I love bundt cake. This cathedral-like baking mold can turn a simple cake into an elegant masterpiece. One of my favorite bundt cake recipes is for a candied ginger gingerbread cake. I love the flecks of candied ginger that float throughout, and a delightful ginger-spiced vanilla glaze over the top is like the ribbons on those gifts under the tree. A candied gingerbread bundt cake is a gift itself!

The balance of sweetness and warm spice is what makes this cake tick. Ginger on its own has a peppery sweetness that can be both sweet and savory. I’m also adding cardamom, a member of the ginger family, rather than allspice. It’s a subtle change but subtlety is fun when it comes to baking with spices. I’m not done with the spices just yet! Again with that nod to both sweet and spicy, I’m adding candied ginger pieces into the batter. Those chewy sweet-spiced bits aren’t necessary but they do add something special to the cake.

I want a sweet ribbony glaze drizzled over the top of the bundt and a vanilla glaze is very easy to make. Though simple, it makes an essential contribution to the flavor and the finished presentation of my gingerbread cake. I’ve spiked my vanilla glaze with a pinch of ginger to echo the flavors of the cake.

The cake presents beautifully, smells amazing, and tastes – well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. A candied ginger gingerbread bundt is a festive holiday cake that will fill you and your kitchen with the flavors and smells of the season, giving us comfort and sweet enjoyment.