Ginger has proven medicinal value, and I have been using it as a base for tea, with Indian basil/tulsi, for my flu ridden husband. Have also made a ginger-honey concoction for the family to heal the cough. I’ve really taken a long shot at it of late, and am very much enjoying using it. Winter means all hearty, spicy and full of warm wholesome flavour. This Ginger cake from David Lebovitz promises all this and much more. It satisfies a deep craving for that something which winter demands, as do these cookies I found at BHG Holiday Cookies.
Fresh Ginger Cake
adapted from recipe by David Lebovitz from “Room for Dessert”
Ingredients:
4 ounces fresh ginger
1/2 cup mild molasses (or 1 cup molasses, and omit the honey)
1/2 cup honey (I used honey because I had just 1/2 a cup of molasses)
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil, preferably peanut
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves ( I ground whole cloves with a little sugar & sifted them with the flour)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup water
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs, at room temperature
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 9 by 3-inch round cake pan or a 9 1/2 inch spring form pan with a circle of parchment paper.
Cool the cake for at least 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Remove the cake from the pan and peel off the parchment paper.
Chocolate Gingerbread Drops
Adapted from BHG Holiday Cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup gur/jaggery (or molasses)
1 tbsp honey (omit if using molasses)
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dried tart red cherries
2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Method:
Makes 36 cookies.
Merry Christmas…and happy baking!
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I've never used fresh ginger in baking, but it sounds like a great idea! The cake sounds great, especially with orange and cream.
Oh these look wonderful, and making me hungry! The photos are also fabulous…
I absolutely LOVE ginger cake, it's one of my favourites, especially when it's a bit sticky. I like all your festive ribbons in these pictures too. xx
Looks real nice, Deeba.
Bonjour Deeba! The ginger cake looks so divine. A really great post, your love of baking comes across so beautifully!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Ginger cookies are so delicious. I never had ginger cake though. Got to try this out one day soon.
Love your pics.
4 ounches of ginger, no wonder you are in a ginger high. Love the cake.
Why is there 1/2 cup when it is mild molase and 1 cup when it is molases.
It all looks divine and perfect for the holiday season Deeba.
Beautiful! I love ginger. Fresh, powdered, candied.. every way.
So perfect for the season too.
Looks great and beautiful photos. I love ginger and fresh tulci in chai.
Two wonderful recipes. The cake really intrigues me. I really like David Lebovitz and I love the flavours you've used.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
*kisses* HH
Everything looks wonderful Deeba! Your photos are stunning as usual
Oh, I want the cookies and the cake! Of course, it looks like I'll be fighting Rudolph for the pictures. He's eying them pretty closely. Merry Christmas, Deeba!
Beautiful cake and cookies! My stomach is grumbling just looking at them =D.
That cake looks so luscious! Nice cookies too! Yummy!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love flavor of molasses and spicing it up with ginger makes a tasty combination. Everything looks so delicious and festive.
Mimi
I can't begin to describe how much I LOVE ginger. This cake is for me. Ginger cake, ginger, cookies, ginger, tea, gingerbeer, candied ginger – it's all good:-)
So much inspiration… I love ginger so much in everything from savory to sweets. These are some great recipes!
A hates ginger
I shall make this for my birthday!
can i use sugar instead of molasses ?
Gorgeous photos as always,Deeba. I've never baked with fresh ginger but I would love to try this cake for the holidays. I do so love your site. I hope you and your family have wonderful holidays, and a great 2010!
bookmarked it.. Deeba, one doubt.. r both molasses n jaggery the same? the internet got me confused. In kerala, we have "sharkkara" for jaggery n there is another thing called "karuppetti". Wonder if that is molasses. am sure the malayalam words sound Greek n Roman to you…, but if u can help me with molasses n jaggery, then I can take it up from there. Even I have a thing for ginger.. i try to tweak ginger in most of my veg n nonveg stuff n of course in some fruit extracts too.. also have my own patch of ginger shoots just like any other kerala home.
Happy Holidays Deeba
taratootatoo I'm loving it!!! I think i might squeeze this one in before I go see the in-laws and make it for them… I know they'd love it, too! Great pictures!
Wonderful Deeba! I love the warmth of ginger too. The ginger cakes looks amazing.
Woohoo! Awesome baked treats! I love ginger everything – fresh, dried, pickled.. That cake especially looks like a must try!
Deeba these look fantastic, and is lovely and soooo Christmas, I love Christmas too Deeba, send you huggs and kisses and hope you have a wonderful and beautiful Holidays, hugggs gloria
Ginger is so perfect at Christmas time… wonderful recipes!
What a delicious cake and yummy cookies! I love using ginger this time of year too. Love your festive ribbons as well
Ginger truly is the smell of Christmas. Your food styling and photography is incredible, Deeba! Everything looks so delicious.
deeba, very nice, you do like ginger dont you? i remember seeing some crystallised ginger in one of your earlier posts. we grow ginger on our family farm in kerala and my mum always has bottles of crystallised ginger waiting for us when we visit. loved the use of gur in cookies, i am going to try making these.
Just finishing the last of our ginger cake, so I know its yummy, but these cookies sound outrageous! Delicious Deeba! And beautiful pics as usual, too. Hugs!
I adore ginger at any time of year – there's not a lot I wouldn't eat it with. I believe that I need to try that ginger cake immediately.
I love that you dressed up your delicious desserts for Christmas! I haven't tried fresh ginger in baking. What a wonderful idea!
I always love coming to your site, Deeba. Your dishes are all delicious. I adore ginger – especially at Christmas time. I must try this cake!
Thanks for the cake recipe. I substituted sugar and molasses with agave nectar and oil with apple sauce and the cake was very tasty!!!
-Bharathi
Wow what an endorsement for a cake! I feel like I should make this straight away and hubby would be ever so grateful so I should just thank you now in advance hehe.
Mmmm, I *love* giner, so these recipes have my name all over them! Beautiful.