Yesterday was a cold, gray, rainy day, and I wanted something nice and comforting to go with a cup of afternoon coffee. When my daughter got up from her nap, I asked her if she'd like to make gingerbread. She inquired if we could use our new boy and girl cookie cutters but I explained that we were going to make the cakey kind of gingerbread, not the dough that you roll out for cookies. She thought the idea of cake sounded nice, as long as I promised to make the cookies soon too, which of course I did.
So with her standing in the "helping chair" we mixed up the very simple batter, practiced counting while the mixer whipped it up, and then sampled batter before I got it in the oven. (Yes, eating batter with raw eggs is a risky practice, but we only use local organic eggs and I take that risk.) When the gingerbread came out of the oven, we sat down at the table and enjoyed a nice warm piece.
The recipe I used comes from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. My mom had an older version of it and used it often when I was growing up, and the red plaid cover is comforting to me. When I'd just gotten old enough to use the oven, I started making this gingerbread recipe on my own, and it became traditional for me to make it for my family on Christmas Eve so sharing it with my daughter brightened an otherwise dismal day.
Here's the recipe:
Gingerbread
1.5 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4t cinnamon
3/4t ground ginger
1/2t baking soda
1/2t baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 cup hot water
Stir all ingredients together and use an electric mixer on low until combined. Then mix on high speed for 2 minutes (medium speed if using a stand mixer). Pour batter into a greased and floured 8x8 pan and cook at 350F for 25 minutes.
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29 comments:
Can butter be substituted for shortening, Sylvia?
And finally, a recipe that makes use of molasses! I keep seeing it on the shelves in the supermarket, and wondering what folks do with it (much like corn syrup). Then I miss home (New Zealand) wishing for Golden Syrup.
Hi Anne, I'd love to travel to New Zealand someday! I think that butter would work fine. You might need slightly more since butter is around 80% fat and shortening is 100% fat.
Glad you liked the recipe Becky! Hope it works for you :)
The gingerbread recipe sound yummy.
Will have to try it. Happy Thanksgiving.
There is something wonderfully evocative about gingerbread and the wonderful smell of it baking. Will definitely try your recipe.
Emma, you crack me up!
No worries on the spelling Cherie! Glad you liked the recipe.
Tam, I hope your husband has fun baking it.
Sound yummy!
I've never made gingerbreat. I must try this recipe.
The kids love gingerbread.
That sounds lovely, I shall have to try it. Will Golden Syrup substitute for the molasses (never seen molasses in England but I think it's black treacle, which I hate).
I have so many wonderful memories of baking with my kids. Though we never tackled gingerbread, we would spend a weekend making christmas cut-out cookies. Of course, it was the decorating that they enjoyed the most.
Dawn, molasses is an intrical part of gingerbread whether the cakey kind or the cookie recipe so I'm not sure how it would be with a substitution. If I were going to substitute, I'd go with dark Karo syrup aka dark corn syrup. I've never seen Golden Syrup in America so I'm not sure about that one. I do believe Molasses may be the same as black treacle based on this article. I know plenty of people who wouldn't eat molasses straight but who love gingerbread so you might want to try it.
Ooooh, thanks for the recipe. Gingerbread sounds nice right about now, with a nice cup of hot chocolate with it. Hugs. :-)
Hi Silvia, This gingerbread sounds wonderful and easy to prepare!!
Hugs
Mary Ann
That sounds wonderful, and easy, too (which is always a plus!) I'll bet it smells wonderful while it's cooking. I think I have all the ingredients except the molasses. I use molasses in pecan pie, can't think of any other recipes I use it in off the top of my head.
Yummm....I will definitely be trying the gingerbread, no later than this weekend! and thanks for the venison burger recipe--we have a deer being processed right now, and I'll try it out. We love goat burgers, too (we raise them...goats, not burgers!). Of course, I'd REALLY love one of your books to read while I'm eating a piece of fresh-baked gingerbread... (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Thanks for posting the recipes!
Julia
Hi Silvia,
That is so nice you sharing the family tradition with your daughter. It is hard to teach a boy all of this when he is more interrested in video games and instead of cooking but he dose mine eat the goodies after there bake. LOL! Thanks A nice Blog you have here.
Hugs!
Lisa
Cathie, I don't usually frost it, but I often serve it with whipped cream or ice cream. Frosting would be good too though.
Cynthya, I don't use molasses too often but I do like to dip cornbread in it and I also put it in smoothies instead of honey sometimes because it is high in iron.
I've never made gingerbread before - your recipe sounds good and easy! I'll have to try it - or get my hubby to - he likes cook & bake! :)
annalisa
mmm this looks yummy.
Sounds like a really good reacipe...I copied it down to try. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank for the recipe. I didn't have a gingerbread recipe.
Thanks for the recipe. The blog looks good.
Those cookies sound like they were wonderful. I was wondering if there is any way I could get a copy of the recipe. I love any kind of cooky with ginger in them.
Teresa, we haven't made the cookies yet and I've got a few recipes I'm going to pick between. When we make them, I'll report back and share a recipe.
Dawn M
Yes, you can substitute Golden syrup for the molasses, but you will get a much more mellow flavour. Indeed for the best match treacle would be the thing. I am like you though, golden syrup all the way :) AND IM OUT! wahhh!!!! I need a care package from home :)
i want to make this over the weekend with my grandson. Hes 3 and last time he stayed we made Chocolte Chip Cookies. Hes in charge of pouring in ingredientds and the mixer. I really think he'ld get akick out of little men
Thanks Silvia
Ok Forgive my last post I had read thru the recipe upto the pan, blame it on too little sleep and not enough Sex.LOL
I'm still gonna make it with him. He helped me make Amish Friendship brea and loves it so I think he'll like this too
I'll have to copy this recipe and make it with my daughters. They love to help bake.
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