Perhaps it’s because of the classic gingerbread houses and gingerbread men, but ginger is one of those flavors associated with Christmas and the holiday season. I love baking with the fragrant and peppery sweet spice all fall and winter, so it’s no wonder that these ginger desserts would be perfect at a holiday feast. The ginger stands out as the star in some of these treats, but even when it takes a backseat you’ll get a nice kick of the seasonal favorite.
This poached pear ginger cake is spicy with a kick of freshly grated ginger and tons of warm spice from cloves and cinnamon. It’s by no means an overly sweet cake, which is how I like them. The molasses gives it color and that edge of bitter that I love.
These chocolate-ginger cheesecake bars area real winner! The rich chocolate ganache mixed with the ginger cheesecake batter sits on top of a dark chocolate and crystallized ginger crust. Marbling the two flavors and cutting them into bars makes them pure fun!
The perfumed sweetness of the pears in this cake meets the warmth of candied ginger and cardamom to create a sophisticated combination that tastes as comforting as Grandma's house feels.
The sweet flavor of sugar plums is a treat all in itself, but I adde a little fresh ginger, orange zest and brown sugar to add some kick to the sweetness.
My favorite biscotti is a wonderful combination of chocolate, candied ginger and grapefruit. This combination balances sweet and sharp flavors that make for the perfect little crunchy bite.
These candied ginger truffles have a sharp and wonderful ginger flavor. Be sure to use high quality dark chocolate to get the balance and taste just right.
I'm Zoë François and I love to bake. This is where I play with sugar and take the mystery out of baking everything from cookies to wedding cakes. I studied pastry at the CIA (the culinary school, not the spy agency), worked in restaurants, have written 10 cookbooks and you can find more of my creations in my Substack Newsletter and YouTube videos. More...