Making the gingerbread cake
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 175°C/ 350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease the tins, then line with baking paper.
Step 2
Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and spices together in a bowl, then put to one side.
Step 3
Using an electric whisk, beat the butter until it’s smooth. Add the sugar and beat together until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
Step 4
Add the eggs to the mixture, one at a time, fully incorporating each one before adding the next. Add the treacle and vanilla and continue mixing until combined.
Step 5
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and fully mixing each ingredient before adding the next. Take care not to overmix.
Step 6
Spread the batter evenly into the three tins and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Step 7
Place the cakes on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then turn out of the tins and cool completely.
Step 8
To make the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add the icing sugar a little at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice, then continue beating the mixture until fluffy again.
Step 9
To assemble, use a serrated knife to trim each cake into even layers. Place one layer on a cake stand and top with a generous amount of icing, using a palette knife to spread it evenly.
Repeat with the remaining two layers.
Place the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
Step 10
Use the palette knife to apply a generous coating of icing over the cake. Once completely covered, use the palette knife to remove some of the icing, allowing the cake to show through. If the cake looks uneven or patchy, apply more icing to that area and scrape around the cake again, making sure all the edges are straight.
Step 11
Scatter desiccated coconut across the top of the cake.
Your cake is now complete! It’s delicious as it is, but if you’re after an extra crafty project while your cake is cooling, why not try making these polymer clay cake toppers to really show off your skills?
How to make polymer clay cake toppers
To make these polymer clay toppers, you will need:
● Polymer clay in mint, turquoise, green, white and gold (we used Fimo)
● Christmas tree-shaped biscuit cutters in various sizes
● Craft knife
● Rolling pin
● Wooden skewers
● Baking tray
● Baking paper
● Craft glue
Making your clay cake toppers
Step 1
Break off a piece of green clay, and twist it together with the white clay to marble them.
Step 2
Roll out the five different shades of clay to roughly 0.25cm (3/8") thick. Use the cutters to cut five tree shapes in a variety of sizes and colours. Create a diagonal dotty pattern across two trees with the point of a skewer, as shown.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 110°C/230°F/Gas Mark 1⁄4 and linea baking tray with baking paper.
Place the shapes onto the lined tray and bake for 30 minutes, then leave to cool.
Step 4
Glue a skewer onto the back of each tree, then leave to dry.
Using the image as a guide, arrange the clay trees on top of the cake in a tiered pattern.
The house always wins
If you’re looking to create a real show-stopping centrepiece for your Christmas dinner table or festive display, prepare to be amazed by these 21 unique gingerbread house ideas.
