Featured Comment
This cake was so delicious!! I followed the recipe to the letter but left off the glaze because it was delicious as is. It was very moist and full of flavor. I will definitely be making this again!
Tiffany
A “Slice-and-Sit-a-Minute” Kind of Cake
I’ve made a lot of cakes over the years, but this one is special because it’s the kind of dessert that feels familiar in the best way. I call this my slice-and-sit-a-minute cake because it’s the kind you cut into, pour a cup of coffee, and actually take a breath. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated—just a soft, spiced Bundt cake that feels comforting in the way only homemade baking can.
And the best part? This isn’t a “one-season” dessert. I make it year-round because it has that coffee cake vibe—sweet but not too sweet, cozy without being heavy, and just right for coffee, tea, or one more little slice when you walk through the kitchen and can’t resist.
Enjoy!
Donya’s Tips for the Best Homemade Spice Cake
- Grease that Bundt pan like you mean it. I get into every little groove so the cake releases clean and pretty.
- Cream the butter and brown sugar until it looks fluffy. That extra minute gives you a softer crumb and better texture.
- Don’t overmix after the flour goes in. I mix just until everything comes together—overmixing can make the cake dense.
- Let it cool before you glaze it. If the cake is warm, the glaze disappears instead of drizzling on top like it should.
Looking for more easy cake recipes? Try my Lemon Pound Cake or Honey Bun Cake next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Dry ingredients
- Flour + cornstarch (for a soft, tender crumb)
- Baking powder (for lift)
- Salt (balances sweetness)
- Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice (that warm, cozy spice flavor) Spice Cake
Wet ingredients
- Butter (richness + flavor)
- Brown sugar (moisture + deep sweetness)
- Eggs (structure)
- Vanilla (rounds everything out)
- Milk (keeps the batter smooth and tender)
What Can I Add or Change?
Want to make it your own? Here are a few easy variations and additions that still keep the “spice cake” vibe:
- Add orange zest for a bright holiday twist.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Stir in a handful of raisins (very old-school and cozy).
- Swap the glaze for cream cheese glaze.
How To Make Spice Cake (Quick Steps)
- Prep the pan + oven. Grease and flour your Bundt pan really well so the cake releases easily.
- Mix the batter. Whisk the dry ingredients, then cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Combine and bake. Add the dry ingredients and milk, mixing just until everything comes together, then bake until set.
- Cool + glaze. Let the cake cool, turn it out onto a rack, and drizzle with the vanilla glaze once it’s completely cooled.
How Does the Vanilla Glaze Work?
Now, you don’t have to use the glaze, but it is one of my favorite “little something extra” toppings because it’s fast, forgiving, and makes the cake look bakery-pretty.
Vanilla Glaze
- Stir together 2 cups confectioners’ sugar with 3–4 tablespoons milk until smooth.
- Drizzle over the cooled cake. Spice Cake – A Southern Soul
Tip: Start with 3 tablespoons of milk, then add a little more if you want a thinner drizzle.
Craving More? Try These Dessert Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks butter) softened
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 3 eggs – room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease and flour 1 bundt pan.
- Mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and spices in medium bowl. Set aside.
- Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time.Mix in vanilla.
- Starting beating in the flour mixture alternately with milk on low speed until just blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely. Drizzle with vanilla glaze and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Vanilla glaze – stir together 2 cups confectioners sugar with 3 – 4 tablespoons of milk until smooth.
Nutrition
How to Store Spice Cake
- Freeze: Wrap slices well and freeze for up to 2 months
- Room temp: Cover tightly and keep for 2–3 days
- Fridge: Store covered for up to 5 days (bring slices to room temp before serving)
FAQ for Homemade Spice Cake
Bundt pans have lots of curves, so they need thorough greasing + flour. Let the cake cool 10 minutes before turning out—too soon and it can break, too late and it can stick.
Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. For most ovens, that’s 30–35 minutes at 350°F.
Yes! This cake is even better the next day. Bake it, cool it, and glaze it the day you serve (or glaze ahead and keep covered).
You can, but bake times will change. A 9×13 will bake differently than a Bundt. If you swap pans, watch closely and use the toothpick test.
If you tried this Spice Cake Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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This cake was so delicious!! I followed the recipe to the letter but left off the glaze because it was delicious as is. It was very moist and full of flavor. I will definitely be making this again!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for leaving a kind review! ~Donya
This recipe turned out great! I was using another recipe as my base recipe and it had turned out good flavor wise (all same ingredients, just different measurements) so I only used 2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp all spice & 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg. Next time I will try it with the full spice measurements. The texture & crumb of the cake was perfect. Thank you for sharing!
Hey there Lacey!
Thank you so much for your kind words of support! I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, spice cake is absolutely delicious, especially this time of year! If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Apple Spice Cake recipe, it’s an tasty cake recipe that has very similar flavors but it’s a lot easier to make. Thank you so much for your phenomenal rating and your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
I am looking forward to making your easy spiced Bundt cake. Do you use 10 or 12 cup pan?
You’ll want to use a 10-cup Bundt pan for the Easy Spiced Bundt Cake. That size gives the batter enough room to bake up nicely without overflowing. Enjoy! ~Donya