaxed lemon

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/ Gas mark 4 and line a 2″ deep baking dish with grease proof paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, mixed spice and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond milk, sunflower oil, molasses, golden syrup and soya yoghurt until combined and a deep, dark caramel has developed.
4. Mix the wet mix into the flour mix and stir until just combined- don’t over mix as this will affect the texture of the cake. Pour into the dish and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the top appears firm and shiny.
5. When the cake has cooled completely, cut into 12 squares. Mix the icing sugar, orange zest and lemon juice in a bowl. Drizzle over the cakes using a spoon in an exaggerated zig zag pattern and allow to set.