Hot & Sweet Gingerbread

By kelsa94

Our thanks to good friend Lora Brody, whose "Cooking With Memories" inspired this recipe.

Ingredients

• 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
• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' or glazing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped

Details

Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 55mins
Adapted from kingarthurflour.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°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.