Meals for the Family: Gingerbread

Gingerbread Loaf
Makes: 1 loaf

Ingredients
175g unsalted butter
200g caster sugar
3 tablespoons golden syrup
250ml milk
250g plain flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Preparation
Prep: 8min  ›  Cook: 1hr  ›  Ready in: 1hr8min

Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease and flour an 20x10cm loaf tin.
In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, golden syrup and milk. Bring to the boil, then remove from heat and set aside. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and allspice into a large bowl. Stir in the boiled mixture until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
Turn down the oven to 160 C / Gas 2 1/2 and bake for 1 hour or until the top of the loaf springs back when lightly touched.

Gingerbread Loaf II
Makes: 2 loaves

Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-1/4 teaspoons ground cloves
1-1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation
Prep: 10 min. Bake: 1 hour + cooling

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, milk, syrup and oil. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be thin). Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans.
Bake at 325° for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.