So even though I posted this morning about snow and advent calendars (and this post only just published for some reason), I haven’t felt very Christmassy at all today. Even watching a co-worker put up the Christmas tree didn’t put me in the festive spirit but baking these little cakes did! This is my first Tuesday with Dorie and I think it’s been highly successful! I chose to make muffin sized cakes because I didn’t have small cake pans and I also chose to omit the espresso powder and black pepper because I didn’t have any espresso powder and black pepper always makes me cough. I think the omission of these made the amount of molasses in the mixture too much for me so if I were to make them again, I’d put less molasses in and a little more of the ginger perhaps. I coupled mine with vanilla ice cream and it was a delicious combination… like an adult brownie and ice cream dessert. If you’d like to see how everyone else’s turned out then please visit the Tuesdays with Dorie blog and if you’d like to try the recipe yourself, either buy the book or have a look at this week’s host blog Karen’s Kitchen Stories; thanks to Karen for hosting!
Here’s a couple of photos just to tempt you as well:
crumbs and sprinkles 
So glad your first TWD baking was a success! And got you in the christmas spirit! The molasses was very strong in this recipe. I think I would cut it in half and use syrup in place of it as others had done.
Halving it and using syrup sounds like a much better idea; having read everyone’s, I’d decided to add a bit of syrup at least but when it came to it, I didn’t and I don’t know why! Ah well, I think I’ll have to try it again. I’m so glad I’ve joined up though, it’s such a great system, did you enjoy the cakes?
Welcome to TwD! I’ve been away for a while and just came back. Its a fun project and I missed it. I think you description is spot on. This is an adult brownie type thing.
Thank you! Well I’m glad you’ve come back to it; I’m very excited about baking with everyone. Have you done anything that you’ve particularly liked yet? Yeah I definitely thought that, it’d make a nice pudding at a Christmas dinner party – perhaps even be really decadent and add some caramel and pecans to the ice cream…yum!
Welcome to Tuesdays with Dorie! This is certainly a wallop of a welcome cake! Quite spicy, but I thought they were tasty. Ice cream seems like it would go great with these dark, devilish little things. Nice job!
Thank you! Yes it was a bit of an entrance! I think I missed out slightly on the spice because I didn’t add the black pepper, which is why I think I’d add more ginger next time. Ice cream definitely went very well, you should try it; it’d be a good alternative to Christmas pudding if people don’t like fruit, which I think would be nice.
Welcome to TWD!! I hope you have a great time with us. I used cane syrup instead it made a great difference.
Thank you! It’s very exciting. You used cane syrup instead of the molasses? I had to use black treacle. Where can you buy cane syrup? I live in a city centre without easy access to large supermarkets (just the small metros and locals) so I’m often having to substitute things like that.
I am supposing you aren’t in the US. Steens cane syrup comes in a big can. I’m not sure it it would be available to you. You mite check Amazon.
Yeah I’m English I’m afraid! Always finding difficulties with ingredients.. OK thanks, I’ll have a look!
Looks good! I wish I had tried to bake these! Maybe on a catch up month for some out of place holiday cheer.
You should! Especially as you’re called ‘gingerskeeper’, it’d definitely be a good one for you! You could just try it separate from TWD for Christmas, just to put you in the mood. If all else fails, definitely go for it on a catch up month though – but try less molasses or an alternative because it was just a little bit too much.
Welcome to the Tuesdays with Dorie baking group! You will enjoy baking along with us! Your Gingerbread Baby Cakes look delicious, they have a lovely warm color and to serve them with some vanilla ice cream sounds like a wonderful idea!
Thank you! Thank you very much, they’re a bit darker than other people’s because of the cocoa I think. The vanilla ice cream was a really delicious addition to it…especially when the gingerbread baby cake was still warm, it was lovely!
Really fun concept/post… and lovely results too 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Glad you liked this cake. Welcome to the group.
Thank you very much! I’m excited about participating in all the bakes!
Welcome to TWD!! It is a lot of fun…I have thoroughly enjoyed baking with the group. Love your cakes…they look like delicious little brownies! I wish they were brownies…haha! The molasses was too much for my family and tasters but fun nontheless to make.
Thank you! I’m really looking forward to baking with everyone! Ooo yes brownies… Mine would have been like gingerbread brownies if it hadn’t been for the enormous amount of molasses. Definitely a fun bake though, I really enjoyed it.
Welcome! Your cakes look great – glad your first TWD post was a success. 🙂
Thank you! I’m so glad to be a part of this group, it’s a great idea and very exciting.