Warming spices are essential storecupboard ingredients for autumn and winter as well as being the ideal complement to seasonal fruits in baking. If you're a fan of traditional ginger cake and parkin, these recipes will quickly become part of your repertoire. We've got everything from casual and comforting loaf cakes to spectacular showstoppers to enjoy with friends and a cup of tea. Once you've tried a slice of our lime & ginger drizzle cake with your caffeine hit, you'll never go back to boring biscuits.

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Triple ginger & spice cake

Triple ginger & spice cake slice

If you love that distinctive spike of ginger, this triple-spiced cake is the one for you. You can quickly mix up the icing using syrup from the jar of glacé ginger that forms part of the sponge recipe and drizzle it over for an extra hit of flavour. Black treacle keeps the sponge moist, squidgy and moreish.

Get the recipe for our triple ginger & spice cake.

Sticky pear & ginger cake

Sticky pear & ginger cake

Add slices of juicy, ripe pear to this nutty, spicy sponge to create a delicious cross between a sticky toffee pudding and the classic ginger cake. Serve warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert after Sunday lunch.

Get the recipe for our sticky pear & ginger cake.

Sticky ginger lemon drizzle cake

Ginger lemon drizzle cake with lemon zest

We just can't resist a hybrid, especially when it combines two crowd-pleasing classics. Here, the ginger cake meets the lemon drizzle cake. We love the combination of sticky ginger, tangy citrus curd and a luscious layer of cream cheese.

Get the recipe for our sticky ginger lemon drizzle cake.

Ginger cake with caramel frosting

Ginger cake with caramel frosting

We don't do flavour by halves. Add chunks of crystalised ginger and an indulgent caramel frosting to your traditional ginger cake. This rich recipe is ideal for bake sales, or for keeping all to yourself to enjoy with your regular afternoon cuppa (without the icing, the sponge keeps for up to a week wrapped in foil).

Get the recipe for our ginger cake with caramel frosting.

Toasted marshmallow & ginger cake

Toasted marshmallow and ginger cake with sparklers

This top-notch showstopper, with decorative golden brown Italian meringue, absolutely screams Bonfire Night. This incredible bake has ginger buttercream, toasty mallow and the spiced sponge we all know and love. It's an impressive sweet treat you can serve with sparklers for extra pizzazz.

Get the recipe for our toasted marshmallow & ginger cake.

Piernik (Polish gingerbread)

Piernik cake

This classic Polish gingerbread cake is given extra sweetness with honey and a tang of sweet plum jam in the glaze and middle layers. A sprinkling of edible gold lends some sparkle for a party. It's easy to make and guaranteed to please.

Get the recipe for our Polish gingerbread cake.

Traditional parkin

Parkin cut into squares in tin

Of course, it wouldn't be a ginger cake guide without including the famous Yorkshire parkin. If you have time, wrap in foil and leave for three to five days before eating, during which time it'll become softer, stickier and all the more scrumptious. Also, check out our guide on the health benefits of ginger and pickled ginger recipe.

Get the recipe for our 5-star classic parkin.

Like these gingery cakes? Explore more fabulous bakes...

Our best ever apple cake recipes
Crumble recipes for every season
Our ultimate autumn cake collection

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What's your favourite ginger cake twist? Leave a comment below...

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