An old-fashioned moist, dark treacle gingerbread loaf. Just how grandma made it. A super easy recipe for ginger cake.
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (1) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Grandma's Quick & Thrifty Cookbook
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (2) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
This moist, treacley gingerbread comes from Grandma's Quick & Thrifty Cookbook.
A great title for this day and age, especially with the state of the economy and all our purse strings pulling tighter.
I was excited to have a good read of this cookbook. I was expecting great things from it.
It starts off with some great tips on preserving fruit, vegetables and herbs.
There are also energy saving tips, ways to use leftovers and ideas to make meals go further. And ...... then come the recipes.
Oh the recipes. Readers beware ........
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (3) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (3)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Keep reading!
I have to tell you I felt deflated and disappointed when I got to the recipes.
I don't know what I was expecting, as these are billed as Grandma's recipes, so there wasn't going to be any ground-breaking, stylish dishes, but still I was disappointed.
There might be some great family dishes if you're a meat eater, but none of the veggie or vegetable dishes inspired me at all.
Don't give up yet!
I might have given up at this point, but I carried on reading until I got to the jewel in the crown. First a chapter called Desserts and then on to Bread, Cakes, Biscuits and other Treats.
You just can't beat traditional cakes and biscuits. Especially if you need a spot of comfort food. You won't find anything nicer than one of Grandma's puddings.
Desserts, Bread, Biscuits & Other Treats
I would recommend buying this book for these chapters alone.
I still wasn't convinced after my first read, but I find myself picking it up again and again.
I've also had requests for the recipe from my mum and her friend Margaret. So I'm going to end on a high note and say this book is worth buying for the Tips, Desserts, Baking and the Basics at the end of the book.
And of course this gingerbread loaf.
My vegan readers may like to try my
pin it for later
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (4) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (4)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Grandma's Quick & Thrifty Cookbook
Here are a few of the traditional sweet and baked recipes in this cookbook:
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (5) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (5)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
- Chocolate Pudding in Teacups
- Jam Roly Poly
- Plum Cobbler
- Baked Custard
- Apple Strudel
- Irish Soda Bread
- Big Fruity Tea Bun
- Date & Walnut Loaf
- Devil's Food Cake
- Grandma's Never-Fail Sponge
- Jam Drop Biscuits
- Gingersnap Biscuits
- Melting Moments
- Gingerbread Men
- Coconut Macaroons
Vegetarian Recipe Count:113 out of 200 recipes (with a change of stock in a couple of recipes)
Vegan Recipe Count: 22 out of 200 recipes
Grandma's Quick & Thrifty Cookbook
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Publisher: Reader's Digest
ISBN: 978-1780200019
Published: 4 Oct 2011
Size: 25.4 x 19.6 x 2.8 cm
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (6) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (6)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
For more Scottish recipes have a look at my recipe index ofScottish Recipes for Vegans and Vegetarians
gingerbread, old-fashion cake, old-fashioned baking, retro cake, grandma's cake recipes, treacle cake, treacle gingerbread, ginger bread, ginger cake, gingerbread cake, loaf cake
dessert
British
Yield: 8-10
Author: Jacqueline Meldrum (with kind permission)
![Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (7) Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (7)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Treacle Gingerbread Loaf
An old-fashioned moist, treacley gingerbread loaf. Just how grandma made it.
prep time: 10 Mcook time: 45 Mtotal time: 55 M
ingredients:
- 185g plain flour
- 110g self raising flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp mixed spice
- 140g soft brown sugar
- 250g black treacle
- 185ml milk
- 80ml olive oil
- 2 large eggs
instructions:
How to cook Treacle Gingerbread Loaf
- Preheat the oven to 180c/160c fan/gas mark 4.
- Grease a 10cm x 20cm x7cm (1lb) loaf tin and line with baking parchment or greaseproof paper, ensuring that the paper extends 3cm above tin. (I used a loaf tin insert, which didn't rise above the tin and it was fine)
- Sift the flours, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and mixed spice in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar until well combined.
- Whisk the treacle, milk, olive oil and eggs in a jug. Add to the flour and stir until just combined.
- Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a cake skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
NOTES:
You may use golden syrup instead of treacle in this cake. The result is still spicy with a great flavour but a milder, paler cake.
