Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan by greasing it lightly with butter or lining it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt. Ensure the mixture is well combined and set it aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cubed butter and whole milk. Stir constantly until the butter melts and the mixture is hot, but make sure it does not reach a boiling point.
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes, or until it becomes light in color and fluffy in texture.
Add the vanilla extract to the sugar-egg mixture and blend until just incorporated.
Gradually sift the flour mixture into the egg mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a light texture.
Carefully pour the hot milk and butter mixture into the batter. Stir gently until the batter is smooth and fully combined, ensuring you can see steam rising from the mixture, indicating the heat.
Pour the prepared batter into the greased baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Once baked, allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely for the best texture.
Notes
Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.