Christmas Ginger Cake

Wednesday 17 December 2014

 photo SAM_8511_zps81e37468.jpg

I don't know what it is about Christmas and Ginger, but the two just go together like peas and carrots!  What would Christmas be without gingerbread men or a lovely ginger cake, especially when you are talking a ginger cake with full on ginger flavours like this one!

 photo SAM_8510_zps26ee9307.jpg

I would so love one of those nordic pans that are a whole bunch of little village houses.   I am sure this gingerbread would be so cute baked that way . . .  what a great centre piece that would be!  You almost wouldn't want to eat it!

  photo SAM_8512_zps242d5e61.jpg

The smell when this cake is baking is just heavenly.   It smells like what you want Christmas to smell like . . .  warm, and spicy and just plain festive!

 photo SAM_8513_zps3c62b7f0.jpg

It's everything you want a great gingerbread cake to be.   Dense.   Moist.   Fragrant.   Spicy.  Dark.   You don't need any other garnish other than a dusting of icing sugar snow . . .

  photo SAM_8517_zps80479566.jpg

I  used my cathedral bundt pan to bake this in because I wanted a dramatic effect, but you can use a plain bund pan as well.  It's all a matter of what look you want to create.   This pan suited my purpose perfectly.  Do bake this cake.   If you like Gingerbread . . .  you will LOVE this cake, I guarantee.   All you need on the side is some softly whipped cream, or some ice cream.  Splendid!

 photo SAM_8515_zps4b77bd01.jpg

*Christmas Gingerbread Cake*
Makes one bundt cake, serving 16

A beautifully moist and spicy gingerbread cake, perfect for the holidays!  

420g of plain flour (3 cups)
1 TBS plus 1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp salt
225g of butter, room temperature (1 cup)
110g of soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup)
1 large free range egg
225ml of molasses (1 cup)
(can use half dark treacle and half golden syrup)
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
225ml of boiling water (1 cup)
Icing sugar to dust
Whipped cream to serve (optional)  


 photo SAM_8518_zps9af13cda.jpg 



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Thoroughly grease a bundt pan and lightly dust it with flour, shaking out any excess.  Set aside. 


Sift the flou rinto a bowl along with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and salt.  Set aside. 

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times.  Beat in the egg.   Stir in the molasses to combine. 

Dissolve the soda in the boiling water. 
 photo SAM_8519_zps6eedca4b.jpg
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three lots, alternateing with the boiling water/soda mixture in two lots, beginning and ending with flour.  Spoon evenly into the prepared bundt pan.   Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.   Allow to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

Dust with icing sugar to serve.  Whipped cream goes mighty nice!

7 comments

  1. First:)
    I love ginger cakes and this look absolutely beauty!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunning in your cathedral mold! I love that one..and the //heritage one?

    Just beautiful Marie.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marie the mould is perfect for this time of year and the cake looks luscious. Ginger cakes and snaps are favourites.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Marie. I was looking over all the gingerbread cakes on your blog and I was wondering, do you think this one would be the best bet to make into a layer cake with buttercream frosting? i don't have a tried and true recipe for this and rather than taking a chance any random recipe from the internet, well, your cakes always come out so nice ( the peanut butter picnic cake is a fav) I'm trying to decide on my Christmas Eve birthday cake this year. I'm decorating with a marzipan woodland scene on top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth, I think this would work perfectly as a layer cake. Bake in two 8 or 9 inch round tins, for about 35 minutes, or until it tests ready! Buttercream would ice it perfectly! I hope it works well for you! Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas. Oh how I would love to see the finished cake with the woodland scene! It sounds gorgeous! xo

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!