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Instant Pot Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Pecans Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 122 reviews

This Instant Pot Gingerbread Cake is a moist, spiced dessert perfect for the holiday season or any cozy occasion. Made with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, combined with molasses and a rich cream cheese frosting, this cake is cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot, ensuring a tender crumb and deep flavor without needing an oven.

Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon maple extract
  • 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup boiling hot water
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Frosting Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pan: Spray a 7-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside to ensure the cake doesn’t stick during cooking.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the unsalted butter and dark brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Add wet ingredients: Scrape the sides of the bowl, then whisk in the egg and molasses until fully combined.
  4. Mix in extracts and condensed milk: Whisk in the maple extract and sweetened condensed milk to enrich the batter.
  5. Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, whisking until the batter is smooth and uniform.
  6. Incorporate hot water: Pour in the boiling hot water and whisk the batter until fully combined for a moist texture.
  7. Prepare the Instant Pot: Add 1 ½ cups of water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot and place a trivet inside to hold the cake pan above the water.
  8. Transfer batter to pan: Pour the gingerbread batter into the prepared springform pan. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil to prevent condensation from dripping onto the cake.
  9. Cook in Instant Pot: Using a sling or the handles on the trivet, carefully lower the covered pan into the Instant Pot.
  10. Pressure cook: Close and seal the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to manual high pressure for 60 minutes.
  11. Natural pressure release: When cooking finishes, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes to avoid collapsing the cake.
  12. Quick release: Perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure, and once the valve drops, carefully open the Instant Pot.
  13. Remove and cool cake: Using oven mitts, carefully lift the springform pan out. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  14. Make the frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, and both the powdered and brown sugar using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
  15. Add flavorings: Whisk in the vanilla extract, maple syrup, and bourbon, mixing on high speed for 3-5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  16. Frost the cake: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake and immediately sprinkle the chopped pecans on top for garnish.
  17. Serve: Allow the frosting to set slightly before slicing the cake into 8 servings and serving.

Notes

  • Ensure the pan is well greased and covered to prevent moisture from dripping onto the cake during pressure cooking.
  • Using hot water in the batter helps create a moist, tender crumb.
  • The bourbon in the frosting adds a subtle depth of flavor but can be omitted or substituted with vanilla extract for a non-alcoholic version.
  • Letting the cake cool completely before frosting helps the frosting adhere better.
  • Chopped pecans add texture and a nutty contrast to the sweet frosting.

Keywords: Instant Pot gingerbread cake, holiday cake, molasses cake, pressure cooker cake, cream cheese frosting, spiced cake recipe

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/instant-pot-gingerbread-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting-and-pecans-recipe/