Description
This is a classic British style gingerbread - super gooey, deliciously tender and subtly spicy - but with a pumpkin-spice twist that's perfect for fall.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooking molasses
- 1/2 cup golden syrup
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Line a lightly buttered 9"x12" baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized saucepan set over low heat, combine the molasses, sugar, golden syrup, butter and water. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool until just barely warm to the touch.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, salt and cloves.
- Pour the cooled molasses mixture into a second large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Add pumpkin, milk and vanilla extract, and stir until completely combined. Lastly, add the dry ingredients, stirring just until the mixture comes together (the batter will look fairly runny and a little lumpy, but resist the urge to add more flour or to continue stirring - this is exactly how it's supposed to look).
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 55-60 minutes, or until the top is springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out with a moist crumb. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using the parchment and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed, perhaps with a generous dollop of whipped cream if you're thusly inclined.
Notes
Choosing the Right Molasses: I originally tested this recipe using cooking molasses, a blend of blackstrap and fancy molasses, which gives the gingerbread a slightly deeper, darker flavour. However, you can also use fancy molasses for a lighter flavour. Just avoid pure blackstrap molasses - based on reader feedback, they're very overpowering.
What's Golden Syrup? This classic British ingredient is one of the holdovers of Canada's colonial past. You'll usually find it in larger grocery stores near the maple syrup and honey in the breakfast area or next to the molasses in the baking section, though sometimes it also pops up in the International Aisle along with other British imports. In a pinch, golden corn syrup makes a pretty decent substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Category: Dessert