This cake is a perfect embodiment of the seasonal flavor and filled with layers of metaphors. I like the idea of bottling all the dry ingredients in a mason jar. Starting with the flours (1 1/2 cup): 50/50 all-purpose and whole wheat flour, this is a desperate attempt to put in something more healthful and wholesome. The list also includes baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. Best of all, the warm spices that give character and personality to the molasses coffee cake: ground ginger, Chinese five-spice powder and cinnamon.
Tie a ribbon and present the mason jar of dry ingredients as a holiday culinary gift. Well, the molasses coffee cake wouldn’t be complete without molasses and coffee. So include small pods of molasses and coffee to the set as well.
“Besides the dry ingredients which come in the mason jar (plus the other goodies), you’d have to fetch some butter, sugar and an egg.” An instruction note on how to mix the batter and bake the cake is necessary. It should outline the steps like this:
- In a large bowl, beat butter (1 stick) and brown sugar (2/3 cup) together until they become creamy.
- Add the molasses (1/3 cup) and beat for a minute or so.
- Add one egg and vanilla extract (if you have it) and mix.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients from the jar all at once. Continue beating until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Pour hot coffee or espresso (1/3 cup) in the bowl and mix until the batter comes together.
- Scrap the batter into a 9-inch round cake pan. Smell its fuzzy heavenly aroma.
- Bake for 28-33 minutes at 350°F. Enjoy!
As you can see, I have fun imagining the fantastical holiday parties and atmosphere filled with scent of ginger and cinnamon and extravagant food gifts abound. The molasses coffee cake has certainly stirred in me the celebratory spirits — distantly. I’ll savor it in whatever shape and form. This cake is a true indulgence in so many ways!
6 Comments
isthisakeeper
December 11, 2020 at 1:59 pmI like how you think! Your idea is genius…bottling up Christmas to share. This cake was a surprise and we enjoyed it more than I thought we would. I loved the zing from the spices!
steph (whisk/spoon)
December 11, 2020 at 8:19 pmi’m so glad we made this one, otherwise i might not have had the boost to make a gingerbread-like cake this year. love your idea to gift this as a mix! happy holidays!!
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
December 12, 2020 at 7:55 amI LOVE the idea of gifting the dry ingredients for this one! This was an unexpected surprise!
Mary Hirsch
December 12, 2020 at 5:04 pmThis treat in a jar was a novel and creative gift idea for the holidays. For whatever reason, we all seemed to think this was going to be ho-hum. (Including me.) As always, I must never underestimate Dorie. I so admire how she simplified a multi-ingredient recipe. That you went a step further and turned it into a gift idea was a bonus. As always, I enjoyed reading your post. I signed up for your blog so like getting all your posts now. Enjoy the holidays.
Shirley@EverOpenSauce
December 13, 2020 at 6:47 amThanks for signing up as a subscriber. Grateful for your support and kind words.
Diane Zwang
December 13, 2020 at 12:11 pmYou make baking a cake sound like such fun. This cake did have a depth of flavor. My husband really loved this one.