Great Canadian Ketchup Cake Recipe

Ingredients for Great Canadian Ketchup Cake

• All Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Ground Nutmeg
• Ground Ginger
• 1 cup ketchup
• ½ cup water
• Red Food Coloring
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• Dark Brown Sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• Vanilla Extract
• Icing Sugar

How to Make Great Canadian Ketchup Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. **Cake:** In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup ketchup, ½ cup water, and a few drops of red food coloring (optional, for a deeper red hue). Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter and 1 ¾ cups packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in 2 large eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the ketchup mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined.
7. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute.
8. Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
11. **Icing:** In a large bowl, beat together 8 ounces cream cheese (softened), ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter (softened), and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
12. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar, beating on high speed until light and fluffy.
13. Once cakes are completely cool, frost the top of one layer with a generous amount of icing. Top with the second cake layer and frost the entire cake with the remaining icing.
14. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the icing to set.