Nan’s Gingerbread Recipe from 1972!

Gingerbread, soft, moist, perfectly spiced and infused with the deep dark taste of Crosby’s molasses. This tried and true recipe has quickly become a family favorite. It has been passed down through the generations and I’m more than happy to share it with you.

The combination of spices mixed with the Molasses makes this cake one of the best gingerbread cakes I have ever tasted! Hands down! It has the perfect balance between sweet and spiced.

Before I share the recipe let me share a little of how this delicious gingerbread recipe came to be in my possession.

Growing up in Newfoundland, could prove to be challenging at times to say the least. It was and still is very common for young adults to leave home. Most times they went to the mainland which almost always meant Toronto.

It was August ,1969 when my aunt Kathleen and her new husband Dick were planning to leave Newfoundland to begin their new life . She was only 23 years of age! She wouldn’t turn 24 until September!

I can only imagine the excitement! She must have had butterflies galore!

Kathleen and Dick were in search of a more prosperous life to begin a new life and start a family.

It would be 1972 before aunt Kathleen returned to Newfoundland for a visit. While she was home, she asked her mom aka Nan, if she would pass along a few of her favorite recipes.

I’m sure she wanted to share a taste of home with her new friends. This is the origin of this gingerbread recipe!

My grandmother was always a baker and most times she would be found either in her kitchen, her garden or fishing for trout along side a pond with dear old Pop.

Aunt Kathleen liked the kitchen a lot too! I still remember her trifle, she used to put wine in it! I remember her teaching me to pinch my cheeks when I had no blush it made them nice and rosy. A sweet memory for sure.

As children we were always excited to see them come home for a visit. They always brought home a little souvenir for all of us. Like those great big pencils you used to be able to get at the airport.

My grandmother was a very good cook and a quiet gentle woman. She always seemed much older than her years. Truly one of the sweetest people you would ever meet. She had 4 sisters and 4 brothers. She also raised our Uncle Bill. Families were much larger then.

My grandmother enjoyed her garden tremendously some of her favorites being Lupins, tulips and Sweet Williams. She would even make bouquets of flowers for people to have for special occasions such as weddings and funerals.

She was amazing! I am so proud to be named after her. Nan also had chickens and turkeys. Here she is below in her garden. Look at the size of those Lupins!

Nanny would most times be seen with rollers in her hair and a scarf tied around. As a child, I would always want to have a scarf on my hair too, so she’d put one on me and I would feel so very proud all day!

The following pictures are of a memory I will never forget. Taken in the downstairs of our childhood home. Early 70″s

We had a surprise party for nan and she said it was her first ever birthday party! She was so happy. It was a special treat for us too. Nan always made you feel special.

Here’s another one featuring my Mom on the left, Sadie, Nans sister in the middle and Nan on the right. Happy times indeed.

I remember the wallpaper so well, it was velvet lol

My aunt Kathleen kept the recipes all these years and has now passed them along to me. I am super grateful. There is something special in seeing nans handwriting . As you can see its a little worn but will be cherished forever.

My aunt Kathleen still lives in Toronto with her husband Dick and daughter Leona who now has a family of her own with 2 beautiful children.

I am hoping they will visit soon. We sure miss them.

Now for the recipe!

Todays tutorial comes in 2 parts ; the first one instructs how to make the most delicious tasting gingerbread and the second one for the big reveal/taste test and what a taste test it was! So yummy!

Here’s part one enjoy:

Wasn’t that easy? I think your family and friends would be very impressed should you decide to make one. Heres the big reveal with taste test:

Delicious and easy peasy! I think your kids could help with this one! In order to make this gingerbread cake you will need the following ingredients:

For the Gingerbread:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup fancy molasses
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup of hot water
• a small amount of powdered sugar for dusting the cake after it has cooled

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour your pan. I used a 9 x 9 square but you can use a small Bundt pan if you would like it more festive looking

Using a hand or stand mixer cream butter and sugar together. make sure your butter is at room temperature. Once this mixture has become nice and creamy (2-3 mins) add your slightly beaten egg and mix again

Measure all your dry ingredients (except icing sugar that’s for dusting) Sift all dry together in a separate bowl until well combined

Mix molasses together with the hot water until combined

Using small amounts at a time and slowly and alternately add molasses mixture and then flour mixture until combined. (SEE TUTORIAL)

Beat well after each addition until mixture is nice and smooth

Pour this mixture into your prepared pan of choice and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the gingerbread.

Turn out onto a cooling rack and then place on your cake plate

Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy!

There are many other ways to serve gingerbread. You can put a yummy cream cheese frosting on top.

You can make a nice vanilla sauce

Warm custard

Whipping cream etc. just to name a few.

As usual I will share links to my favorite ingredients. This recipe has one star ingredient and that is Crosby’s Fancy Molasses its natural and non GMO which I personally love find it here:

https://www.crosbys.com/product/

I sure hope you enjoyed this blog post and give it a try for your family and loved ones. I’m sure they wont be disappointed.

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