Old Sturbridge Village Gingerbread

Ingredients

• Hot water (1 cup)
• Molasses (1 cup)
• Egg (1, large)
• Granulated sugar (1 cup)
• Unsalted butter (1/2 cup, softened)
• Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
• Ground cloves (1/2 teaspoon)
• Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon)
• Ground ginger (1 tablespoon)
• Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
• All-purpose flour (2 cups)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch square baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Add the egg to the butter-sugar mixture and beat until well combined. Then, gradually mix in the molasses until fully incorporated.
5. Next, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the hot water. Start with the dry ingredients and end with the hot water, mixing until just combined.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Allow the gingerbread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Once cool, cut into squares and serve. It’s delicious on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.