Ginger Cake

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Preheat oven to 375 F and grease and line a 2-pound loaf pan, or use a paper liner.

3. Step 3

   Cut the peeled fresh ginger into thin slices, then cut again into matchsticks. Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan and boil rapidly until all the sugar is dissolved and the liquid slightly reduced. Remove from the heat, add the ginger sticks and leave in the syrup for an hour. You can make these ahead the day before.

4. Step 4

   Using a large roomy saucepan, melt the brown sugar, butter, golden syrup, and treacle together over medium heat. Stir gently taking great care not to burn the sugar. Once everything is dissolved, set the pan aside until the mixture is cool.

5. Step 5

   Once cooled, add the eggs one at a time beating continuously.

6. Step 6

   Add the milk and beat again until the mixture is light and airy, about a minute.

7. Step 7

   Put the flour, baking soda, and spices into a large baking bowl and whisk to combine.

8. Step 8

   Place a fine sieve over the bowl and pour the sugar, butter and egg mixture through. Whisk everything together to create a smooth and glossy batter.

9. Step 9

   Add the syrup-soaked ginger matchsticks and stir into the batter.

10. Step 10

    Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake in the center of the oven until risen and golden brown. If the top of the cake starts to brown too quickly, lower the heat. The cake is cooked through when you place a skewer into the center and comes out clean without a trace of a mixture. This will take about 50 minutes.

11. Step 11

    Leave the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove and place onto a wire cooling rack.

12. Step 12

    Once cooled, either serve or store in an airtight tin. The cake should be eaten within a few days or serve as a pudding with custard , crème fraîche, or whipped cream.