Gingerbread with Crunchy Topping

Total Time Prep: 30 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling
Yield 12 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
I credit my mom with instilling in me a love of baking. Tried-and-true recipes like this make holidays with my family extra special. It wouldn't be Christmas without gingerbread! —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 2-1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup water
  • TOPPING:
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup cold butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • Whipped cream, optional

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves; add to creamed mixture alternately with water.
  2. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
  3. For topping, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and ginger. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans and lemon zest. Sprinkle over gingerbread.
  4. Bake 10 minutes longer or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 518 calories, 23g fat (8g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 262mg sodium, 74g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.

I credit my mom with instilling in me a love of baking. Tried-and-true recipes like this make holidays with my family extra special. It wouldn't be Christmas without gingerbread! —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Recipe Creator

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