Gingerbread (from King Arthur Flour)

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon clove
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup crystallized ginger, diced (optional)

Recipe

• 1 grease and flour a 9" square pan. preheat the oven to 350°f
• 2 in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
• 3 melt the butter in a heatproof measuring cup. add the molasses to the cup, and pour into the dry ingredients in the bowl, mixing to moisten.
• 4 add the water, stirring until everything is moistened. whisk together the egg and buttermilk. stir into the batter until it's evenly combined. stir in the crystallized ginger.
• 5 pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cake just begins to pull away from the edge of the pan.
• 6 remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 15 minutes before slicing; gingerbread is best served warm with whipped cream or ice cream.