Gingerbread Recipe
Have you had Gingerbread from a real gingerbread recipe? Not a cookie, biscotti, house, or latte but real honest to god Gingerbread Cake Loaf?
Try this gingerbread cake recipe once and you’ll be converted
It’s indeed something worth baking up just for the scent of it baking. Your house will be fragrant with the wafting scent of ginger and molasses even after it’s done baking.
James Beard’s Gingerbread Cake Recipe
I found this recipe in the James Beard on Bread cookbook, if you haven’t read that book check it out. It’s very informative and as always you understand that James Beard was also a master storyteller too.
Sometimes referred to as Gingerbread Loaf Or Gingerbread Cake
It is like a cake but baked in a loaf pan. And sliced. So cake or loaf, it all works! I like the fact that you can slice because it makes for an easy way to send it in lunches.
About this Real Gingerbread Recipe:
- makes One 9×5 loaf, you can double it but it’s tricky mixing it like that
- yes the recipe is correct it doesn’t have any added granulated sugar (trust the process!)
- this gingerbread recipe uses dried ginger powder that you find in the spice aisle
- cut the butter in chunks small enough to melt quickly with the boiling water
- best eaten sliced with butter like banana bread but also good cold
Gingerbread Cake
This warm Gingerbread Cake or loaf was taste-tested by hungry teachers, who groaned and told me how their grandmother used to make something similar.
I’ve ALSO got this gorgeous Frosted Gingerbread Cake if that’s more your style!
This is a great gift to make and give to friends. I included it in my Big List of Handmade Homemade Edible Food Gifts. Check it out if you like to make and give non-cluttering gifts.
Light or Dark Molasses for Gingerbread?
For this recipe you want UNSULPHURED molasses, either light or dark will work. Light molasses is less flavorful and some people prefer that, Grandma’s is a light molasses. Dark has a deeper flavor so if you like that use it, Brer Rabbit is a dark molasses.
other recipes you’ll love!
Try this recipe for Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls! Perfect for Christmas morning or any other time you want a fun and festive breakfast!
Or if you love traditions and saints make these Santa Lucia Buns.
Gingerbread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup molasses
- 5 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt more if you use unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 cups flour
Instructions
- butter a 9×5 loaf pan
- preheat the oven to 375˚
- put molasses in a mixing bowl, cut the 5 Tablespoons of butter in chunks, and add it to the bowl
- add the 1/2 cup boiling water to the bowl and stir until the butter is melted
- mix the 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger together
- add to the molasses and stir, it will bubble up and get thick
- add 2 cups of flour and stir until it's smooth
- pour in the prepared loaf pan, bake for 30-35 minutes until the loaf bounces back when you poke it
- cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely OR slice it warm
Nutrition
- Old-Fashioned Chantilly Cake
- Banana Bread Dump Cake
- Nutella Stuffed Cookies
- Chocolate Pinecone Truffles
- Sugar Cookie Truffles
- Santa Meringues
- Chopped Pecan Pie
- Old-Fashioned Ritz Cracker Pie
I can’t belive how easy this recipe is! It takes literally 5 minutes to make and bakes up really quickly as well. The results are delicious. I like mine with a touch more ginger so I’m going to add a bit more next time. Thanks so much for sharing!
Yum!! Looks much easier than the recipe I used! Trying this ASAP!!
Enjoy this easy old fashioned Gingerbread! We LOVE it!
What type of flour do you use?
All-Purpose
I’ll edit it to reflect that
Can I use this recipe to make gingerbread cookies?
No this is a quick bread, not a cookie recipe.
Would oat would oat or other gluten free flours work in this recipe?
I have no idea! You’ll have to try it and see what happens!!
Am I missing something; is there no egg in this recipe?
nope there is no egg in it!
Can I use treacle instead of molasses?
Possible?? I’ve never baked with treacle.
If we’re making mini loaves vs one loaf, what would you recommend for baking time?
I might start at 15-20 minutes and see how they’re doing. The issue is if you open the oven too much the loaves can collapse. So it’s tricky. I wouldn’t open the door until the bread is done rising and it looks almost done. Once that happens then you can check for doneness.
Can I used GF flour instead?
Hi Laura,
Thank you for posting this recipe. I had to leave my Beard on Bread book behind when I moved abroad and didn’t make a copy of the recipe.
For Ruth, or anyone else in the UK, I can confirm you can replace the molasses with black treacle as it’s very similar to black strap molasses. I can also confirm the recipe doesn’t work with gluten-free flours as, without any eggs, gluten is the only binder.
No sugar? Is that an omission?
Nope. This doesn’t use any sugar, molasses only
Excellent recipe. Made exactly how the recipe read and it was amazing! I wouldn’t change a thing on this. I served it with butter and on some slices I served with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. Delish!
The ingredients say 1//2 salt more if you use unsalted butter. ** My question is ** 1/2 What. ?? The ingredient and the measurement is confusing. I don’t bake as much as I would like to. Can you clarify the exact ingredient and how much.?? I love Gingerbread any way I can get it. Lol. Thank you for any information. **
1/2 tsp
Can you use freshly ground ginger?
I never have tried that.