Spiced Gingerbread Wreath Cake — The Ultimate Holiday Dessert Centerpiece

When the holiday season rolls in, kitchens everywhere begin to fill with warm scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger. There are cookies, pies, bars, breads, and all kinds of festive sweets — but nothing steals the spotlight quite like a gorgeous gingerbread cake. This Spiced Gingerbread Wreath Cake is not only incredibly delicious but also doubles as a stunning edible centerpiece for your Christmas dessert table.

With its rich molasses flavor, bold holiday spices, moist crumb, and the iconic Bundt wreath shape, this cake instantly gives off cozy winter vibes. Decorate it with sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, powdered sugar “snow,” or a simple glaze for breathtaking results.

Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, bringing dessert to a potluck, or creating a showstopper for holiday photos, this gingerbread wreath cake is guaranteed to impress — and it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Let’s start with what makes this cake truly special.

---

Why This Spiced Gingerbread Wreath Cake Works Every Time

⭐ 1. Warm, cozy spices

A combination of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves builds classic gingerbread flavor.

⭐ 2. Bold molasses flavor

Deep, rich, and nostalgic — it tastes like Christmas in cake form.

⭐ 3. Stunning presentation

The Bundt pan creates a beautiful wreath shape with zero effort.

⭐ 4. Moist and tender texture

The batter includes brown sugar, butter, and milk for perfect softness.

⭐ 5. Easy to decorate

A little powdered sugar and cranberries turns it into a showpiece.

---

Ingredients You Need

Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Warm holiday spices: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

Wet Ingredients

• Molasses
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk

Decorations

• Sugared cranberries
• Rosemary sprigs
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla glaze (optional)

---

How to Make the Perfect Gingerbread Wreath Cake

---

Step 1: Prepare your Bundt pan

Grease the pan well — even the decorative edges.
Dust lightly with flour to prevent sticking.

---

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients

Whisk flour, spices, salt, and baking soda together.

The spices should smell bold and strong — that’s your flavor base.

---

Step 3: Heat molasses + butter

Warm the molasses and melted butter together until smooth.
This enhances the deep caramel flavor.

Let cool slightly before adding eggs.

---

Step 4: Combine wet ingredients

Mix milk, eggs, and the warm molasses mixture.

---

Step 5: Combine everything

Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
Do not overmix.

---

Step 6: Bake

Pour batter into the Bundt pan.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

---

Step 7: Cool + decorate

Let the cake cool 10 minutes before flipping it out.

Decoration ideas:

• Dust powdered sugar over top
• Add rosemary sprigs for “wreath greenery”
• Add sugared cranberries as “berries”
• Drizzle with vanilla glaze

It looks like a holiday masterpiece with almost zero effort.

---

Expert Tips for a Moist Gingerbread Cake

🍰 Don’t skip the molasses

It gives gingerbread its deep flavor and color.

🍰 Use fresh spices

Your spices should be fragrant — old spices lose their punch.

🍰 Don’t overbake

This cake is best when moist and soft.

🍰 Cool fully before adding glaze or sugar

Warm cake will melt the sugar and lose the snowy effect.

---

Decoration Variations

🎄 Classic Snowy Wreath

Just powdered sugar + cranberries + rosemary.

✨ Vanilla Drizzle Wreath

Simple icing drizzled over the ridges.

❄️ Sugared Frost Wreath

Brush cake lightly with simple syrup and coat in superfine sugar.

⭐ Golden Holiday Wreath

Add edible gold stars or gold sanding sugar.

---

Serving Ideas

• Christmas dessert boards
• Holiday brunch
• After-dinner Christmas dessert
• Giftable cake for neighbors or teachers
• Dessert for winter parties or potlucks

Serve with:

• Hot cocoa
• Spiced tea
• Eggnog
• Whipped cream

---

Storage Instructions

• Cover tightly and store at room temperature for 3 days
• Refrigerate up to 5 days
• Freeze slices up to 2 months

---

Ingredients (List Format)

Gingerbread Cake

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ½ tsp salt

Decoration

• Powdered sugar
• Sugared cranberries
• Rosemary sprigs
• Optional vanilla glaze

---

Instructions (Numbered Steps)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a Bundt pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
3. Heat molasses and butter until smooth; cool slightly.
4. Mix eggs and milk into the molasses mixture.
5. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until combined.
6. Pour batter into pan and bake 40–45 minutes.
7. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan, and cool completely.
8. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with cranberries and rosemary.