Old Fashioned Ginger Bread

this deep dark moist ginger molasses cake screams...

HELLO HOLIDAYS...

I'M EATIN' SWEETS AND I DON'T CARE !!!

yes, there are many ginger bread recipes out there...i think i looked at them all.  i had intended to bake good ol' Betty Crockers' ginger bread because i think it's always a classic when found in the tattered old 3 ring binder recipe book that i use as my tried and true recipes....

BUT then i fell on this recipe by a fellow blogger from London.  well, anything from "across the pond" goes over well in this house full of Anglophiles.

you must visit Marie Rayner's post about this wonderful cake...The English Kitchen

she explains how she came about this recipe and calling it "THE WORLD'S BEST"...

she came up with the recipe after years of trying many many ginger breads and finally through trial and error she tweaked this one to perfection.  it's a "no-fail" recipe if followed to the "T".  i did as suggested and the cake turned out absolutely delicious,

i know everybody probably has their favorite ginger bread cake recipe that their Grandmother used to make at X-mas, BUT you really should try this one just for kicks

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY WORLD'S BEST CAKE RECIPES IN YOUR ARSENAL...

WORLD'S BEST GINGER BREAD CAKE

found at The English Kitchen by Marie Rayner

copied for your convenience below

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 1 /2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

8 1/2 ounces of plain flour (2 cups)

2 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

10 fluid ounces of boiling water (1 1/4 cups)

2 fluid ounces of dark treacle

4 fluid ounces of Golden Syrup

(you may use 6 ounces of mild molasses instead (3/4 cup)...I USED MOLASSES

3/4 tsp baking soda

6 Tbsp butter, softened

5.6 ounces of dark brown sugar (3/4 cup, packed)

1 large egg at room temp.

preheat oven to 350 F.  butter and flour a 9 inch square baking tin...set aside

I USED AN 8 INCH SQUARE AND FILLED 1 SILICON MUFFIN CUP

add the treacle and syrup, OR molasses to the boiling water along with the baking soda.  set aside and let cool to room temperature.

cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy with an electric whisk (i used the paddle attachment).  beat the egg with a fork and then beat it into the butter mixture a little at a time.  whisk together the flour, spices, baking powder and salt...set aside.  On low speed add the cooled water syrup (or molasses) mixture to the creamed mixture.  stir (low speed mixer w/paddle attachment)in the dry ingredients only to blend.  pour into the prepared baking tin.

bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until well risen and the tops springs back when lightly touched, or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  i always do the toothpick test.

this cake is fabulous on it's own, but Marie suggests serving with a Spiced Lemon Sauce (found here with the original)...sound divine, BUT i was lazy and didn't have a lemon in the house so i simply went to the cupboard and whipped out some caramel sauce.  oh boy...that worked !