Ginger Carrot Cake

It's finally been feeling like spring and I'm loving it! The sunshine is beautiful, the trees are ultra green and gigantic full blooms are showing up all over the place. Now, if only I had a window to view all this during the workday...but maybe I wouldn't actually do much work if that were the case.

But window or not, I think you'd all agree that if the seasons were a cake, it would totally be packed with carrots. And some ginger. Because it's like a little surprise inside and adds a new dimension to that regular old carrot thing.

I used a vanilla German buttercream to frost this cake and it tasted delicious, although it is really flavorful and moist on its own. Please try it!

(And invite me over.)

Ginger Carrot Cake [click to print]
Makes one 9x13" cake or two 9" layers

For the cake

• 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/2 c. sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 c. flour
• 1 T. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper
• 2/3 c. whole milk
• 4 c. carrots, shredded or pulsed in food processor to approx. same size
• 1/2 c. crystallized ginger, finely chopped

For the buttercream

• 2 c. whole milk
• 1-1/4 c. granulated sugar
• 1 T. cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste (OR seeds from 2 bean pods)
• 2 c. unsalted butter, softened

1) Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9x13 pan with parchment paper or coat generously with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. 

2) In bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, incorporating well between each addition. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, powder, soda, salt and ground ginger; set aside. Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Add eggs and vanilla, continuing to mix until well incorporated. If your batter looks a little curdled at this point, it's okay, just keep going with the next steps!

3) In separate bowl, whisk together flour, powder, soda, salt, ground ginger and pepper. With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and milk to batter in about 3 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

4) Stir in chopped ginger and carrots until evenly distributed. Pour batter in prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden and springs back when touched lightly. Allow to cool completely in pan.

5) Frost as desired and enjoy!

Source: Adapted from Sweetapolita

Ginger Plum Skillet

I'm gonna brag to you a little bit. I got this cast iron skillet for $2! Talk about a steal. I've been coveting these skillets for years and now I'm the proud owner of a perfectly seasoned 9-incher. My life is awesome.

The only bad part about it is the guilt trip I've been getting sent on every time I reach into the cupboard and merely glance in Skillet's direction. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, but today is finally the day!

Just look at this beautiful cake...dark crust, tender plum slices sunken throughout a super moist cake layer and accented with just the right amount of spices. And if you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can bake this in a regular 9" cake pan, too, but the time will differ, so just be sure to check along the way!

Ginger Plum Skillet [click to print]
makes one 9" cake

• 1 c. flour
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper
• 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 medium plums, pitted and thinly sliced
• 2 T. coarse sugar
• 2-3 T. candied ginger, finely chopped (optional)
• 2-3 T. apple jelly

1) Preheat oven to 375 F.

2) Whisk together flour, ginger, powder, soda, salt and pepper; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together extract and milk; set aside. 

3) Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and beat until well combined. Alternately add flour and milk mixtures in about 3 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture. 

4) Pour batter into skillet. Arrange plum slices on batter surface. Sprinkle coarse sugar and candied ginger over top and bake 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Using a pastry brush, coat top of cake with this layer of apple jelly and allow to cool in skillet. 

Source: Adapted from Stacey Snacks Online

Rhubarb and Strawberry Gingered Shortcake

But I'm getting braver and my tastebuds are becoming more adventurous, so when my new blogger buddies (Yes! I have food blogger friends!) over at I Wanna Be a Domestic Goddess and Diary of a Messy Kitchen told me that the In Season challenge ingredient this month was Rhubarb. Weird, was my first thought. 

I didn't know people actually ate rhubarb. Sure, I saw it in the grocery store occasionally, but really? There's just something in me that never really loved the idea of eating a vegetable that looks like bright red celery, but with a poisonous, leafy upgrade. 

But trust me, this shortcake is a game changer. 

The rhubarb adds a hint of tart that punches up the strawberries to a new level of deliciousness. And the shortcake biscuits are just barely sweet with a touch of ginger that adds a depth of flavor without the intense heat.

