Gingerbread Pancakes With Icing Food

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a parchment round.
• Stir together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• Combine the brown sugar and butter in another large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined (it's fine if the mixture looks a little curdled).
• Stir the molasses into the boiling water in a large spouted measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat just until smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, invert the cakes onto the rack, then peel off and discard the parchment.
• For the frosting: Combine the butter and cream cheese in a clean mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioner's' sugar, beating until combined. Add the vanilla and gradually increase the speed to high. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed so the frosting is spreadable.
• Place one cake layer flat-side down on a cake stand or platter. Top with about 3/4 cup of the frosting, spreading almost to the edges using an offset spatula. Place the remaining cake layer on top, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting on the entire cake and smooth the top and sides with the offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake while you decorate the gingerbread cookies.
• For the decorations: Meanwhile, microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until just melted. (Alternatively, melt the chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; do not let bowl touch the water.) Let cool slightly and put into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip (or use a plastic ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe eyes and smiles on the gingerbread cookie faces.
• Arrange the merry gingerbread men side by side around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing in slightly to adhere. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the nonpareils.

GINGERBREAD PANCAKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon.
• Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together the egg and milk, then stir in the molasses,and then the oil.
• Add the flour mixture until just combined.
• Pour a quarter cup of batter for each pancake on a preheated grill.
• Cook on the first side until the batter if full of bubbles on the surface.
• Flip the pancake and cook til the second side is lightly browned.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH ORANGE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
• Place the rum and raisins in a small pan, cover, and heat until the rum boils. Turn off the heat and set aside. Place the butter and molasses in another small pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cool for 5 minutes, then mix in the sour cream and orange zest.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together into a small bowl. Mix with your hand until combined. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and mix only until smooth. Drain the raisins and add them and the crystallized ginger to the mixture with a spatula.
• Divide the batter among the muffin pan (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
• For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
• When the cupcakes are cool, frost them generously and garnish with a slice of crystallized ginger.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 189C/gas 4 Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases, or grease it. Put 100g butter, the molasses, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan, heat gently, stiring until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the milk, set aside to cool.
• Sieve together the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl Stir in the stem ginger.
• Once the molasses mixture is cool, beat in the egg, then pour onto the dry ingredients. Fold in and stir with a spatula until smooth. Spoon into the cases so they are half full. Bake for about 15 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• To make the icing, beat the remaining 40 g butter in a large bowl or mixer, until light. Sieve in the icing sugar and beat to incorporate (it will not become smooth at this stage, but don't worry) Add the lemon juice gradually, beating in just enough to bring the mixture together smoothly. It should still be firm enough to hold its shape., Tansfer the icing to a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle and pipe swirls on top. Cut the crystallised ginger pieces into smaller bits and top the cakes with them.

GINGERBREAD PANCAKES

Steps:

• Put the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and sugar in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Combine the egg, maple syrup and milk in a jug. Gradually add to the dry ingredients, whisking until a smooth, silky batter forms.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, non-stick pan over a medium heat and ladle 2-3 small rounds into the pan. Cook for 1-2 mins until bubbles start to appear on the surface, then flip over and cook for a further 1 min until fluffy. Do this in batches until you have 10 pancakes.
• Serve in a stack, with extra maple syrup, a blob of crème fraîche and dates scattered over.