If you love warm spices, deep molasses flavor, and a soft, moist texture, this Soft and Sticky Gingerbread is the perfect recipe to bake. It is rich, comforting, and full of classic gingerbread flavor from cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ground ginger.
This old-fashioned gingerbread has a tender crumb with a slightly sticky texture, making it perfect for cozy evenings, holiday baking, family desserts, or serving with a cup of tea or coffee.
Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread
This gingerbread is simple to make and packed with flavor. The molasses gives it a deep, rich sweetness, while the warm spices create that classic homemade aroma. The boiling water and baking soda help create a soft, moist cake-like texture that gets even better the next day.
Serve it plain, warm, or dressed up with whipped cream, powdered sugar, or vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Optional: You can substitute half of the flour with spelt flour for a slightly nutty flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a baking pan or loaf tins with butter or non-stick spray.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light, smooth, and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Molasses
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Stir in the molasses and mix until everything is smooth and well combined.
Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture. Stir gently until just combined.
Step 6: Add the Baking Soda Mixture
Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water.
Carefully pour the hot baking soda mixture into the batter and stir until combined. The batter will be thin, and that is completely normal.
Step 7: Bake
Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan or loaf tins.
Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
Let the gingerbread cool before slicing. The texture will be soft, moist, and slightly sticky.
Serving Suggestions
This soft gingerbread is delicious on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with:
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Powdered sugar
- Caramel sauce
- Hot tea or coffee
For the best flavor, serve it slightly warm.
Helpful Tips
This gingerbread tastes even better the next day because the spices have more time to deepen. Store it covered at room temperature to keep it moist and soft.
Avoid overmixing the batter once the flour is added, as this helps keep the texture tender.
Storage Tips
Store leftover gingerbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze slices for up to 2 months. Wrap them tightly and thaw before serving.
Final Thoughts
This Soft and Sticky Gingerbread is a classic comfort dessert with rich molasses, warm spices, and a beautifully moist texture. It is easy to prepare, perfect for the holidays, and even better the next day. Whether served plain or with a creamy topping, every slice is full of cozy homemade flavor.
