Easy Fall Spice Cake

Ingredients

Two and one-half cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
One-half teaspoon baking soda
One-half teaspoon ground cloves
One-half teaspoon salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
One-half cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
One-fourth cup orange juice

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 13- x 9-inch baking pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a mixing bowl. In another mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk and mix until blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Glaze the cake and serve hot or at room temperature. (Use an ice pick or a knife to punch holes in the top of the cake to absorb the glaze.)

Makes 12 serving

GLAZE:
Combine the sugar and juice in a bowl and stir until smooth.