Seriously. I just might eat rhubarb again.

Rhubarb and Strawberry Gingered Shortcake [click to print]
Makes 8-10 servings


For the sauce

• 1 lb. strawberries, quartered (about 3 cups) plus 2 T. sugar 
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. water
• 1-1/2 c. rhubarb, cleaned and chopped 
• 1/2 T. lemon juice

For the shortcake

• 2 c. flour
• 1 T. sugar
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 4 T. butter, slightly softened
• 3/4 c. whole milk
• 2-3 T. coarse sugar (i.e. turbinado)

First make the whipped cream by combining cream and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Whip on high speed until the mixture thickens and forms stiff peaks. Set in refrigerator to chill. 

In another bowl, combine strawberries with 2 T. sugar and set aside to macerate for about 1 hour while you work on the next steps. (P.S. Macerate means the sugar will start to pull out the juices from the berries and make an awesome all-natural sauce.)

Combine remaining sugar and water in saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves. Add rhubarb and bring to a simmer; cook for about 20 minutes until rhubarb is softened and mushable. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and allow to cool for room temperature. Stir in strawberries and any berry juices. 

Preheat oven to 400 F. 

Whisk together flour, sugar, powder, ginger and salt. Cut in butter. Stir in milk until just combined. Scoop large spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart; I used a 3 T. cookie scoop (and I'm in love with cookie scoops!). Sprinkle tops of dough balls with a coarse sugar and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. 

Allow shortcakes to cool until you can handle them. Slice each cake in half and fill with a mound of fresh whipped cream and a generous scoop of sauce. 

Source: Adapted from Food Network...here and here

White Pepper and Ginger Lemon Cake

A year or so ago I made a mango cake with cayenne pepper and loved the little kick. Then when I went home for a visit, my little bro's wife Zaikea whipped up a batch of zippy white pepper Amish cookies. Of the ten or so cookies that I inhaled, I'd say they were delicious.

So when I found this recipe for Maida Heater (a fancy pants pastry chef)'s White Pepper and Ginger Lemon Cake, I knew I had to give it a try. Plus, lemons are the perfect summer fruit! Just look at that ooey, gooey glaze...oh my goodness, I think I'm making myself drool. Trust me, if you like a little heat (sorry, Stacie), you're gonna love it!

White Pepper and Ginger Lemon Cake with Ginger Glaze [click to print]
Makes one 12-cup bundt cake

For the cake

• Few tablespoons coarse sugar
• 3 c. flour
• 2 tsp. white pepper
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 5 T. lemon zest (about 3 small lemons)
• 1-1/2 T. (4-1/2 tsp.) ginger paste (or grated fresh ginger)
• 1/2 tsp. lemon extract
• 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/2 c. sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 c. buttermilk

For the Glaze: 

• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 1 T. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp. ginger paste (or fresh ground ginger)
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 3-4 T. milk

Using nonstick cooking spray with flour included, generously coat bundt pan. Sprinkle coarse sugar in pan to lightly coat; set aside. Preheat oven to 350.

Whisk together flour, pepper, powder, soda and salt; set aside. In small bowl, whisk together juice, zest, ginger and extract; set aside.

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar on low speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating well between each addition. Alternately add dry ingredients (about 3 additions) and buttermilk (about 2 additions). Stir in lemon mixture. Pour batter in bundt pan. Firmly tap pan on counter about 3 times to tap out any large air bubbles that may have been trapped when batter was poured into pan.

Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. Allow cake to cool in pan on wire rack for about 15 minutes. To remove from bundt pan, place wire rack over top of pan and invert, tapping gently on the sides to release, if necessary. Allow to cool completely on wire rack.

For the glaze, combine sugar, butter, zest, ginger and salt in mixing bowl. With mixer on low, add 3 Tablespoons milk. Slowly add additional milk, one teaspoon at a time until you reach desired consistency. Pour over cake and allow to set.

