Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze

Even though the calendar doesn’t confirm it, winter has definitely arrived in north Georgia! This morning’s temperature was about 25 degrees with a good wind making it feel more like 13. Brrrr…..

The only good thing about cold weather at this time of the year is that it puts everyone in the Christmas spirit. All our tastiest cold weather recipes start making appearances. Soups, chilis and stews. Hot cocoa. Mulled wine. And spicy, warm, fragrant gingerbread. The fragrance of gingerbread baking is just delightful as the cinnamon, cloves and ginger fill the house with holiday cheer. The spices used in gingerbread are truly ancient. There have been volumes written about its origins and most experts feel sure it originated in the middle east. I think, considering the spices involved, that conclusion makes sense.

My gingerbread recipe is probably most similar to British gingerbreads. It’s moist, cakey and very pungent from the molasses. The spices give it a warm feel in the mouth and the lemon glaze adds just the right amount of tart sweetness.

1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened

½ cup sugar

1 cup molasses

1 egg

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

1 cup hot water

Cooking Spray

Lemon Glaze (recipe follows) 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Beat the margarine or butter at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add the sugar, beating well. Add the molasses and egg and beat until well combined. 

Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.

Add the flour and spice mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with water, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. 

Pour the batter into a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes. I use a skewer to make holes all over the gingerbread and then pour the warm lemon glaze all over the top.

Serve immediately.

 Lemon Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Grated rind of one lemon

Juice of one lemon

1 tsp. water

½ tsp. vanilla extract 

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until warm.

Enjoy!

Download a printable copy of Old-Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze.

Other recipes for Gingerbread you might like from around the internet: