One thing that I really like to bake and enjoy during the Holiday season is Gingerbread. Nothing says festive to me more than Gingerbread. The smell of all of those warm spices while the cakes and bakes are in the oven spells pure and utter COMFORT to me. Home Sweet Home. Family Ties & Times.
Gingerbread to me has always been like a nice warm hug. Nothing says "Welcome Home" more than the smell of a freshly baked gingerbread sitting on the hearth.
I thought it would be fun this morning to share with you some of my favorite Gingerbread Cakes and Bakes. This round up of recipes is by no means the sum total of all the gingerbread recipes I have posted here in The English Kitchen, but it does include ten of my very favorites that I have baked through the years.
All of them delicious and welcoming and something which I felt that you and your family might enjoy baking and eating over the coming weeks.
EASY OLD-FASHIONED GINGERBREAD - This is a basic no-frills recipe. No bells and whistles. Simple ingredients, simply put together in a most delicious way. I would not add anything else.
It is perfect just as it is. PER FECT! Simple as that. Vintage recipes are like that.
GINGERED GINGERBREAD LOAF - This tasty loaf is dense and delicious, which is how I love my gingerbreads. Dense, delicious and spiked with plenty of Ginger.This one has ginger in spades, from a rather generous amount of ground powdered ginger and then an indulgence of chopped crystalized ginger, so you get a double whammy! An optional sweet glaze tops it off.
SQUIDGY GINGERBREAD - When you dip your fork into this delicious gingerbread you realize what a treat it really is. Squidgy, damp, melt in the mouth ginger deliciousness. When you sink your teeth into its deliciously squidgy moistness . . . you realize that this is truly a Gingerbread to fall in love with.
I enjoy it split and filled with lemon curd. Simply cut into squares, this is fabulous . . . but split and filled with lemon curd . . . there is no doubt about it.
GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH LEMON CREAM - This fabulous Gingerbread Cake is one of my absolute favourites. Why? Because it is easy to throw together and the end result is moist and delicious with a beautiful crumb. On its own it is a beautiful cake, baked in a Bundt pan and dusted with icing sugar. That is my preferred tin to bake it in as it is really pretty, but you can also bake it in a 9-inch square tin or even in cupcake or muffin tins. The lemon whipped cream is a beautiful accompaniment.
CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD ROLL - If you are looking for a dessert that is simple to make but that will stun everyone at the table, then this is the dessert for you. Not only is it really delicious but it is very simple to make.Sweetened with molasses, nicely spiced. Moist and delicious and rolled around a lovely, whipped lemon filling.
DEEP, DARK & DELICIOUS GINGERBREAD - Spicy, dark, dense and yes delicious. You cannot call it a pretty cake by any stretch. It is the ugly step sister of pretty cake. It is like the country cousin of the city mouse. This is a cake you might be tempted to overlook when glancing upon it sitting in the glass case of a bake shop.
This is the kind of gingerbread cake that you could imagine Meg, Amy, Jo and Beth sitting down to enjoy on cold winter's evening while the fire burns low in the grate, whilst Marmee reads to them the latest missive from their pa. Old fashioned and delicious. The smell alone when it is baking is worth baking it and don't get me started on the taste.
ALMOND GINGERBREAD - I just adore this particular gingerbread. It's light . . . and moist . . . and mild. Just perfect for those times when I am craving a gingerbread, but not looking for anything too heavy.There are more almonds in this than there are flour, which makes for a very light cake, and also a very moist cake. It's also chock full of lovely little bits of preserved stem ginger. I use Opies, which I like. If you are so inclined you can even get it steeped in a whiskey syrup. this cake is lovely. You get a fabulous crunch on top from the flaked almonds, all toasty and nutty, and then brushed with some of the ginger syrup when warm, giving them a bit of sweet heat. Moist cake, with tangy little spicy sweet bits of ginger throughout. All in all . . . F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!
GRANDMOTHER'S GINGERBREAD - I love to enjoy this one the old-fashioned way, served warm, split and spread with butter. There is nothing fancy about this one. It's just a simple recipe. You beat together some butter and sugar, beat in an egg and molasses. The original recipe didn't call for it, but I have added vanilla and lemon extracts because I have found through the years that they enhance the warm spice flavors of a good gingerbread. You stir dry ingredients into wet and then you beat in a cup of hot water that you have dissolved some baking soda in and pour it into the pan. Then bake. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Simple and divine.
CLASSIC GINGERBREAD LOAF CAKE -This super easy gingerbread loaf cake is heavily spiced, with a perfect moist texture. It comes together in only a saucepan and a bowl. Gingerbread loaf makes the perfect gift, or is great to have on hand if you need a homemade loaf cake filled with holiday flavours.It cuts beautifully and has a beautiful texture. Its lovely served simply sliced and spread with softened butter. Its lovely even without the butter, I promise you. This is one gingerbread that you are really going to enjoy!!
STICKY TOPPED GINGERBREAD - Think of this sort of as a gingerbread flavored sticky toffee pudding. No dates, just a warm spicy gingerbread cake, topped with a lovely caramel like sticky toffee sauce.Delicious as is with no embellishments, but whipped cream or clotted cream on top is also really rather good.And as a bonus recipe, if you are wanting almost instant gratification . . .
GINGERBREAD MUFFINS -Moist and gingery with a bit of crunch from the demerara sugar sprinkle on top. Beautiful as is, but can be easily amped up by adding bits of candied ginger, dried cranberries, raisins, candied lemon peel, etc. You decide how you are going to enjoy these and I promise you that they will definitely be enjoyed!
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