Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TWD: Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

To me, baking is about making a huge mess in the kitchen and creating a masterpiece for those you love.  I have started doing "cooking school" with the kids so they can learn this great art.  I'm teaching them things like how to crack an egg and dig out the shells and following directions in recipes.  They love it!  I love it!  It only takes twice as long to make things and its at least twice as fun!

Its been quite chilly by Florida standards (25 to 50 degrees) so this chocolatey gingerbread was warmly received in our home.

I love kids in the kitchen.  She's helping Jesse see our masterpiece in the Kitchen Aid.  Its so fun to see the look of anticipation on his face!

This rich, dark chocolate was the perfect addition to the traditional gingerbread.

Into the pan and into the oven...

I have seen a few other people's and they look so perfect.  My baking is definitely a little more "rustic".  I think its fine for gingerbread to be rustic.  The icing on the top was AMAZING!!!  We are not coffee people for religious reasons and I don't really enjoy coffee-flavored things, so I substituted the coffee with Ghirardelli Premium chocolate hazelnut hot cocoa mix.  It was so perfect!!!   
I served it up to my family, then caught Hannah LICKING HER PLATE.  Not something we condone at our house, but I took it as a compliment, and asked her to refrain in the future.  Elle and I were officially the most popular people at our house that night.

I actually thought the cake was a bit dry, but apparently nobody else thought it was a problem because they gobbled it up like Hansel and Gretel eating the cottage in the woods.  A lot of bakers mentioned that this is tastier on the 2nd day, but ours didn't have a chance at lasting that long.  If I were to make it again (and I probably will), I would add another 1/2 c buttermilk and bake it in a 9x13 for less time.  For the complete recipe and instructions, you can visit Sherry Trifle.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that you are teaching your kids how to bake. I think your gingerbread looks great.

spike. said...

Looks like everyone had a good time making (and eating) the cake!

April said...

I love the picture of the chopped chocolate and Elle's blurry face in the background. Too funny!

Looks delicious...I am really missing chocolate in my diet these days. This looks so good.

Whitney said...

Sarah,you are such a good mom! I need to adopt your attitude about kids in the kitchen. Sometimes it is just too much to have them help but I should look at it like you do. I made this on Sunday for our friends that we took dinner to. We really liked it. My clan also thought the icing was the best part. :)

wildthayn said...

Thanks guys!! Whit, its not always a party in the kitchen. I would never get anything done. I only let one child help at a time and they each get a turn about once a week. But its super-fun!

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

I'm so please you enjoyed the cake - it looks delicious! Must be so rewarding to teach the kids baking too.

Jules Someone said...

I laugh at your chilly weather! And I smile at your lovely cake.

Unknown said...

How adorable your kiddos are! Great resourcefulness using the cocoa. That sounds like a winning recipe to me.