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Flavour Quest Recipes

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Gingerbread Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • ¾ cup unsulphured molasses
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup hot water
For Serving
  • Powdered sugar
  • Fresh whipped cream optional
  • Candied ginger optional
  • Fresh cranberries and rosemary for presentation optional

Method
 

Prepare the oven.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
Combine the dry ingredients.
  1. Whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
Cream the butter and sugar.
  1. Beat the softened butter and brown sugar until creamy and well combined.
Add the egg.
  1. Beat in the egg until incorporated.
Add the molasses.
  1. Mix in the molasses and vanilla until smooth.
Build the batter.
  1. Gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the hot water. Mix gently just until everything is combined.
Fill the pan.
  1. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Bake the gingerbread.
  1. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
Cool the cake.
  1. Allow the gingerbread to cool in the pan before slicing.
Decorate and serve.
  1. Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve with softly whipped cream if desired.