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    Home » Cakes » Gingerbread Pudding Cake

    Gingerbread Pudding Cake

    Published: Nov 2, 2017 · Modified: Dec 15, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy homemade pudding cake! This Gingerbread Pudding Cake is a moist apple gingerbread cake that makes its own caramel apple sauce while it bakes.

    A cream ramekin with gingerbread pudding cake in it.

    Gingerbread is a classic at the holidays for a reason! There's just something about the combination of the warm spices, moist cake, and molasses that is so homey and comforting.

    This gingerbread pudding cake is really easy to make. The oven does a lot of the work for you.

    Just add the topping ingredients, and, like magic, it forms a sauce underneath the cake as it bakes. Serve it topped with a little whipped cream for some extra deliciousness.

    Ingredients for gingerbread pudding cake in dishes.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Salt
    • Granulated sugar
    • Ground cinnamon
    • Ground ginger
    • Molasses - I like to use robust molasses for stronger flavor, but regular molasses or mild molasses will also work.
    • Unsweetened applesauce - The applesauce should be a smooth puree, not a chunkier sauce.
    • Vegetable oil - A similar neutral oil, like canola or even olive oil, will work.
    • Milk - Any milk - skim to whole - will work.
    • Vanilla extract
    • Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
    • Apple cider - Either refrigerated fresh cider or bottled shelf-stable apple cider will work. I try to use fresh cider when available.
    • Water

    How to make gingerbread pudding cake

    Flour and spices in a white mixing bowl.

    In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices. Set aside.

    Oil milk and egg in a white mixing bowl.

    In a separate large bowl, whisk together applesauce, milk, oil, molasses, and vanilla together until well-combined.

    Gingerbread pudding cake batter in a mixing bowl.

    Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until combined. Pour batter into an 8x11-inch (shallow 2 quart), or similarly sized, baking dish.

    Cinnamon sugar over gingerbread pudding cake batter in a cake pan.

    In a separate bowl, stir sugars and cinnamon together. Sprinkle topping evenly over the batter.

    Apple cider over gingerbread pudding cake batter in a cake pan.

    Pour apple cider and water over the topping. DO NOT STIR!

    Bake for 40 minutes, or until middle is set. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

    Serving suggestions

    Gingerbread pudding cake is delicious all on its own. The cake can be topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.

    Add a few toasted pecans for a little texture and crunch!

    A gold fork taking a bite of gingerbread pudding cake.

    More gingerbread recipes!

    • Gingerbread Brownies
    • Gingerbread Baked Donuts
    • Gingerbread
    • Gingerbread Pancakes
    • No Chill Gingerbread Men

    More pudding cake recipes!

    • Lemon Pudding Cake
    • Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
    • Pecan Pie Pudding Cake

    If you’ve tried this gingerbread pudding cake recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    A cream ramekin with gingerbread pudding cake in it.

    Gingerbread Pudding Cake

    Gingerbread Pudding Cake is a moist apple gingerbread cake that makes its own caramel apple sauce while it bakes. 
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 230kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • â…“ cup molasses
    • â…“ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Topping

    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar packed
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 cup apple cider
    • ½ cup water
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices. Set aside.
    • In a separate large bowl, whisk together applesauce, milk, oil, molasses, and vanilla together until well-combined.
    • Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until combined.
    • Pour batter into an 8x11-inch (shallow 2 quart), or similarly sized, baking dish.
    • In a separate bowl, stir sugars and cinnamon together.
    • Sprinkle topping evenly over the batter.
    • Pour apple cider and water over the topping. DO NOT STIR!
    • Bake for 40 minutes, or until middle is set.
    • Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • Molasses - I like to use robust molasses for stronger flavor, but regular molasses or mild molasses will also work.
    • Unsweetened applesauce - The applesauce should be a smooth puree, not a chunkier sauce.
    • Vegetable oil - A similar neutral oil, like canola or even olive oil, will work.
    • Milk - Any milk - skim to whole - will work.
    • Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
    • Apple cider - Either refrigerated fresh cider or bottled shelf-stable apple cider will work. I try to use fresh cider when available.
    • Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 262mg | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally posted 11/2/17. Updated with additional photos and information on 12/14/21.

    « Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
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    32.1K shares
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elem

      January 22, 2022 at 10:57 pm

      I have been looking for a good and easy gingerbread recipe & this looks great. Will try soon. Had a good laugh and reminder to use apple cider NOT the vinegar. I love your ramekins. Would you be able to let me know where you found them? Thanks

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 23, 2022 at 9:24 pm

        Thank you! I hope you like it! Yes, I found them at World Market.

        Reply
        • Elem

          January 24, 2022 at 9:43 pm

          Thanks I appreciate the help. Hope to make it this weekend, there will be snow & what is betterthan warm gingerbread pudding cake!!

          Reply
    2. Vicki

      December 26, 2021 at 4:59 am

      5 stars
      Wow! This was not only delish, but so easy and the perfect Christmas desert! A keeper for sure. Thank you

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 28, 2021 at 11:10 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Julie

      December 24, 2021 at 11:41 am

      Has anyone tried this in a bunt cake pan?

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 28, 2021 at 11:07 am

        I haven't heard from anyone who has!

        Reply
    4. Robin Avarello

      October 02, 2021 at 6:55 am

      I haven't made this recipe yet. Can you tell me how well it freezes to make ahead of time.
      Thanks,
      Robin

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 04, 2021 at 10:35 pm

        Hi! I haven't tried freezing this pudding to say for certain.

        Reply
    5. Pam

      January 04, 2020 at 3:33 pm

      This was amazing! Served with whipped cream.

      Reply
      • Pam

        January 04, 2020 at 3:34 pm

        5 stars
        This was amazing! Served with whipped cream.

        Reply
      • Kate

        January 04, 2020 at 8:29 pm

        Thank you! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the cake! Thanks for commenting! =)

        Reply
    6. Virginia

      October 12, 2019 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Oops! Forgot to rate this.

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 12, 2019 at 7:59 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
        • Jody

          December 04, 2021 at 8:47 pm

          Awful!! All we could taste and smell was the vinegar.. a dessert you should’ve made as a test run BEFORE serving for company

          Reply
          • Kate

            December 04, 2021 at 8:57 pm

            There is NO vinegar in this recipe. Did you use apple cider vinegar instead of the apple cider that the recipe calls for? That would certainly make a difference!

    7. Virginia

      October 12, 2019 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this twice for a crowd, and both times it was a rousing success. As recommended in the comment section, 1 1/2 times the recipe works perfectly for a 9" x 13" pan.
      How long do you think I should bake it in a 6 oz ramekin?

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 12, 2019 at 7:59 pm

        Yay!! I'm so happy to hear that! I haven't tried baking this recipe in a 6 oz ramekin, but I have a lemon pudding cake that I bake in that size ramekin. I bake it in a waterbath for about 30 minutes. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    8. Yolanda

      March 23, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      Has anyone made this cake without the milk. Either subbing in a non dairy milk or increasing the applesauce to eliminate the use of any type of milk?

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 23, 2019 at 10:00 pm

        Hi! I think you would be fine subbing nondairy milk in this recipe. Hope that helps! =)

        Reply
    9. Maureen Papineau

      February 21, 2019 at 9:55 pm

      I’ve made this twice now and it was absolutely delicious and turned out perfectly. If I want to make it in a 9x13 pan, can I just double the recipe?

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 22, 2019 at 10:39 am

        Thank you so much! I haven't tried doubling it, but I would guess that it would work. Good luck! =)

        Reply
    10. Chrissie

      December 24, 2018 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      I increased the ingredients by 1.5, and this fit perfectly in a 9x13. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 24, 2018 at 2:01 pm

        That's great! It's good to hear that that worked. I'm sure that will help other people who are looking to make a larger batch. Thank you! =)

        Reply
    11. Karen Herweck

      November 15, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Could this be made a few hours before baking up to and including step 7? Then pour apple cider and water over just before baking.

