This cake was so easy and so much fun to make.  The cream cheese icing was to die for and the addition of flowers at the end really made this cake look spectacular.  You could even be really daring and add a couple of extra layers on top.  If this was the case then I would probably just double my mixture and divide between 5 cake pans and slightly adjust the cooking time.  Not that everyone would own 5 matching sized cake pans, so it would more than likely mean cooking the cakes in batches and re using your pans.  I actually found the pans for this cake at a great country opp shop.  I use then all the time, same size and shape!  But I only have three, so I would have to be feeling very energetic to bake 5 rounds, but I tell you what a master piece you would create.  Another beauty for this year’s Christmas!

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 10

1 ½ cups plain flour

¾ cup self-raising flour

3 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp bi-carb soda

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup light tasting olive oil

¾ cup milk

¾ cup golden syrup

CREAM CHEESE ICING

150 g butter, softened

1 ½ cups pure icing sugar, sifted

375 g cream cheese, softened

METHOD

1.      Preheat oven to 180 degrees.  Grease 3, 15 cm round cake pans, lined with baking paper.

2.      Sift flours, ground ginger, mixed spice and bi-carb soda into a large bowl.  Stir in the brown sugar.

3.      For mixture and golden syrup to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.  Spoon the mixture evenly between the three pans.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

4.      To make the icing, using an electric mixer, beat the butter an icing sugar for 5 minutes or until pale and creamy.  Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth.  Reserve ½ cup icing.

5.      Using a large serrated knife, cut the domed tops of the cakes.  Place one cake on a cake stand or serving plate and top with half the icing.  Repeat layering.  Top with remaining cake and a thin layer of icing.  Using a pallet knife spread the reserved icing around the sides of the cake in a rustic manner so that the cake is still showing through.

Decorate your cake using flowers and herbs from your garden.  Attach your foliage to floristry wire and place around the outside of your cake.