Gingerbread
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar (or moscovado sugar)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons Rain’s Choice pure Vanilla Extract or 2/3 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
3 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
Glaze
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon (more if using Meyer lemons)
1/2 teaspoon Rain’s Choice pure Vanilla Extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13″ pan, a10-inch tube pan or 6 cup bundt pan.
Mix flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt into a large bowl.
In another large bowl, whisk the brown sugar, oil and egg until well combined, then whisk in the applesauce, water and vanilla extract or paste. Add the dry ingredients and stir well. Fold in the crystalized ginger. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake until top is firm and springs back when pressed with your fingers, about 35 minutes, or about 50 minutes using a tube or bundt pan.
Transfer to a wire cooling rack.
While the cake is baking, place water and sugar into a small saucepan and bring to boil. Allow to boil until it becomes lightly syrupy, about 12 – 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Taste to adjust to the amount of tartness you’d like. Add vanilla.
Gently poke holes in the warm gingerbread then drizzle glaze over the cake.
Remove cake from pan when it has cooled. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
Makes about 10 servings.
Find it online: https://vanillaqueen.com/gingerbread/