Gingersnap Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Caramel

Our easy spice cake mix recipe combines a tender, moist spice cake with rich cream cheese frosting, crunchy gingersnap cookies and an easy-to-make caramel sauce for the perfect dessert recipe.
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Gingersnap Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Caramel
Our easy spice cake mix recipe combines a tender, moist spice cake with rich cream cheese frosting, crunchy gingersnap cookies and an easy-to-make caramel sauce for the perfect dessert recipe.

June 22, 2026
URL: https://www.duncanhines.com/recipes/cakes/gingersnap-spice-cake-cream-cheese-frosting-and-caramel-9676

  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Total time 90 minutes
  • Servings 10

Ingredients

  • PAM® Baking Spray

  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/4 cup half-and-half

  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 24 gingersnap cookies

  • 1 pkg (15.25 oz each) Duncan Hines® Signature Spice Cake Mix

  • 1 cup water

  • 3 eggs

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 container (16 oz each) Duncan Hines® Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting

Nutrition Information

628 calories, 87g carbs

View complete nutrition information

Nutrition Information

628 calories, 87g carbs

View complete nutrition information

Directions

  • Step one

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round pans with baking spray.

  • Step two

    Beat spice cake mix, water, eggs and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

  • Step three

    Pour batter evenly into pans (about 2 1/2 cups per pan) and bake 23 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool cakes in pans on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and cool completely.

  • Step four

    Whisk together brown sugar, butter, half and half and vanilla extract in a small pot. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking frequently until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow sauce to cool completely.

  • Step five

    Using a serrated knife, gently trim gingersnap cookies to give them a flat edge on one side, about 1/4-inch into the cookies.

  • Step six

    Place one cooled cake layer on serving plate or cake stand. Frost cake with layer of cream cheese frosting about 1/4-inch thick. Place second cake layer on top and frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Place trimmed cookies, flat side down, along the bottom edge of cake. Slowly drizzle top of cake with cooled caramel sauce, allowing it to drip down sides of cake. Slice and serve.

Tips

Your caramel sauce must be completely cooled before drizzling on top of the cake, otherwise it may melt your cream cheese frosting!

Nutrition Information

628 calories, 87g carbs

View complete nutrition information

Gingersnap Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Caramel

Nutrition information

Nutrient Amount % Daily Value
Calcium 97 mg 10%
Carbohydrate 87 g 28%
Cholesterol 64 mg 21%
Total Fat 29 g 45%
Iron 2 mg 9%
Calories 628 kcal 31%
Sodium 571 mg 24%
Protein 4 g 7%
Saturated Fat 7 g 33%
Sugars 61 g 6%
Vitamin C 0

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