Traditional Christmas Gingerbread

Season’s Greetings

The essence of Christmas is in the “giving” gesture.Its not always that we have an “occasion” to give.Many people invisibly keep helping,giving and sacrificing for their loved and the needy ones which makes them quite an angel.We make these treats to share them with those who can neither afford to buy nor make and by doing so gladden and satisfy many a heart!

When the snow falls ever so gently so that the lovely flakes envelop whatever is there on the ground with their pure white glistening sheen,the mind craves warmth.Its especially very comforting having something flavourful and filled with spices with a hot drink(not forgetting the christmas “spirits” which come out of forgotten vintage bottles,casks and jars).The idea of a warmth giving cake appeals to everyone and Gingerbread is THE perfect cake to be had on such occasions.Apart from being an eternal favourite on the Christmas Menu,it gives the soul satisfaction of having eaten something good and in fact made with one of the most beneficial spices and the most famous root – Ginger.

However before starting let me clear the concepts.As this cake is prepared primarily in the West,we may not get those specific ingredients in India.I am therefore substituting ingredients we get readily for people to make it easily and its the same flavour guaranteed.

NOTES

So these are the ingredients which may not be available here:

1.UNSULPHURED MOLASSES – This is a by product obtained from distilling sugar.A wonderful substitute would be Jaggery/Gur which is more or less exact in taste like Molasses.For this recipe heat 1/2 cup powdered Jaggery and 2 tbsp water on very low heat and make a thick syrup.Strain and use this in the recipe.Take dark coloured Jaggery if possible.

2.GOLDEN SYRUP – This is quite easily obtained in metropolitan cities and even on websites online.Corn syrup and honey could be substituted but if you do not have any of them then you can omit this ingredient.

3.MIXED SPICE – This is also called “Pudding Spice” in the UK!You can prepare this lovely powder at home as it gives wonderful taste to Christmas sweet treats.For this you need to have a pre-mixed powder called Allspice readily available in stores as well as online.Google has a wonderful recipe for Mixed Spice and I tried this no fail mix for wonderful tasting Gingerbread and Cookies.These are the ingredients:

1 Tbs ground Allspice – Available as a premixed powder

1 Tbs ground Cinnamon – Dalchini powder

1 Tbs ground Nutmeg – Jaiphal Powder

2 tsp ground Mace – Javitri Powder

1 tsp ground Cloves – Laung Powder

1 tsp ground Coriander – Dhania Powder

1 tsp ground Ginger – Sonth Powder

In case you do not have Allspice,then use the other powders.The predominant flavour comes from Cinnamon and does not matter if you omit Allspice!The cake will still taste delicious!

Mix the powdered spices in a clean and dry glass jar and use as required.

4.STEM GINGER IN SYRUP – This item is commonly found in the West and consists of sliced Ginger in an absolutely delicious syrup.I found this in a big supermarket and got it without a second thought for the decoration.However you can use Ginger Candy chopped very fine which is available in so many places in India.You can do without that as well as Gingerbread is traditionally served with Icing sugar on top.

Even without Icing sugar the cake tastes divine!

SOME MORE TIPS

Bake the cake at 160C all the time.Do not increase the temperature as this might crisp up the cake and blacken it!
Baking Soda is used in traditional Gingerbread.
The more the cake is stored for maturation,the better the flavours would develop.Best to keep the cake for 15 days – 1 month in an airtight container – Tupperware or Glass.You can feed it at intervals with 1 tbsp Brandy,Rum or syrup from preserved fruits.Or you can add 2 tsp water to 1 tbsp honey and spoon over the cake to moisten it.Do the moistening once a week.
Do not immerse or soak the cake in any syrup or liquid as it will fall apart.The syrup is used only for moistening and not soaking the cake.
Apart from Icing Sugar and Stem Ginger in Syrup which I used,the following can be used to decorate the cake:

a) Sugar Icing

b) Fondant

c) Christmas Sprinkles – Golden and Silver

d) Gold Dust

e) Buttercream with Ginger essence and chopped candied Ginger

f) Only Icing Sugar

The options are endless..:)

So lets make this cake today!

Preparation Time : 1 hour 15 minutes

Makes : One 7 inch square cake

Maturation Time : 15 days – 1 month

INGREDIENTS

250 gms plain flour(maida)

1 tsp Soda Bicarb

1 1/2 tsp dry Ginger Powder(Sonth)

1 tsp Ground Mixed Spice∗(See Notes)

115 gms butter

115 gms brown sugar

150 gms golden syrup

2 tbsp Unsulphured Molasses∗(See Notes)

2 large eggs – beaten

2 tbsp milk

To serve:

Stem Ginger in Syrup(optional)

Icing Sugar (optional)

METHOD

Preheat Oven to 160C and prepare a 7 inch square or 8 inch round cake pan.

Sift flour,soda bicarb,ginger powder and mixed spice in a large bowl.

Take a saucepan and put the butter,sugar and golden syrup in it.Melt the butter on the lowest heat possible and keep stirring with a wooden spatula at the same time.Melt the butter completely so that it mixes with the other ingredients and take off heat.Cool for 10 minutes.

Stir into the bowl of flour and spices and mix well.Add eggs and molasses and beat well.There would be a lovely dark brown colour owing to the molasses and the mixture would have a heavenly aroma.

Spoon into the prepared cake pan and thump the pan on a flat surface or the floor to break any air bubbles.Bake for 1 – 1 hour 15 minutes till well risen.

The cake well risen just out of the oven…

Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes and then cool on a wire rack to room temperature.

Cooling the cake to room temperature…

Use either immediately or better still keep for a fortnight for the cake to take on a super delicious flavour.

For serving:

Cut the cake into neat squares.Take a small sieve and add 2 tsp Icing Sugar.Stir the sugar with a spoon to sprinkle snow white sugar over the cake squares.Garnish with a slice of Stem Ginger in Syrup.Serve!Merry Christmas!