Gingerbread Birthday Cake

I'm excited to be part of the #outoftheboxcollab2019 on Instagram with a huge number of amazing bakers. Be sure to check out the hashtag to see all the wonderful bakes from all the contributors.

Where should I start? To be honest with you all, I really struggled with this theme.  For me the words 'out of the box' means something different and unique and nothing came to mind for ages and finally I decided on something I was happy with.

I decided to make a gingerbread birthday cake.  We often only think of gingerbread at Christmas time and so I thought it doesn't have to be just for Christmas.  So, I created this birthday cake out of gingerbread and filled the centre with sponge cake.

This cute and fun Gingerbread Birthday Cake is perfect to make for someone's birthday instead of the traditional cake. It has sponge cake in the centre, so you technically have cake as well and cookies. I hope you like this idea and make one too.

I had a lot of fun experiencing and coming up with the design for this cake.

Happy Baking xo

Gingerbread Birthday Cake

Ingredients

· 125 grams butter
· ⅓ cup brown sugar
· ½ cup golden syrup
· 3 cups plain flour
· 2 teaspoons ground ginger
· 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
· 2 teaspoons baking soda
· 1 egg
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Royal Icing

· 2 cups icing sugar
· 1 egg white
· Water (approx 2-4 tablespoons)

Decorations

· Sprinkles
· Sponge cake (centre of the gingerbread birthday cake)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.

2. Line two trays with baking paper.

3. Place butter, sugar and golden syrup in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for minute or until butter is melted. Set aside.

4. Sift the flour, spices and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the butter mixture, egg and vanilla extract, stir until combined.

5. Divide dough in half and roll dough to 5 mm thickness. Place the templates you made from paper on top of the dough and cut them out and place on baking trays.

6. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating and assembling.

Royal Icing/ Decorating

8. Place icing sugar, egg white and 1 tablespoon of water into a bowl and using an electric beater beat on high for 3 minutes until mixture is smooth. Add more water if the mixture is too thick.

9. Place royal icing into a piping bag and pipe the designs onto the panels of the birthday cake, hearts and candle. Allow them to dry before assembling them.

I designed this Gingerbread Birthday Cake by drawing it onto some paper and cutting it out and using it as templates.

Tips

· Remember to allow cookies to cool completely before icing.
· You can buy the sponge cake from the store or you can make it.
· If the icing appears too thick add more water and if the icing appears too runny add more icing sugar.

Did you bake this recipe?

Remember to tag @youcanbakeittoo on Instagram & hashtag #youcanbakeittoo 

so I can see your wonderful bakes.