Favorite Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Gingerbread is everyone's holiday favorite. This old-fashioned recipe is so easy to make and probably very similar to the one your great-grandmother used to make. This moist and lightly spiced gingerbread cake can be served with a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you prefer a gingerbread with more spice, just double or triple the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

Gingerbread is festive, nostalgic, and wonderfully flavorful. This old-fashioned gingerbread recipe will quickly become a holiday tradition in your household.

Gingerbread Ingredients  

 These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated gingerbread recipe:

• Butter: This gingerbread recipe starts with a stick of softened, unsalted butter.

• Sugar: White sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness.

• Egg: A large egg adds moisture and acts as a binder, which means it holds the batter together.

• Molasses: Make sure you use regular molasses and not blackstrap molasses, as the latter is likely to overpower the other flavors.

• Flour: All-purpose flour creates structure and helps hold the batter together.

• Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavener, which means it helps the gingerbread rise.

• Spices: This gingerbread is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt.

• Water: Make sure to use very hot water. It'll loosen the gluten and create a light, fluffy texture.

How to Make Gingerbread  

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below, but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this old-fashioned gingerbread:

1. Beat the butter, then beat in the sugar. Mix in the egg and molasses.

2. Sift the dry ingredients together.

3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix in the water.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

How to Store Gingerbread  

Place the cooled gingerbread in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to three days. It will last for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Gingerbread?  

Yes, you can freeze gingerbread. Wrap the cooled cake in storage wrap, then wrap it again in a layer of foil. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Ingredients 

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ½ cup white sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 cup molasses (not blackstrap)

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup hot water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment.

2. eat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy.

3. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, then mix in molasses until smooth.

4. Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt into a large bowl.

5. Gradually add dry ingredients to the molasses mixture, mixing after each addition until incorporated. Mix in water until smooth.

6. Pour cake batter into the prepared pan.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake; it should come out clean. If it does, remove cake from the oven; if not, bake 15 to 30 more minutes, checking often for doneness.

8. Allow gingerbread to cool in the pan before serving.

[Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7322/favorite-old-fashioned-gingerbread/]