Calories
312.59
Fat (grams)
11.17
Sat. Fat (grams)
2.01
Carbs (grams)
46.83
Fiber (grams)
1.09
Net carbs
45.74
Sugar (grams)
17.20
Protein (grams)
6.23
Sodium (milligrams)
199.98
Cholesterol (grams)
48.41
also try -gingerbread mug cake
Disclosure Statement: I received this book free from the publisher to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
FAQs
You can use golden syrup instead of treacle and light brown sugar instead of dark brown but it will effect the flavour ever so slightly – it makes the sponger lighter, and the ginger flavour isn't as intense – but if you dont mind or thats all you have then then go ahead!
Why does my gingerbread loaf sink in the middle? ›
Too much: If you accidentally overmeasure your baking soda or powder it can also cause your cake or loaf to sink in the middle. High altitude: If you're baking at a higher altitude you'll need less leavening to achieve the same result as sea level. Without proper altitude adjustments, your products may sink.
Why didn't my ginger cake rise? ›
Why do cakes not rise? A: No or insufficient raising agent, mixture too stiff, mixture overbeaten or air knocked out, or insufficient whisking (whisked sponge). Too cool an oven.
How do you store ginger cake? ›
You can store gingerbread cake in the fridge in an airtight sealed container or tightly wrapped, and it will last up to a week.
What did Americans substitute for treacle as an ingredient? ›
Treacle is a generic British term for any syrup made during the refining of sugar cane. Later, refined sugar became more affordable and overtook treacle as a sweetener. However, colonial Americans often substituted molasses for treacle in their recipes.
Are molasses and treacle the same thing? ›
Both have a deep, aromatic flavour that adds a unique finish to food and drink recipes, but they are subtly different, with treacle tending to be a sweeter product that has less of a bitter profile than molasses. Compared to treacle, molasses is thicker in consistency and darker in colour.
What makes a cake dense and heavy? ›
Six common baking-fails, and how they can be prevented. Your cake is too dense A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).
Can you Rebake a sunken cake? ›
Can you Put a Sunken Cake Back in the Oven? Unless you notice that your cake is undercooked right after removing it from the oven, it will not rise again by baking it longer.
How do you stop gingerbread going soft? ›
To achieve crispy, sturdy gingerbread, Lomas recommends letting the baked gingerbread pieces dry out for a day or two. Don't put the pieces in the refrigerator or keep them in a closed container, as this keeps the moisture in. “The longer it dries out, the easier it is to work with for construction purposes,” she said.
Should you beat eggs before adding to cake mix? ›
Martina says, “Late in the mixing stage, eggs will incorporate better if you lightly beat them before adding to the batter.
Gingerbread: In the United States, molasses is the ingredient that gives gingerbread its color and sweetness, but in many other locations, gingerbread recipes use golden syrup. Using golden syrup gives gingerbread a lighter color and a milder flavor.
Is gingerbread cake batter watery? ›
The Batter for gingerbread has to be runny. Runny batter will make the cake so moist and soft.
Does gingerbread cake freeze well? ›
Yes, you can freeze gingerbread. Wrap the cooled cake in storage wrap, then wrap it again in a layer of foil. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Can you eat out of date ginger cake? ›
Best before means that it's safe to eat after the date given - it may just not be as tasty.
How long can you keep homemade ginger cake? ›
Drizzle icing in a zig-zag pattern over surface of cake, turn cake around and drizzle again to create the cross-hatched finish (see below). Cake keeps for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container.
What is a substitute for molasses in ginger cake? ›
The Best Molasses Substitutes
Honey, dark corn syrup, and maple syrup can also be used to replace molasses in recipes.
What does treacle do in baking? ›
To most, black treacle is known as a slightly smoother version of molasses that some refer to as having a caramelised toffee taste. In industrial applications, black treacle is used as a liquid sweetener, natural colourant and flavouring for sauces, baked products, confectionery and desserts.
What can I use instead of dark molasses in gingerbread? ›
Dark Molasses Gingerbread Cake
This is a good place to explore a mix-and-match substitute, so you don't put too much pressure on any one ingredient. In place of the 1 ½ cups molasses, you can swap in ½ cup dark brown sugar, mixed with 1 cup honey, sorghum, or golden syrup.
What can I substitute for molasses in gingerbread cookies? ›
Brown sugar is a great substitute for molasses in recipes since it's so often available in the kitchen. Brown sugar is molasses and granulated sugar combined, so you can achieve some similar taste and texture. For every 1 cup of molasses, use 3/4 cup of brown sugar.