Delia Smith Gingerbread Cake Food

PRESERVED GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Begin by placing the opened tin of black treacle in a saucepan of barely simmering water to warm it and make it easier to spoon. Meanwhile sift the flour and baking powder into a roomy mixing bowl, lifting the sieve quite high to give the flour a good airing as it goes down, then add the butter, golden caster sugar, eggs, treacle and ground ginger. Now, using an electric hand whisk, combine them for about 1 minute until you have a smooth creamy consistency. After that fold in the milk, along with the heaped tablespoon of ground almonds and the ginger syrup. Then chop 5 of the pieces of stem ginger fairly small and fold these into the cake mix too. Spread the cake mix in the tin, level it off with the back of a tablespoon and bake for 40-50 minutes near the centre of the oven or until the cake is risen, springy and firm to the touch in the centre. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift the cake out of the tin using the liner and place it on a wire rack. Then, holding the liner at one end, use a palette knife to slide the cake directly onto the rack, and leave until cold. For the icing: sift the icing sugar into a bowl and mix with enough lemon juice to make the consistency of thin cream. Spread the icing over the top of the cake, and never mind if it dribbles down the side in a few places - it looks nice and homemade. Cut the remaining 2 pieces of stem ginger into 15 pieces and arrange in lines of three across the cake. Watch our Cookery School Video for Layering and Icing Cakes on this page. For serving, cut the cake into 15 squares.

DAMP GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• First weigh out the syrup into a small saucepan, it helps to place the opened tin in a pan of barely simmering water for 5 minutes to make it easier to pour. Then weigh a saucepan on the scales, and weigh the syrup into it. Then add the butter to the saucepan and melt the two together over a gentle heat. Meanwhile measure the dry ingredients into a bowl, then gradually pour in the syrup mixture, mixing thoroughly. Now beat the egg and milk together in a separate basin then add that bit by bit, again mixing very thoroughly. The cake batter will seem very liquid at this stage but that's quite normal so don't worry, just pour it into the prepared tin and bake near the centre of the oven for about 50 minutes or until the centre is springy. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire tray to cool. When it's cold, cut it into squares and store in an airtight tin.

SUPER MOIST GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Melt butter and golden syrup, set aside.
• Into a large bowl, sift flours, bi-carb of soda, ginger, cinnamon,mixed spice and sugar. Stir to combine.
• Add eggs and milk. Beat well.
• Add melted butter and syrup and mix well to combine.
• Grease and line 2 loaf tins (approx 23cm x 12 cms). Divide mix evenly between the 2 tins.
• Bake in a moderate oven (180 deg C / 350 deg F) for about 50 mins or until top is golden brown and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
• Allow to cool in the tins for 10 mins before removing.

MARY BERRY'S GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• This mix makes enough to fill 2 x standard 7inch Victoria sandwitch tins or 1 x 10inch diameter tin. Grease and base line your tin(s) with baking paper; preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
• Gently heat the margarine, sugar and treacle together in a pan, stirring until smooth. Allow to cool a little.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour and ground spices. Pour in the treacle mix and stir thoroughly to combine. Mince the stem ginger finely and stir with the eggs into the mix.
• Warm the milk gently in a saucepan, stirring gently to avoid it burning at the base of the pan. Add the bicarb of soda and let it foam a little. Stir into the gingerbread mixture until well blended.
• Pour into the prepared tin(s).
• Baking time: for 2x 7 inch cakes is 25-30mins (bake both together). For 1x 10inch cake bake for approx 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• This cake keeps really well in an airtight tin, and actually improves over the first 2-3 days. Enjoy!