Bold and Spicy Gingerbread With a Kick

Found this recipe in Cook's Illustrated Holiday Baking Book and I LOVE spicy gingerbread so this is going to be the center piece of my Holiday table. It states that Stout beer and hefty dose of spices, including black pepper, invest this cake with a complex, robust flavor. 4 teaspoons of fresh grated ginger adds an unmistakable element that dried spices can't muster. As for the glaze, ginger-ale lends a robust flavor but an equal amount of orange or lemon juice can be substitued for it.
- Ready In:
- 1hr 15mins
- Serves:
- Yields:
- Units:
2
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ingredients
-
CAKE
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 2 1⁄2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus extra for pan
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons grond ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
- 4 teaspoons ginger, fresh, grated
- 1⁄4 cup dark molasses
- 3⁄4 cup stout beer, such as Guinness
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GLAZE
- 1 3⁄4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons ginger ale
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
directions
-
CAKE:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Grease and flour 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
- Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat until bubbling.
- Stir in ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Whisk eggs, sugar, and fresh ginger in large bowl until light and frothy.
- Stir in melted butter mixture, molasses and stout until incorporated.
- Whisk flour mixture into egg mixture until no lumps remain.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and gently tap pan on countertop to release any trapped air bubbles.
- Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
- Cool cake in pan 20 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet and let cool completely.
-
GLAZE:
- Whisk confectioners' sugar, ginger ale, and ginger in bowl until smooth.
- Pour glaze over cooled cake.
- Let glaze set 15 minutes.
- Serve.
- Cake can be stored at room temperature, covered in plastic wrap, for 2 days.
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RECIPE MADE WITH LOVE BY
@Bonnie G 2
Contributor
@Bonnie G 2
Contributor
"Found this recipe in Cook's Illustrated Holiday Baking Book and I LOVE spicy gingerbread so this is going to be the center piece of my Holiday table. It states that Stout beer and hefty dose of spices, including black pepper, invest this cake with a complex, robust flavor. 4 teaspoons of fresh grated ginger adds an unmistakable element that dried spices can't muster. As for the glaze, ginger-ale lends a robust flavor but an equal amount of orange or lemon juice can be substitued for it."
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I got this recipe from my local paper before Christmas. I love ginger and cinnamon and I especially love a good solid gingerbread cake. This is, by far, the best tasting cake I’ve ever had. It takes me back to my old English roots...lol...I think it’s in my blood and genes. One interesting thing is how much my dog loves this ginger cake. He is very old and recently he was refusing breakfast. I tried giving him a piece of this and he loved it. It’s full of ginger, cinnamon-both good as anti inflammatories-and there’s molasses-high in iron. He needs something on his stomach for morning meds. So now he has this and eats normal for the rest of the day. The recipe is easy and the cake bakes up beautifully. I slice it, freeze it and it takes just a minute to thaw. A perfect cake and I thank you. Sincerely Barb HyttenrauchReply
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Found this recipe in Cook's Illustrated Holiday Baking Book and I LOVE spicy gingerbread so this is going to be the center piece of my Holiday table. It states that Stout beer and hefty dose of spices, including black pepper, invest this cake with a complex, robust flavor. 4 teaspoons of fresh grated ginger adds an unmistakable element that dried spices can't muster. As for the glaze, ginger-ale lends a robust flavor but an equal amount of orange or lemon juice can be substitued for it.