Chocolate Gingerbread Christmas Dessert

Even Shakespeare yearned for the wonderful taste and heavenly aroma of gingerbread. Can anything say Christmas like a warm slab of gingerbread cake and an icy cold glass of milk? Try this version of an old gingerbread recipe.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Gingerbread

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Mix in a large bowl:

1 cup of molasses
1/2 cup of sour cream
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Dissolve 1 tsp of soda in 1 tsp of cold water;
Add this & 2 Tbsp of melted butter to the batter mixture

Stir in:

2 cups sifted flour
2 oz baking chocolate & 1 Tbsp butter, melted together.

Pour mixture into three well-buttered round cake pans & Bake for apx 20 minutes

-or-

Bake in 9 x 13 buttered pan for apx 35 - 45 minutes
(Baking time may vary according to your oven,)

VANILLA ICING

Break the white of 1 large egg into a bowl

Gradually beat into it 1 cup of confectioners' sugar.

Beat for three minutes,

add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Spread thinly on gingerbread..

Shortcut: Instead of icing, use whipped topping or whipped cream .

******

Alternate topping:

LEMON BUTTER SAUCE

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar
1 egg, separated
2 tsp. lemon zest

Cream together butter and powdered sugar

Add the egg yolk, beating constantly

Blend in lemon zest..

In separate bowl, Beat egg white until stiff , then fold into sauce mixture.

Chill, then spread on top of warm gingerbread.

Serve to your favorite guests.