There is a specific moment when it truly feels like the holidays. It isn’t when the lights go up on the eaves. Rather, it is the moment when the aroma of spices (such as ginger, cloves, and cinnamon) spreads through the air and fills the home with an aromatic ambiance.
The true spirit of Christmas is not in the presents that have been purchased, but in the experiences that are being created with family and friends. Our philosophy reflects the beauty and significance of handcrafted items , from the handcrafted, forged flatware created by artisans to the rustic element that comes with baking homemade bread. Each of these examples show the artistry of the creator through the use of their hands, time, and effort for a finished product to be enjoyed by others.
This season, we invite you to slow down and savor the rhythm of baking with this Gingerbread Loaf with a Tangy Lemon Glaze. Deeply spiced, incredibly moist, and brightened by citrus, it is the edible embodiment of a handcrafted holiday.
The Recipe
Yields One 9-inch loaf | Prep time: 20 mins | Bake time: 35-40 mins
The Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Ground Cloves
- 1 ¼ tsp Baking Soda
- ¾ tsp Salt
- ½ cup White Sugar
- ½ cup Dark Molasses (for that iconic rich color)
- ½ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Large Egg, beaten
- ½ cup Boiling Water (essential for blooming the spices)
For the Glaze
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- ¼ cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
Step-by-Step
- Prepare the Oven and Pan - The first step is to preheat the oven to 350°F (175° C) and add greased flour to your 9 x 5 baking pan. We recommend using Copper Measuring Spoons when preparing this recipe because they look so great with the festive dark spices.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients - In a glass or plastic bowl, whisk the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and salt together. Take a moment to inhale the aroma of this mix, this is a smell that perfectly defines winter warmth.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients - In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, molasses, oil and egg together until the mixture has the consistency of liquid onyx.
- Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients - Add the mixed wet ingredients to the mixed dry ingredients and gently combine with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- The Bloom - Carefully pour 1/2 cup boiling water into the batter and use a whisk to incorporate gently but firmly to ensure that the hot water dissolves the molasses and helps the spices release their oils, creating a thin and shiny batter.
- Bake - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool - Allow the loaf to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, and then glaze.
The Finishing Touch - Glazing and Serving
When the cake cools, whisk your glaze ingredients to a smooth texture and pour the glaze over the cake (top-down) to create a cascading effect on the sides of the cake. The contrasting colours of the white icing against the dark gingerbread will give your cake a rustic yet stunning look.
The way we plate food is as important (and, in fact, often more important) than actually cooking it. Transfer your iced gingerbread loaf onto one of Inox Artisan's Marble and Wood Serving Boards so that the cool white colour of the marble reflects the glaze colour, while the natural acacia wood contrastingly complements the rustic gingerbread.
When it comes to serving your cake, use an appropriately rustic-looking serving tool. We recommend the Sundance Cake Serving set due to its gorgeous hand-forged stainless steel handle with an antique copper finish that echoes the spice elements of this cake.
Cut your loaf into generous-sized slices and enjoy with a steaming cup of coffee, stirred with a Twig Copper Coffee Spoon. The Jason Pastry Forks, with their "new steel" handles, create a stark industrial contrast to the homey feel of your cake, providing a delightful play of texture on your palate.
We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do and that it becomes a part of your holiday traditions, bringing you back to the simple, handcrafted pleasures of life through flavours that please your senses.
