Dark Chocolate-Orange Gingerbread Cake

Ingredientes

CAKE

Nonstick vegetable oil spray or room-temperature unsalted butter (for pan)

1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour

1 tsp. Diamond Crystal

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

½ cup mild-flavored (light) molasses

½ cup (packed; 100 g) dark brown

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room

1 Tbsp. finely grated ginger (from about a 3" piece)

1 Tbsp. finely grated orange zest (from 1 medium orange)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper

1 large egg

GANACHE AND ASSEMBLY

3.5-4 oz. 70% dark chocolate, chopped

½ cup heavy cream

¼ tsp. Diamond Crystal

Instruções

CAKE

Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°. Line bottom of an 8"-diameter cake pan with a parchment paper round. Lightly coat parchment and pan with nonstick spray.

Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Mix molasses and ½ cup water in a measuring glass.

Whisk brown sugar, butter, ginger, orange zest, cinnamon, and pepper in a medium bowl until light and creamy, about 5 minutes (if butter isn't soft enough and mixture is hard to mix, smash butter with a rubber spatula at first to combine, then switch to the whisk).

Add egg; whisk until emulsified, about 1 minute.

Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with molasses mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Vigorously mix until combined, about 2 minutes (batter may look curdled and that’s OK).

Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth surface with a small offset spatula or a spoon.

Bake until cake springs back when gently pressed, 40-45 minutes.

Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool in pan 10 minutes. Run offset spatula around sides of pan, then invert cake out onto rack and let cool completely.

GANACHE AND ASSEMBLY

Place chocolate in a medium bowl.

Heat cream and salt in a small saucepan over medium just until beginning to simmer; pour over chocolate.

Let sit 2 minutes, then whisk gently until smooth.

Let ganache cool until pourable, about 30 minutes. (Or, chill, stirring halfway through, until pourable, about 10 minutes.)

Spoon ganache over cake (leave upside down; this will give you a nice flat top) and, using offset spatula, spread evenly over surface, letting some drip down sides.

Let cake sit until ganache is fully set, about 30 minutes. (Or, chill about 10 minutes.)

Transfer to a cake stand or platter to serve.

DO AHEAD: Cake can be baked 1 day ahead; store, airtight, at room temperature.

Cake can be glazed 1 day ahead; store, covered with a cake dome or large bowl, at a cool room temperature.

Notas

This dessert presents the glorious complexity and contrast of flavors in gingerbread in the form of a delightfully springy cake that you can mix entirely by hand. The orange zest serves as a bright link, marrying the spices in the cake to the shiny chocolate glaze above.

Throw out the cake rule book and mix the batter here with vigor; it will ensure an even and structured crumb.

From bon appetit magazine