Dark Jamaican Gingerbread Food

JAMAICAN GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly butter loaf pan, line bottom with parchment or wax paper. Butter paper, dust pan with flour; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl cream butter, molasses, honey and brown sugar with electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition. Add sour cream, lemon zest and vanilla; beat to combine (it may separate slightly and look funny but don't worry).
• Sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Fold into batter with rubber spatula.
• Spread batter in prepared pan.
• Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 55-60 minutes. If using mini-loaf pans bake time about 30 minutes.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn out out of pan and peel off paper. If not serving immediately, cool completely before wrapping.
• If you wanted to gild the lily you could drizzle a lemon glaze over the top or frost with a cream cheese frosting or some good ole whipped cream would be marvelous.

DAMP JAMAICAN GINGERBREAD (ENGLISH RECIPE)

Steps:

• Line a buttered 2lb loaf tin with greaseproof paper and paint the paper with a little melted butter.
• My tin measures 6½ x 3¾ inches at the base and is 3 3/8 inches high.
• Do not use a smaller tin as the mixture rises above the rim of the tin.
• Measure the molasses, syrup, sugar and butter into a saucepan with ½ cup of water, gently heat on a medium/low flame and stir gently until thoroughly melted and blended.
• Don't let it boil!
• If it gets very hot, allow the mixture to cool slightly.
• Sift the flour, and spices into a large bowl.
• Mix the baking soda with the milk and set aside.
• Next add the syrup mixture to the flour and spices, a little at a time and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth with no flour lumps.
• Beat in the eggs a little at a time.
• Add the baking soda and milk.
• Pour the mixture into the tin and bake in the center of oven at 325 F convection (300 F fan assisted) for 1 to 1¼ hours, until it's well risen and firm to the touch.
• Allow to cool for 5 or 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• Once cool, put into a tin for 24 hours then enjoy.

JAMAICAN GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• 1. You will need 2 large bowls. The contents of the liquid ingredients bowl will be stirred into the dry ingredient bowl.
• 2. Bowl #1: Flour, baking powder, allspice, Jamaican ginger, baking soda, and salt. Stir to blend well.
• 3. Bowl #2: melted butter, molasses, evaporated milk, dark brown sugar, beaten eggs. Mix together thoroughly.
• 4. Add to liquid mixture the chopped cystallized ginger.
• 5. Add to liquid mixture sprinkling of grated ginger root. This ingredient gives a "kick" - it is optional.
• 6. Stir the liquid mixture into the dry mixture. Stir well.
• 7. Loaf Pans: pour mixture into 2 9x5x3 loaf pans. Bake 350 for 40-45 minutes - center rack. Important to watch carefully at about 30 minutes, as this gingerbread should NOT be overbaked. It is helpful to place a pan of water on the rack below the center baking rack.
• 8. Muffins: Pour into about 44 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes - center rack. It is helpful to place a pan of water on the rack below the center baking rack.
• 9. Cool completely. Refrigerate/freeze for minimum of 48 hours to ripen ginger. Best if ripened at least a week. Freezes beautifully.