Marshall Field's Plantation Cake

Step 1: To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2: Butter bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking pan and Pam spray over.

Step 3: In a bowl, beat butter until creamy with the electric mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Add brown sugar and salt, and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.

Step 5: Reduce speed to low, add flour slowly and mix until crumbly.

Step 6: In a medium bowl, combine water and baking soda.

Step 7: Stir in molasses.

Step 8: Divide crumb mixture in half.

Step 9: Evenly pat half of crumb mixture in the bottom of prepared pan.

Step 10: In a bowl of an electric mixer on low speed, combine molasses mixture with remaining crumb mixture and mix until most of the white pieces are out of the mixture.

Step 11: Pour mixture over the crumbs in the pan.

Step 12: Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.

Step 13: Remove from oven and transfer pan to a wire rack to cool.

Step 14: To prepare topping: In a bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until creamy, about 2 minutes.

Step 15: Reduce speed to low, add half-and-half and mix until thoroughly combined.

Step 16: Cut warm cake into squares.

Step 17: Top with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese topping, and serve with pitcher of Hot Lemon Sauce