gingerbread layer cake
America's test kitchen
This is a sublime dessert. The cake is plush and moist. It has a a dark, complex flavor which pairs perfectly with the ermine frosting. This was my first experience with ermine frosting. I found it fun to make and loved the end result: a fluffy frosting that's lighter and less sweet than other types like cream cheese and buttercream. It had beautiful, harmonious contrast with the intensely flavored gingerbread. I love how the cake batter incorporates coffee and cocoa powder. They add depth and bitterness to its flavor. The cake has a tastefully pronounced flavor of ginger and warm spices. It is a wonderful dessert for any gingerbread enthusiasts out there.
I followed the recipe closely, and found the instructions precise and easy to follow. The only hiccup was that the cakes took 15-20 minutes to bake, which was longer than instructed. Given how wet the batter is, it's easy to tell when the cakes are baked through, so this wasn't a big problem. The extended bake time may have been in part due to my parents' oven or cake pans.
I look forward to revisiting this dessert at a future winter holiday gathering.