Dark Magic Gingerbread

This comes from Hell’s Backbone Grill cookbook, “With a Measure of Grace.” Blake’s favorite dessert with butterscotch and vanilla ice cream. I rate it as very good! It is worth the extra effort.

ingredients

3 c. white flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
3 t. ground ginger
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. chili powder
1 1/2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. dark molasses
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. diced pear
1 T. chopped crystallized ginger

directions

1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9“ x 13” baking pan. Sift or stir well together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
2
In a large bowl, beat butter until it’s creamy. Gradually add eggs and sugar and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until the batter is light in color and texture, 2 or 3 minutes. Slowly beat in the molasses.
3
Add flour mixture and stir with a spoon until it’s just combined. Don’t overmix.
4
Stir in boiling water slowly, mixing well, then add diced pear and crystallized ginger.
5
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake it for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cneter comes out clean and the cake springs back when lightly pressed on top.