Ingredients

• Cake
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup light molasses
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves


• Frosting
• 2 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tablespoons whole milk or light cream (or half & half)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Cake
In an electric mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy and blended. Add egg and beat well to blend. Add molasses and water and mix until smooth and blended.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, soda, coffee, cinnamon and cloves. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture and mix at medium speed until blended. Pour into greased 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow to cool, then frost with Frosting. Cool. Cut into 24 squares.

Frosting
In an electric mixer bowl, add confectioner's sugar, butter, vanilla extract and milk (or cream). Beat until smooth and creamy. Apply to cake per directions.