Gingerbread cake is a popular holiday treat, known for its spicy, molasses flavor. But many people wonder – with all that sugar and butter, is gingerbread cake actually high in calories?
The short answer
Yes, gingerbread cake is high in calories. A typical slice of gingerbread cake contains around 300-400 calories. Since a full gingerbread cake is cut into about 12-16 slices, the whole cake can contain 3,600-6,400 calories.
Calorie count for common gingerbread cake recipes
To get a more specific calorie count, let’s look at some popular gingerbread cake recipes:
| Gingerbread Cake Recipe | Serving Size | Calories per Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Gingerbread Cake | 1 slice (1/12 cake) | 385 calories |
| Grandma’s Famous Gingerbread Cake | 1 slice (1/16 cake) | 312 calories |
| Easy One Bowl Gingerbread Cake | 1 slice (1/12 cake) | 407 calories |
| Gingerbread Bundt Cake | 1 slice (1/16 cake) | 328 calories |
As you can see, a slice of gingerbread cake typically contains 300-400 calories. Of course, the exact count can vary a bit depending on the recipe.
Why gingerbread cake is high in calories
There are a few reasons why gingerbread cakes tend to be so high in calories:
It contains butter and oil
Most gingerbread cake recipes call for a decent amount of butter, oil, or both. For example, a typical recipe may use 1/2 cup of butter (1,000 calories) and 1/4 cup of oil (480 calories) to make one 9×13 inch cake. All that butter and oil adds a lot of calories.
It uses brown sugar or molasses
Gingerbread cakes get their signature flavor from ingredients like brown sugar and molasses. A cup of brown sugar contains 800 calories, while a quarter cup of molasses packs 275 calories. Using these sweeteners instead of plain white sugar piles on extra calories.
The serving size is large
Gingerbread cake is very dense and rich. So a typical slice tends to be bigger compared to other cakes. The serving size averaging 1/12 to 1/16 of the entire cake means each slice is large and contains 300-400 calories.
Often loaded with extras
Gingerbread cakes are a popular canvas for loads of extra toppings and mix-ins. Things like candied ginger, nuts, chocolate chips, and powdered sugar glaze all significantly increase the calorie count per slice.
Nutrition breakdown of gingerbread cake
Taking a closer look at the nutrition facts helps explain why gingerbread cake is so high in calories:
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 385 |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Carbs | 57 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Sugar | 30 g |
Let’s break this down further:
High in fat
With 16 grams of fat per serving, gingerbread cake gets a good portion of its calories from fat. All the butter and oil used in gingerbread cake recipes contributes to the high fat content.
Loaded with carbs
Each serving also provides 57 grams of carbs, mostly from added sugars. The combination of brown sugar, molasses, and plain white sugar adds up to 30 grams of sugar per slice.
Low in protein
Compared to the high amounts of fat and carbs, gingerbread cake is low in protein. With just 3 grams of protein per serving, gingerbread cake doesn’t offer much to balance out the calories.
Compare gingerbread cake to other cakes
How does gingerbread cake stack up against other popular cake flavors in terms of calories and nutrition?
| Cake Type | Calories | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gingerbread cake | 385 | 16 | 57 | 3 |
| Carrot cake | 370 | 15 | 55 | 4 |
| Red velvet cake | 400 | 17 | 60 | 3 |
| Vanilla cake | 350 | 15 | 50 | 4 |
| Chocolate cake | 410 | 18 | 63 | 5 |
Gingerbread cake is fairly comparable to other cakes in calories, fat, carbs, and protein. It’s a little lower than chocolate cake but higher than vanilla. So while gingerbread cake is very high in calories, it’s about average among cakes.
Ways to lighten up gingerbread cake
If you want to enjoy gingerbread cake but make it a bit lighter, here are some tweaks to reduce the calories:
Use less butter/oil
Cutting the butter or oil down to 1/3 cup or 1/4 cup can significantly slash the calories. The cake may be slightly less moist, but spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg will still give it plenty of flavor.
Replace some sugar with pureed fruit
Substitute applesauce, mashed banana, or pumpkin puree for up to half the sugar. This maintains moisture while lowering the calorie count.
Add more low-calorie mix-ins
Mix in cocoa powder, crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, or chopped nuts instead of buttercream frosting, chocolate chips, and other high-calorie add-ins.
Opt for a small slice
Cut thinner slices to turn that 400 calorie slab into a more reasonable 200 calories. And savor each bite – you may find a smaller piece satisfies your craving.
Healthier gingerbread cake alternatives
If you want something reminiscent of gingerbread cake but much lighter, consider these options:
Gingerbread protein balls or bites
Combine oats, almond butter, protein powder, spices, and just a tablespoon or two of molasses to make bite-sized gingerbread flavored protein balls.
Gingerbread baked oatmeal
Make a baked oatmeal using oats, egg whites, spices, apple sauce, and a small drizzle of molasses for sweetness. Top with lightly sweetened Greek yogurt.
Gingerbread protein muffins
Whip up protein-packed gingerbread muffins using almond or whole wheat flour, egg whites, Greek yogurt, and zero-calorie sweetener. Much lighter than cake!
The bottom line
Gingerbread cake does live up to its reputation as a high calorie treat. The average piece contains 300-400 calories, with nearly equal amounts from fat and carbs. It’s on par with other cakes in calories and nutrition stats. To lighten gingerbread cake up, use less butter and oil, increase low-calorie ingredients, and stick to a modest slice. Or try healthy gingerbread-inspired alternatives like oatmeal, bites, or muffins.
