Spiced Gingerbread Loaf

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, (room temperature)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, (lightly packed)
• 1 large egg, (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. 2

   Lightly grease a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

3. 3

   Sift together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Set aside.

4. 4

   In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

5. 5

   Add the egg and incorporate into the mixture.

6. 6

   Add the molasses and incorporate into the mixture. Set aside the batter.

7. 7

   Add the baking soda to the boiling water and stir to dissolve.

8. 8

   Beat 1/3 of the sifted flour mixture into the batter until just combined.

9. 9

   Next, beat in 1/2 cup of the boiling water and baking soda mixture.

10. 10

    Repeat with another 1/3 of the sifted flour, followed by the remaining boiling water, and finally, the last of the sifted flour.

11. 11

    Transfer the batter to the loaf pan. Tap the pan firmly on your countertop.

12. 12

    Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

13. 13

    Cool for 30 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

14. 14

    Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.