Frances Bissells Ginger Cake Recipes

APRIL BLOOMFIELD'S GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with a rack set in the center. Generously butter an 8-inch round, 3-inch high springform pan. Line bottom with parchment paper and place on baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a small saucepan, stir together boiling water, molasses, and baking soda until molasses has completely dissolved.
• Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to medium-low and add egg; mix until combined. Add grated ginger and mix to combine.
• Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, scraping down sides as necessary. Batter will be very wet. Pour batter into prepared pan and transfer to oven. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool slightly before removing ring from springform pan; serve warm.

ZUCCHINI AND GINGER NAKED CAKE WITH GINGER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
• Grate the zucchini on the large holes of a box grater, then wrap in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze dry.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger and cloves together in a large bowl.
• In a second large bowl, whisk the brown sugar, eggs, oil, milk, fresh ginger, vanilla and grated zucchini. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans; smooth the tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake the cakes until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
• Use a serrated knife to carefully cut each cake in half horizontally, making four layers.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating until incorporated. Beat in the chopped crystalized ginger.
• To assemble the cake: Place a cake layer on a cake stand or platter. Spoon a quarter of the frosting (about 1 1/2 cups) on top and smooth it evenly with an offset spatula. Stack another cake layer on top; repeat with the frosting. Continue with the remaining cake layers and frosting, leaving the sides of the cake bare. Top with the sliced crystalized ginger.

BOSCOBEL BEACH GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the grated ginger root and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar before serving.

GUINNESS GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Butter and 9 x 5 loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment and grease the parchment.
• In a large saucepan, over high heat, combine the stout and molasses and bring to a boil.
• Turn off the heat and slowly add the baking soda.
• Allow to sit until the foam dissipates.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the eggs and both sugars.
• Whisk in the oil.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
• Combine the stout mixture with the egg mixture, then whisk this liquid into the flour mixture, half at a time.
• Add the candied ginger and stir to combine.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until the top springs back when gently pressed.
• NOTE: Do not open the oven until the gingerbread is almost done, or the center may fall slightly.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

FRANCES O'BRIEN'S PORTER CAKE

Steps:

• Combine butter, sugar, & stout in a pan and bring slowly to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
• Add fruit.
• Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Grease 10" springform pan.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix flour, soda, & spices in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
• Add the beaten eggs & cooled fruit mixture to the flour.
• Stir quickly together, mixing well.
• Turn into pan and smooth top.
• Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan.
• Store in an air-tight tin.

FRANCES BISSELL'S TURKEY FILLETS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Slightly flatten the turkey fillets and place in a single layer in a shallow dish. Cut the pomegranates in half. Remove about 30 to 40 seeds and reserve for garnish. Squeeze the pomegranate halves as you would lemons, straining out the seeds, to extract as much juice as possible. Add the walnut oil, garlic, juniper berries and spices. Pour over the meat, cover and marinate overnight.
• When ready to cook, remove the fillets, reserving the marinade. Dry the meat on paper towels. Melt half of one of the butter pieces in a large heavy frying pan until it is nut-brown. Then add four of the turkey fillets in a single layer. Cook over high heat to brown the meat thoroughly, then lower the heat and cook for about four to five minutes. Raise the heat again, turn the meat over and brown the other side. Lower the heat and cook gently, until the meat is done, four to five minutes. Remove the fillets from the pan and keep them warm on a covered platter while you repeat the cooking process with the remaining half of the butter and fillets.
• When all the turkey fillets are done and removed from the pan, cut the remaining piece of butter into four equal pieces. Raise the heat under the pan, add the marinade and stock and cook rapidly, scraping up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the sauce is reduced to about half a cup of syrupy glaze. Correct seasonings, adding salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and rapidly beat in the remaining butter, one piece at a time.
• Divide the sauce among the plates, arranging the turkey fillets on top, and garnish with two or three walnut halves and the pomegranate seeds.