Zippy Gingerbread Recipe
Rich with molasses, a bit of cocoa and three kinds of ginger, this may become your all-time favorite gingerbread.
Ingredients
| 2 1/4 | cups | flour |
| 1/4 | cup | brown sugar |
| 1 | teaspoon | baking soda |
| 1/2 | teaspoon | salt |
| 1 1/2 | teaspoons | ground ginger |
| 1 | teaspoon | cinnamon |
| 1/4 | teaspoon | cardamom |
| 2 | tablespoons | unsweetened cocoa |
| 1/2 | cup | unsalted butter, melted and cooled |
| 3/4 | cup | mild molasses (not blackstrap) |
| 3 | tablespoons | grated fresh ginger |
| 1/4 | cup | warm water |
| 2 | teaspoons | vanilla |
| 1 | large | egg |
| 1 | cup | buttermilk |
| 1/2 | cup | diced crystallized ginger |
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a gingerbread man pan or a 9-inch square pan.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cocoa.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, molasses, grated ginger, warm water, vanilla, egg and buttermilk until well combined.
- Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in the crystallized ginger.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes until the top springs back when pressed lightly and a tester inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. (If baking in the gingerbread man pan, fill each “man” just over ½ full and bake for 12–15 minutes until the tops spring back.)
- Serve the gingerbread warm with freshly whipped cream. Alternately, decorate gingerbread men with whipped cream, red hots and chocolate chips.
Preparation Time:
45 minutes, plus 30–35 minutes baking time.
