Today is my first post for #TwelveLoaves. And I couldn't be more excited. I get to share my grandmother's recipe for gingerbread. Every year around Christmas, my grandma would bake dozens of cakes and deliver them to all of her friends and my granddad's work colleagues. My mom likes to tell the story of how she and her two siblings would be buckled in the backseat of the car, all bundled up in their winter's best, each with a cake on their lap.
My grandma isn't with us anymore, but I get to carry on the tradition tenfold by sharing her recipe for gingerbread on my blog and adding my own twist on it with a light lemon buttercream icing. It's like a flat icing because it doesn't have to be whipped, but it accent's grandma's gingerbread with fresh lemon juice and freshly grated lemon zest. The gingerbread loaf itself is dark from molasses and spicy from ground AND fresh ginger. The fresh ginger is my addition, too. Every time I post a recipe, I try to do my grandma proud and I think she'd be proud of this one. Especially since it's hers.
I love you, grandma xo
#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Cake Duchess and run with the help of Heather of girlichef, which operates smoothly with the help of our bakers.
Our host this month is Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake, and our theme is Holiday Breads. For more bread recipes, visit the #TwelveLoaves Pinterest board, or check out last month’s mouthwatering selection of #TwelveLoaves Pumpkin Breads.
If you’d like to add your bread to this month's #TwelveLoaves collection, here’s what you need to do:
Post your Twelve Loaves bread on your blog, making sure to mention the Twelve Loaves challenge in your blog post (this helps us to get more members as well as share everyone's posts).
Please link your post to the linky tool at the bottom of this blog. The bread MUST meet the Twelve Loaves theme (enter theme).
Share your Twelve Loaves bread (must be baked and posted this month) on your blog by enter the last day of the month.
Grandma's Gingerbread with Lemon Icing
Yield: 2 loaves
Author: Nikki Miller-Ka of Nik Snacks
Today is my first post for #TwelveLoaves. And I couldn't be more excited. I get to share my grandmother's recipe for gingerbread. Every year around Christmas, my grandma would bake dozens of cakes and deliver them to all of her friends and my granddad's work colleagues. My mom likes to tell the story of how she and her two siblings would be buckled in the backseat of the car, all bundled up in their winter's best, each with a cake on their lap. My grandma isn't with us anymore, but I get to carry on the tradition tenfold by sharing her recipe for gingerbread on my blog and adding my own twist on it with a light lemon buttercream icing. It's like a flat icing because it doesn't have to be whipped, but it accent's grandma's gingerbread with fresh lemon juice and freshly grated lemon zest. The gingerbread loaf itself is dark from molasses and spicy from ground AND fresh ginger. The fresh ginger is my addition, too. Every time I post a recipe, I try to do my grandma proud and I think she'd be proud of this one. Especially since it's hers. I love you, grandma xo
Ingredients
Gingerbread
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 Tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cardamom
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
1 cup dark molasses
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
1 cup very hot water
Lemon Icing
2 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Finely grated lemon zest
Instructions
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two (8 x 4) loaf pans.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat together butter, molasses, sugar, eggs, and fresh ginger with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until smooth, then add hot water and mix until combined.
Pour batter into pans and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool to warm in pan on a rack.
When loaves are completely cool, stir together heavy cream, powdered sugar, butter, lemon juice and lemon zest in a small bowl. Pour icing over cooled loaves. Cut and serve or wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator.
Calories
2608.96
Fat (grams)
141.61
Sat. Fat (grams)
87.75
Carbs (grams)
321.24
Fiber (grams)
5.46
Net carbs
315.78
Sugar (grams)
217.35
Protein (grams)
24.29
Sodium (milligrams)
2793.70
Cholesterol (grams)
564.50
Please consult a healthcare professional or dietician about nutritional needs for your diet. I am a communications professional, not a physician.
Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.
Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
Welcome to Twelve Loaves! I think ginger and lemon go so well together and may have to bake a few of these loaves to share with neighbors this Christmas. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Nikki! I love this post! I love how you are honoring your grandma's memory and carrying on the tradition. Your description, too, of your mom sitting in the backseat holding the gingerbread is precious, too =) AND I love this recipe with your addition of the lemon ginger accented topping =)
I'm sorry your Grandma isn't with us anymore but I'm sure if she knew that you're keeping her tradition alive, she'd be so, so proud! I love the addition of lemon icing - I wish I could grab a slice and dig in!!
Beautiful bread Nikki! The holidays are not the same without gingerbread! I think you did your grandmother proud. I especially love your addition of fresh ginger as well. And lemon icing...don't even get me started! : )
This is stunning. I love recipes that have strong family connections. As someone who has lost both her parents and all her grandparents I really value family recipes and traditions. So sorry your grandmother is no longer with us, but she gets to live on through you. That's pretty special.
How lovely to have you join along with the #TwelveLoaves bakers. Welcome. I'm a huge gingerbread fan and your recipe looks lovely...especially with that lemon glaze! YUM! Renee - Kudos Kitchen
#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Cake Duchess and run with the help of Heather of girlichef, which operates smoothly with the help of our bakers.
Our host this month is Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake, and our theme is Holiday Breads. For more bread recipes, visit the #TwelveLoaves Pinterest board, or check out last month’s mouthwatering selection of #TwelveLoaves Pumpkin Breads.
Now this was worth waiting for!! I can never resist anything ginger...and your loaf looks divine!!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite gingerbread recipe also uses lemon icing, so I know I'd adore this! Welcome to #twelveloaves, Nik!
ReplyDeleteAren't our grandmother's recipes just he best?? Love this one!
ReplyDeleteI love all things gingerbread!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Twelve Loaves! I think ginger and lemon go so well together and may have to bake a few of these loaves to share with neighbors this Christmas. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
ReplyDeleteNikki! I love this post! I love how you are honoring your grandma's memory and carrying on the tradition. Your description, too, of your mom sitting in the backseat holding the gingerbread is precious, too =) AND I love this recipe with your addition of the lemon ginger accented topping =)
ReplyDeleteLove the history behind the recipe. Makes it even more special! Delish!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your Grandma isn't with us anymore but I'm sure if she knew that you're keeping her tradition alive, she'd be so, so proud! I love the addition of lemon icing - I wish I could grab a slice and dig in!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bread Nikki! The holidays are not the same without gingerbread! I think you did your grandmother proud. I especially love your addition of fresh ginger as well. And lemon icing...don't even get me started! : )
ReplyDeleteWelcome to 12 Loaves, and what an excellent debut!!What a wonderful tribute to your grandmother =)
ReplyDeleteThis is stunning. I love recipes that have strong family connections. As someone who has lost both her parents and all her grandparents I really value family recipes and traditions. So sorry your grandmother is no longer with us, but she gets to live on through you. That's pretty special.
ReplyDeleteAww! Grandma recipes are the best! I'm sure your grandma would be so proud that you're carrying on her recipes.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have you join along with the #TwelveLoaves bakers. Welcome. I'm a huge gingerbread fan and your recipe looks lovely...especially with that lemon glaze! YUM!
ReplyDeleteRenee - Kudos Kitchen
That's great that you carry on your grandma's tradition. :) This looks like a fantastic recipe to do so with!
ReplyDeletei would love to try this recipe!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love gingerbread, really? I can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious. And perfect for this time of year. Can't wait to try.
ReplyDeleteGingerbread and lemon curd are a favorite pair for our family! I will definitely try this combination. Thanks for sharing with #twelveloaves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift to deliver to friends and family!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently gingerbread and molasses obsessed! Love the topping on this bread...yum!
ReplyDeleteI just got stocked up on molasses! This bread looks so good!
ReplyDelete