4.9 from 462 votes
Gingerbread
A timeless, classic, traditional Gingerbread recipe that makes for a dense but soft, moist, and richly flavored cake, perfectly flavored with molasses, brown sugar, and lots of cozy spices! Be sure to check out the how-to video!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 9 large slices
Calories: 383 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (preferably European-style butter, if you can find it) softened to room temperature (may substitute vegetable shortening)
- ½ cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 cup unsulphured molasses (do NOT use blackstrap molasses -- check the back of your bottle/ingredients to make sure it is not blackstrap)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- Whipped Cream for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9"x9" (23x23cm) metal baking pan by either generously greasing and flouring or by lining with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy.
- Add molasses and stir until well combined.
- Add egg and vanilla extract. Stir well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet until completely combined.
- Carefully stir in boiling water until ingredients are smooth and well-combined.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake in the center rack of 350F (175C) preheated oven for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow to cool before slicing and serving. This Gingerbread tastes best when topped with whipped cream!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- My family always tops this recipe with a batch of my homemade whipped cream, but many people also enjoy it topped with warm lemon curd!
- Store in an airtight container (or tightly covered in the pan it was baked in) at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Note: This recipe has been one my family has used since I was a child and has been closely adapted from Good Housekeeping (affiliate).
Nutrition Information
Serving
1slice
Calories
383kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
67g
(22%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
48mg
(16%)
Sodium
405mg
(17%)
Potassium
618mg
(18%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
40g
(80%)
Vitamin A
346IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
102mg
(10%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 9large slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 383
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 383kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 67g | 22% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 48mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 405mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 618mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 40g | 80% |
| Vitamin A | 346IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 102mg | 10% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.