Ingredients

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

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan.
2. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl.
3. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
4. Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces.
5. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth.
6. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth.
7. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
8. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake’s center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes.
9. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack.
10. Let cool.