Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TWD: Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

I was really excited when I saw this recipe. Chocolate? YUM! Ginger? YUM! Chocolate and ginger? YUMYUMYUM. This recipe did not disappoint.

My favorite ginger recipe of all time is for Double Gingersnaps. I've been making this cookie recipe for forever. I haven't ventured much into other ginger baked goods. There are three types of ginger in this recipe: fresh, powdered, and candied. The chocolate is in chunks in the cake, melted and added to the batter, and in the frosting on top.

This was a slightly fussy recipe. Only slightly, though. The fresh ginger needed to be chopped fine and mixed with some sugar (1). The dry ingredients needed to be mixed together (2). The chocolate had to be melted (3). The chocolate that wasn't melted had to be chopped (4). Then all of the components eventually had to be mixed together (5). Plus there was the baking pan. That's SIX cooking vessels for one recipe. Thank goodness the husband does the dishes! (Thanks, Honey! Love you!)

Anyway, I followed the recipe as written, except I didn't put the cake on a baking sheet. That usually messes with my baking. The house smelled wonderful as it was baking and for quite a while after.

This was baked in a 9-inch square pan. Dorie advises turning the cake out on to a rack to cool and then flipping it over to ice. I didn't even bother. I had a lovely square cake bottom looking up at me. After it was cooled, I made the icing. It was much more glaze-like. (tangent -- what's the difference between frosting/icing/glaze?) This was EASY icing to make. As a matter of fact, I think this is my new go-to glaze for things like tube or Bundt cakes.

I decided to put my cake right on the serving plate. Dorie noted that we might want to trim off any brown edges, and she cuts the cake into squares before serving. I did not. The icing had a lovely glossy sheen. I poured it on top and let it drip down the sides a little.



Here is a cross section of the newly sliced cake.



Here's my slice. Don't even think about trying to take it from me!



A slightly different view where you can see the icing.



We all really liked this cake. This is definitely a recipe that will be made again at our house. We were divided on the frosting, however. The boy and I liked the cake with the icing. The husband and the girl didn't mind it, but thought it might be better without. Or maybe with some sweetened whipped cream instead. Regardless, it didn't last long in my house. I'm glad we didn't cut off the brown edges. They were really good. Maybe I should have, and then I wouldn't have had to share.... Anyway, this cake gave us about 16 slices and not the nine that Dorie called for. Those would have been pretty big slices.

Thanks, Heather, of Sherry Trifle for picking such a great recipe. I'm glad to add another ginger recipe to my arsenal. Next week -- the world famous World Peace cookies. Looking forward to it!

37 comments:

Cristine said...

Your cake looks fantastic!

Sabrina said...

I hear ya about all the mixing bowls and steps!
But it was a good one to make...
Yours look wonderful!

chocolatechic said...

I doubled the icing.


It was fabulous.

Flourchild said...

Yep I agree lot's of step to get the finished product! Im glad you liked it your bread looks so good!

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Beautiful cake! I love the frosting on this and so did the rest of the fam. Double Gingersnaps sound delish too!

Unknown said...

Your gingerbread looks terrific. It looks so perfect. I am gonna have to make this. I love chocolate. Greatly done!

Marie Rayner said...

I loved this cake too! Yours looks fabulous! I did a vanilla buttercream frosting instead of the chocolate.

Anonymous said...

This recipe was soooo good and delicious. i'm glad you liked it too.

Jodie said...

I thought the frosting was pretty yummy, but then I never turn down chocolate frosting! :)

Anonymous said...

It didn't occur to me while I was baking but when I was finished I realized it was a fussy recipe. But very good. One of my tasters suggested whipped cream on top of the icing.

Tammy said...

your cake looks delicious. I loved it too

Peggy said...

looks very tasty and moist. Good job!

kimberly salem said...

it looks wonderful! glad you enjoyed it so much :)

Lauren said...

I'm glad you were happy with the results. I agree, it was a little bit fussy. Chocolate drippings look so tempting.

Anonymous said...

You are absolutely right...I should have made it and sent it over for you all as you love ginger so much! Next time. Great post.

Cooking for Comfort by Jennifer said...

I LOVED the icing on this cake! It was fantastic!

Your cake looks awesome!

Lillian said...

Looks good! And if you haven't had the World Peace cookies yet, you have a treat in store!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your gingerbread looks beautiful! Great job!

Unknown said...

Agreed on the dishes for this recipe....way too many, especially considering I do the dishes! Your cake looks wonderful and I'm glad you liked it.

Megan said...

I didn't bother with the icing - I think the cake was better without it.

But I agree - this was great no matter what, fussy steps and all.

Passionate Baker said...

looks great!!
great job!
<3

Anonymous said...

Great job on the gingerbread :)

The Food Librarian said...

Looks great! I'm glad you liked the recipe - I loved it. Your cake looks absolutely perfect.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I thought it was a bit fussy also, and didn't leave myself quite enough time to make it. My tasters were divided on whether the frosting was good on it or not. Actually my tasters were all over the ballpark on this cake. So glad you all loved it.
Nancy

Cathy said...

I am loving reading some posts from the "we love chocolate and gingerbread together!" contingent of TWD. Your gingerbread looks great -- so glad that you and your family enjoyed it!

Unknown said...

Glad you liked it - it looks delicious!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the comment. Your cake looks fantastic too! The other cake you made with the chocolate layers looks truly amazing!!

TeaLady said...

Looks really tasty. Nice job. And who says you HAVE to ice the TOP of the cake.

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

I'm so pleased you and your family enjoyed this cake. What about chocolate frosting and cream on top!

Cakelaw said...

Phwoar - your gingerbread looks super! Fight ya for your slice ...

Fit Chick said...

Nice looking cake! And I agree, the icing is wonderful. Ours didn't last long either, LOL.

Katrina said...

It looks awesome and tasted even better!

Babette said...

Jules, thanks for commenting over by me--I was late to the party (it was another Wednesday with Dorie)--I'm like you...loved that bittersweet chocolate topping...

Nice work.

B

margot said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your cake looks lovely.

betty geek said...

Your slice looks gooooooooood! I am thinking of taking it from you . . .

Jacque said...

I was surprised the instructions called for cutting it into 9 pieces. I cut mine into more than that also.

Glad you enjoyed it... I noticed people were split on the icing too.

LyB said...

Your cake looks so moist and delicious. Makes me wish I had some left! :)