Moist, Tender Spice Cake

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups bleached all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cups cornstarch
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoons ground allspice
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup milk
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsalted butter , softened until easily spreadable
• 2 cups dark brown sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   Adjust the oven rack to the middle position; preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9x13-inch pan.

2. 2

   Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs, and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.

3. 3

   Beat softened butter into flour mixture in a large bowl with an electric mixer, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add brown sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool briefly on a wire rack, then run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely.