Ginger Icing Cream Cheese Frosting With Candied Ginger Food

PARSNIP SHEET CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AND GINGER

Steps:

• Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan. Line with parchment paper, butter the parchment, then flour the pan, tapping out excess.
• Place the walnuts on a small baking sheet and toast until fragrant and turning golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Stir in the parsnips, raisins and walnuts.
• Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the top springs back when touched, the cake is turning brown around the edges, and a toothpick comes out dry, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack, peel off parchment, and let cool completely. When cooled, invert onto a serving platter.
• Prepare the frosting: Put the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a mixing bowl, if using a hand mixer). Cream the cream cheese until smooth, then add the butter, confectioners' sugar, maple syrup and vanilla. Beat until well combined and fluffy. Spread over the top of the cooled cake almost to the edges. Top with the candied ginger. The cake keeps well for several days at room temperature.

CARROT CAKE WITH GINGER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Let cool, then finely chop.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt onto a large piece of parchment (or into a medium bowl). Beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar and vegetable oil in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium high and add the eggs, one at a time; beat until light and smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the applesauce, orange zest and vanilla and beat until just smooth. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Add the carrots and 3/4 cup walnuts and beat until just combined.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then remove to the rack to cool completely; remove the parchment. (The cake layers can be made a day ahead; let cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap.)
• Make the frosting: Peel the ginger and grate onto a piece of cheesecloth. Wrap in the cheesecloth and squeeze the juice into a small bowl (you should get about 1 tablespoon). Add the orange juice and vanilla to the bowl. Beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in the juice mixture. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until smooth, about 2 more minutes.
• Place 1 cake layer on a platter, rounded-side down. Spread with 1 cup frosting, then top with the second cake layer, rounded-side down. Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting. Press the remaining walnuts into the sides of the cake. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

BASIC CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat softened butter and cream cheese until well blended.
• Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

BEET AND GINGER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch (20cm) square or round pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. In a small bowl, pour boiling water over the candied ginger and let it sit for 15 minutes. Drain the ginger and squeeze out as much of the excess water as possible.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the grated beets, orange zest, walnuts and candied ginger to the bowl, but do not stir in.
• Whisk together the eggs, sour cream, oil, and Fruit Fresh or vitamin C is a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients in the large bowl and use a spatula to mix the ingredients together, stirring just until thoroughly combined
• Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan, even the top, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. (Note: The original recipe in the book, which called for the cake to be baked in a round 8-inch/20cm pan, said to bake the cake for 50 to 55 minutes. So it may take longer in another pan, but you should begin checking it at the 30 minutes, or so, mark.)
• Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack, then remove the cake from the pan, peel off the parchment paper, and let cool completely.
• To frost the cake, beat the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or by hand in a large bowl, using a wooden spoon or spatula), until smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar until it's completely incorporated. Add the heavy cream and vanilla (or lemon zest) and beat for about 1 minute on high speed, until thickened. The frosting may seen rather soft, as mine was, but spread beautifully.
• Spread the frosting over the top of the cake.

CARROT-GINGER LAYER CAKE WITH ORANGE CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper and butter. Dust pans with flour and tap out any excess. Set aside. Spread pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan and toast in oven until lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand until completely cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Finely chop pecans and set aside.
• Place carrots, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, sugar, and ginger in a large bowl; mix until well combined.
• Into a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Using a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the carrot mixture until combined. Fold in the butter and toasted pecans.
• Divide batter between the two cake pans and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove pans from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; let stand until completely cool.
• Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes so surfaces are level. Place a layer on a cake stand or cardboard round and spread 3/4 cup frosting over top. Place the second cake layer on top and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of assembled cake. Transfer to refrigerator and chill 3 to 4 hours.
• For the candied carrot strips, set a wire rack over a baking pan. Using fingers, lift one candied carrot strip from the sugar syrup, holding it over the container. With the thumb and forefinger of your other hand, gently squeeze the carrot strip and slide your fingers along its length, removing as much excess syrup as possible; lay the carrot strip on the wire rack. Repeat with remaining carrot strips.
• Decorate cake with candied carrot strips as desired. Cut cake and serve.

BEET AND GINGER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spray and flour three (or four, depending on size of yours) mini-loaf pans. Put the ginger in a small bowl and cover with about 1/2 cup of boiling water. Set aside for about 15 minutes, then pour out the water and gently squeeze out the water. Pat dry.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the grated beets, orange zest, walnuts, candied ginger, and raisins to the bowl, but don't stir them in yet.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream and oil together, then pour the liquids over the dry ingredients. Stir the ingredients together, just until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• Spoon the batter evenly into the mini-loaf pans until about 1/4" from the rim. If you have more batter, use a couple more mini-loaf pans. Use the back of a spoon to even the tops.
• Bake the loaves for 25-35 minutes, checking at 25 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Place the pans on a rack and let cool for about 15 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges and turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
• For the cream cheese frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar until it's completely combined, then add one tablespoon of the heavy cream and the vanilla. Beat for about 1 minute until thickened and creamy. Add additional cream/milk if needed.

GINGER ICING (CREAM CHEESE FROSTING WITH CANDIED GINGER)

Steps:

• Beat the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth.
• Gradually beat in the powdered sugar.
• Add the candied ginger.
• Spread on top of a spice cake such as carrot, banana, pineapple, etc.
• Spread best when cake is still warm.
• Enough for a sheet cake to serve 9 or 12.

EASY FRUIT CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Grease and line a 9" x 4" loaf pan. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
• Add the warm water, milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat until thoroughly combined.
• Add half of the flour mixture, mix until combined, and then the remaining half. Do not overmix.
• Add in the candied peel and nuts, to taste.
• Fold the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• For the frosting, combine the cream cheese and powdered icing sugar for 2 minutes until smooth and light. Adjust the consistency with more powdered sugar or cream.

CARROT CAKE WITH GINGER MASCARPONE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚. Grease 2 (9-by-2-inch) round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper and grease and flour the pans.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, oil and eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, until light yellow and thickened. Stir in the vanilla. In another bowl, sift together the 2 cups of flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones.
• In a medium bowl, toss the carrots, raisins, walnuts and the 1 tablespoon of flour. Stir into the batter with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 10 minutes, lower the heat to 350˚ and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack and cool completely.
• Place one cake on a flat serving plate, rounded side down. Spread half the frosting on the top (not the sides). Place the second cake on top of the first cake, rounded side up. Frost just the top of the second cake. Sprinkle with the ginger and serve at room temperature.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the mascarpone, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, cream and vanilla together for about 1 minute, until light and fluffy. Add the crystallized ginger and salt and beat for 30 seconds more.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter or line with paper liners a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Cream 5 tablespoons of the butter with the white sugar. Add the molasses and the egg and egg yolk.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot milk. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the hot milk mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared tin.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes or until slightly springy to the touch. Allow to cool a few minutes in the pan and remove to a rack to cool.
• To Make Frosting: Cream the 2 tablespoons butter and the cream cheese together. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Add the lemon extract and beat. When the cupcakes are cool, frost the tops with the frosting and serve.

GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• For the cake: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and baking soda.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the molasses and hot water until fully combined. Whisk in the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into dry mixture and whisk just until no dry streaks are left (do not over mix).
• Spray a 13x9-inch cake pan with baking spray (or grease with butter). Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
• For the frosting: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer (or use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment) until fully combined, about 1 minute. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until combined. Beat in the lemon zest and continue beating until light and fluffy, 1 more minute. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Garnish with candied ginger and gold sparkling sugar, if desired.

GINGER-CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and ginger; beat until fluffy and smooth. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature, then beat until fluffy before using.)