Gingerbread
Just thinking about the aroma of warm gingerbread wafting through the air is bound to put you in a festive spirit. Enjoy gingerbread after your meal or with your morning tea.
Ingredients for Bread
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2/3 cup molasses
- 2/3 cup boiling water
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger or gingerbread spice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
Ingredients for Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ or glazing sugar (or Swerve)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9″ square pan.
- In a large bowl, blend the sugar, molasses, water and butter, stirring until the butter melts. When the mixture is lukewarm, add the baking soda, salt, and egg.
- Sift together the flour and spices, and add to the wet ingredients. Gently stir in the crystallized ginger.
- Pour the batter into the pan, and bake the gingerbread for 25 to 28 minutes, or until it tests done with a clean skewer in the center.
- Remove from oven and turn out onto a wire rack. Allow to cool completely.
- While cooling, beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the sugar and vanilla, then stir in the crystallized ginger. Apply icing as desired.
image: wikimedia commons
