The Chew: Southern Spice Layer Cake
While talking about their favorite American-style dishes and contemplating what food screams “America!” more than the rest, Carla Hall took everyone’s taste buds on a trip to the South. She took over the dessert round with her Southern Spice Layer Cake. Spice cake is delicious enough within itself, so why not layer it with cream cheese icing to ensure that you’re really in heaven as the flavors hit your tongue? This moist yet light cake is a must for anyone looking to add a bit of variety to their baking routine.
To get the recipe, click next page.
The Chew: Southern Spice Layer Cake Recipe Ingredients

Carla Hall prepared a Southern Spice Layer Cake, proving that the only thing better than cake, is a cake layered with icing. (cjmartin / Flickr)
For the Cake:
- 1 C light brown sugar
- 1/2 C vegetable oil
- 2 C flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1 1/4 C buttermilk
- 1 C dark brown sugar
- 1 stick butter – softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 1 stick butter – softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 packages cream cheese – softened, 8 oz
- 1 1/2 C powdered sugar
The Chew: Southern Spice Layer Cake Recipe Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Grease three 9-inch cake pans with butter, then line with parchment
- Grease the parchment with butter and dust the pans with flour, shaking off any excess
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment add light and dark brown sugar and butter and cream until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes
- Add oil and mix to combine
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition
- In a large bowl add the baking soda, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt, then whisk to combine
- Add the flour to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk and ending with the flour
- Let the mix come together until just combined
- Divide evenly between the three cake pans
- Put in the oven and let bake 18-20 minutes
- Remove to a baking rack to cool for 10 minutes in the pan
- Turn the cakes out onto the baking rack to cool completely
- Meanwhile, make the cream cheese icing
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream cheese and butter, then beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes
- Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, beating until well combined
- Add the vanilla and mix to combine
To Make the Cake:
- Trim the layers of the cake
- Spread icing between each layer and stack the three layers on top of each other
- Ice the outside of the cake evenly, then serve
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