Moist Holiday Spice Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Coat a bundt pan with nonstick spray.
• Beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and pudding mix on low speed until incorporated. Beat 2 more minutes on medium speed.
• Stir in the orange zest and pour the batter into the pan.
• Bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. Take out and cool completely.
• Drizzle warm frosting over cake or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water and raisins to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature (do not drain). , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Stir in raisins. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts. , Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack. , For frosting, in a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat; cook and stir until smooth. Stir in butter and vanilla. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Stir in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost cupcakes; top with nuts if desired.

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
• Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
• Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle positon and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9 by 13 inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2 cup measuring cup.
• Beat softened butter into dry ingredients first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble sized pieces. Add about 1/2 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages, beat on medium speed until bater is smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
• Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack, let cool.
• *** Picnic Tip: Can be double wrapped in plastic a day ahead. Return to pan to transport. Also the batter can be divided and baked into two 8" square cake pans. Take one to picnic and freeze one for later.
• *** Gingerbread Variation - To Turn Cake into Gingerbread:.
• * reduce baking powder to 1 tsp; add 1 tsp baking soda.
• * Reduce brown sugar to 1 cup add 1 cup molasses.
• * for spices, use 1 tbls ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ground allspice (omit nutmeg and cloves).