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 15, 2018 at 9:45 pm

        I'm not sure! I haven't tried making part of the recipe ahead of time like that, so I'm not sure how that would work.

        Reply
      • Jennifer Ortiz

        February 22, 2019 at 6:56 pm

        5 stars
        I made the batter ahead of time and kept the sugar mixture and apple cider water separate until right before I baked it. Turned out perfect. I also divided the recipe in half and baked in individual ramekins.

        Reply
        • Kate

          February 23, 2019 at 12:32 am

          Great! I'm glad to hear that! Thank you for your notes and for commenting. =)

          Reply
    12. Angelika Lewis

      November 09, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      Could this be made ahead - perhaps as a gift - and then reheated later? What would be the time & temperature, maybe 30 min. at 350 degrees?

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 09, 2018 at 9:18 pm

        I just want to make sure that I understand the question. Are you asking if you could prepare a dry mix ahead as a gift? Or are you asking if you could completely prepare it and then reheat it?

        Reply
    13. Cindy Robertson

      October 30, 2018 at 11:38 am

      This was disgusting. I think that was too much apple cider vinegar. I total waste of the rest of the ingredients

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 30, 2018 at 11:45 am

        I'm afraid that you misread the recipe. There is no apple cider vinegar in this recipe. There is, however, apple cider in the topping. I could see how using apple cider vinegar in place of the apple cider would make it disgusting. I hope you'll give it a try again with the apple cider!

        Reply
        • Cindy Robertson

          November 02, 2018 at 11:29 am

          lol, so sorry. Your very correct. Next time I had better put my glasses on ?

          Reply
          • Kate

            November 02, 2018 at 9:41 pm

            No worries! I'm just sorry that you wasted all of those ingredients! And I can ony imagine how bad all of that vinegar made your kitchen smell. I do hope that you enjoy it if you try it again!

    14. Lynn Goomis

      October 24, 2018 at 11:33 pm

      I am making this right now will let you know how it turns out. My grandmother aways gave us warm gingerbread with eagles brand sweetened condensed milk poured over. Try it. It is the ultimate comfort food.

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

        I hope you like it! Growing up, we ate gingerbread with applesauce, and I still love that today. =)

        Reply
    15. Carol

      October 21, 2018 at 8:46 am

      This recipe is a marriage of my two favorite desserts.. pudding cake and gingerbread cake. I usually make a sauce to pour on my gingerbread cake but I love that this one makes it’s own. I used apple juice and water. Delicious!! The only thing I will try next time is a smaller pan. 8x11 spreads too thin. Thanks so much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 22, 2018 at 8:44 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment. =)

        Reply
    16. Wendy

      January 07, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      What could you use instead of apple cider?

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 08, 2018 at 11:33 am

        I haven't tried anything else, but I would think that apple juice would be the closest sub. Water may also work, but I can't say for sure. Good luck!

        Reply
      • Kristal

        February 28, 2018 at 9:00 pm

        5 stars
        I used 2/3 cup apple sauce and topped the rest up with water...is amazing!!!

        Reply
        • Kate

          March 01, 2018 at 11:19 am

          Thank you for the tip! So glad you liked it!

          Reply
    17. Jen

      November 05, 2017 at 1:44 pm

      Served this with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was DELICIOUS!

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 06, 2017 at 1:10 pm

        So glad you liked it! That's exactly how my husband likes his cake, too. =)

        Reply
    18. Karly

      November 03, 2017 at 2:39 pm

      Head over heels for this pudding cake. So perfect for the holidays and so gorgeous!!

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 06, 2017 at 1:08 pm

        Thank you!!

        Reply

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