Source: Cake adapted from Sauce and Sensibility; Glaze is all Sugar Rush!

Apple Gingerberry Deep Dish Pie

Happy National Pi Day! This holiday totally takes me back to my high school days of endlessly difficult math and physics homework. But let's remember the good times of pi. Like using those confusing equations to build the coolest, longest, loopiest and functioning (model) roller coaster ever!

As I gently kneaded the dough for this deep dish pie, I caught the scent of that intoxicating butter-flour combo and almost melted away. Heavenly. And the colors! I love that the apples just absorb the vibrant blueberry juice...it's gorgeous!

And don't think I'm ignoring the flavors here. The ginger gives a delicate depth and heat to the pie while the flaky crust balances out the sweetness of the fruit filling. You're gonna need to run to the store now. 


Apple Gingerberry Pie [click to print]
Makes one 8-1/2" deep dish pie


For the Pie Crust: 

2-1/2 c. flour

1 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 sticks (8 oz.) butter, cold

1/2 c. water, ice cold

For the Delicious Filling: 

4 c. tart apples (about 5 med.), cored, peeled and sliced in 1/4" thick pieces
1 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. lemon zest (about 1 med.)
1 tsp. ginger paste (OR grated fresh ginger)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. blueberries, divided


For the Crumble Topping: 
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. chopped crystallized ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
4 T. unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces


Start by making the pie dough. Whisk flour, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl. Cut butter into 1/2 inch pieces and add to flour mixture. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until butter pieces are about the size of peas. It doesn't have to be perfectly even at this point. Drizzle water over mixture. Use a rubber spatula to gather the dough together until the mixture starts clumping. Gently knead dough together with your fingertips; when it forms a lumpy ball, it's done. Be careful not to overwork, the heat from your hands can make the butter melt and that's what makes the crust so flaky and good! 

Flatten dough to 1/2" disk; seal in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The colder the dough, the better, though, so leave it for 2 or more hours if you can. 

Combine apples, water, sugar, zest, ginger and salt in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup blueberries and simmer for 10 more minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool. Drain fruit and save juice. Pour juice in small saucepan and simmer until reduced to 1/3 to 1/2 cup; allow to cool. 

Now for the crumble topping. In food processor, combine sugar, flour, ginger and salt. Process to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture is combined but still crumbly. Set aside. 

Coat 8-1/2" springform pan with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out to about 1/4" thick. Press into bottom of springform pan and about 2" up the sides. You'll have a little left over pie dough, but don't throw it away! Check back in a couple days for a tasty idea to use up those scraps!

Pour fruit mixture into pan. Spread remaining blueberries across top of fruit. Sprinkle crumble topping across top of pie, gently press edges of crust down with fingertips to meet top of pie and stick the whole thing in the oven. I like to bake pies with a baking sheet on the rack below in case it decides to drip, then you don't have to scrub nasty baked on stuff off the bottom of your oven. Ew. 

Bake at 350 F for 50-55 minutes. Allow to cool and remove from springform. Drizzle reduced juice across top of pie and enjoy!

Source: Pie crust from Smitten Kitchen; Pie adapted from What Katie Ate; Crumble topping adapted from TableFare

Sweet Sixteen: Cinnamon

This week's photo round up is all about that fragrant cinnamon spice!

Row 1: Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Apple Cinnamon Donuts, Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Row 2: Apple Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting, Scrumptious Baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites, Blueberry Cinnamon Cakes, Brown Butter Ginger Cookies

Row 3: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake, Chocolate Cinnamon Date Truffles (sugar free!), Cinnamon Bark Cookies, Cinnamon Blondies

Row 4: Cinnamon Creme Brulee, Cinnamon Roll Cookies, Cinnamon White Chocolate Fudge, Pumpkin Spice Pull Apart Bread