I’m so excited to be back for Sweet Melissa Sundays this week! Katie of Katiecakes selected the Guinness gingerbread as this week’s treat! When I was flipping through the Sweet Melissa Baking Book, this was one of the first recipes that caught my eye and I came this close to selecting it when it was my week to choose. I’m actually not a huge fan of gingerbread and I don’t like Guinness at all, but this was one of the few recipes in the book I thought Shane might like. (As it turns out, the allure of the Guinness in the recipe wasn’t enough to convince him to even try the gingerbread. He did, however, drink the remaining Guinness that wasn’t necessary for the recipe so he did his part…)
I threw the cake together on Thursday night so Shane could take it to work with him on Friday. I try to make treats for his coworkers about once a week and I figured this treat would be a good way to celebrate Friday. The recipe is simple and comes together quickly – no mixer required and no butter to bring to room temperature! I made only one minor change to the recipe and that was to leave the white pepper out. In my opinion, pepper and dessert just don’t go together. I’ve watched Ina make her panna cotta with balsamic strawberries more times than I can count and every time she adds the black pepper to the strawberries she loses me. I know I should give it a shot before I knock it, but I just can’t wrap my mind around the idea.
Anyway, I tried a piece of the warm gingerbread fresh from the oven on Thursday night as I watched the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I’d heard some of the other SMS bakers mention that the flavors were a bit too mild but it wasn’t a problem for me. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s the reason I enjoyed the gingerbread so much. I sometimes find the flavors of gingerbread a bit overwhelming, but this one’s pretty mellow. I had another piece on Friday and added a heaping pile of whipped cream on top and enjoyed it even more!
Many thanks to Katie for this week’s selection. Head over to her blog for the recipe and be sure to stop by the Sweet Melissa Sunday site to see the other cakes this week!
Lemon Bars
Glazed Grapefruit Cake
Orange Sherbet
Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
Well, with your rave review, I will definitely make this when winter time hits. It’s just too hot here for gingerbread.
I’ve been craving gingerbread for a while and I’m not sure why because I’m not a crazy fan of spiced cakes. Shane’s coworkers are so lucky to have all your wonderful desserts every week. It’s still good, but I miss the old GA!
Your Gingerbread looks great. I’m not a big fan of pepper in desserts either, but I went ahead and added the white pepper, and I honestly couldn’t taste it at all. Maybe that’s because it’s a little on the old side and has lost it’s flavor, but that’s kind of why I was OK adding it!!
So glad you enjoyed it! Love the pile of whipped cream on top!
Oh, I love love the sound of his gingerbread and it looks delicious, Tracey!
Yum, yours looks great with all the cream on top. Mmmmmmmm!
Katie xox
I thought it was delicious, too, and did leave the white pepper in. I really couldn’t discern the taste of it though, so maybe it just adds a bit of an undertone?
I’m with you on this one – I was surprised how much I liked it! And I LIKED how mild it was – I’m not into super-flavorful gingerbread really. Yours looks nice!
I can just taste the moistness by looking at that photograph! That gingerbread looks delicious!
what an interesting recipe! I like gingerbread and this with twist is awesome.
Don’t think the pepper mattered at all, couldn’t really taste it. Glad you tried the gingerbread and liked it, LOL. Whipped cream looks good.
Glad you liked the gingerbread and whipped cream goes so well. Don’t think the pepper was that important, I used it but could not taste it.
Mmm, the whipped cream sounds like a perfect combination. I was too cheap to run out to the store and buy some whipping cream, so alas my gingerbread remained naked. I glad you enjoyed this – sometimes a mild flavour is definitely preferable.
GREAT look gingerbread! I fell in love with it when we did it for TWD.
I laughed out loud when I read that Ina loses you when she adds pepper to the recipe. I am glad you enjoyed the gingerbread and I have to admit I was surprised too at the mild flavor. I did add the pepper and did not notice any difference.
Mmmm, this gingerbread cake looks amazing! I think my dad would truly enjoy this for Father’s Day.
My, what tempting pictures you have!! Looks great. I finally got a SMS recipe made this week and I have to say that I really liked this gingerbread. It tasted fab to me. And what did you think of the Grey’s finale??!?!
Yours looks ever-so-good with the pile of whipped cream on top! I didn’t have white pepper, so I just added a bit of black pepper. Glad this one was a hit for you!
Your gingerbread looks fantastic. Especially with the whipped cream.
You really should try fresh ground black pepper with balsamic strawberries. It’s out of this world good. YUM.
This looks great! I think it is good to have a milder gingerbread recipe in the arsenal. And the Guiness just makes it fun! Glad that Shane was able to enjoy the Guiness, if not the gingerbread itself! I will definitely remember this recipe.
Looks yummy. Especially with that pretty dollop on top!
I love this recipe too! Easy & simple to make.
That’s the reason why I liked this recipe too – you weren’t hit over the head with ginger. I liked all the mellow flavors.
Your gingerbread looks great! I’m so glad that you took a chance on it. Too bad Shane didn’t try it! Oh well, at least he drank the Guinness
Sorry that I’ve been an absent commenter; I just finished up my law school exams and am finally getting around to my google reader.
Great color and crumb. Looks moist. Great idea on the whipped cream. Thanks for the bday wishes :o)
Your’s looks divine, glad you liked it alot.