Spice cake

Spice cake is a broad family rather than a single recipe. Most versions are butter or oil cakes sweetened partly with brown sugar or molasses and seasoned with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and ginger. Applesauce, grated carrot, raisins or chopped nuts are common additions that keep the crumb moist.

The cake is baked as layers, in a sheet pan or in a bundt pan, and is often finished with cream cheese frosting, brown butter frosting or a simple glaze. Because the spice flavor deepens as the cake rests, many bakers make it a day ahead. It is a fall and holiday favorite in American home baking.