Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

The snow yesterday inspired me to do some baking. The gingerbread made my house smell so wonderful and it tasted every bit as good as it smelled. I have officially decided that baking is one of the best things about cold weather!

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread
From the Gourmet Cookbook

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
1 stick (8 TBLS) unsalted butter
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup molasses
2/3 cup hot water

Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish.

Sift together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.

Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at med-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in molasses. Reduce speed to low and beat in flour mixture, then add water and mix until batter is smooth, about 1 minute.

Pour batter in baking pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted in middle comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes and serve warm.