Hot Water Gingerbread Cake with Persimmon

As I’ve mentioned several times, I am a Southern girl at heart. So, when I come across a recipe that is from real Southern great-grandmother (Nanny), I immediately wanted to make and eat it and somehow ingest all the Southern goodness.

My friend and fellow PhD-in-a-weird-theoretical-arts-field, Jenifer is a real Southern Girl from Arkansas. I am a bit jealous. She is an academic and a poet. And she is an amazing baker and cook. She often posts family recipes on her site, Experience(d) Collector. When she posted her made-over recipe for her Nanny’s gingerbread, I knew I had to adapt it to gluten-free and share with you as my December 1st seasonal treat. Thanks, Jenifer!

This cake is rich, moist, and full-flavored. The persimmons add a light fruit taste and texture. If you can’t find persimmons, don’t worry–you may omit them. But, if you can find them, use them. Not only are they pretty–like bright orange tomatoes–they have a very subtle flavor. I think they taste kind of like a low-key cross between a mango and an apricot, without the perfume-y notes. And their color is perfect for this time of year–a bit of bright light to pierce the increasingly longer dark nights (and in Seattle, dark days):

This cake is quite simple and easy to make. It’s a nice cake for afternoon tea and chatting with pals (which is how Girlfriend eats it), or for a taste-of-the-season breakfast (which is how dAhub eats it). I eat it in the same way Jenifer does, with a cup of tea while I’m writing.

Hot Water Gingerbread with Persimmon, Gluten-Free
-adapted from the Experience(d) Collector, with thanks to Nanny

Ingredients
2 cups (290g) Jeanne’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour Mix
1/2 cup (115g) cornmeal (be sure it’s gluten-free)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp aluminum-free, double acting baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick; 4 oz; 115g) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1 cup (235ml) molasses
2 extra large eggs
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 cup (235 ml) boiling water
2 fresh persimmons, ripe but firm, peeled and diced
extra butter and tapioca flour for pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8×8 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy.  Add granulated sugar, beat until fluffy.  Add molasses, continue to beat.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add flour mixture, beat until just combined.

Pour boiling water over mixture, carefully beat until just combined.  Add persimmons, mix until just incorporated.  Pour into prepared baking dish.

Bake for 50 minutes or until tester comes out clean.  Let sit in pan for about 5 minutes before removing cake to a wire rack to cool–although this cake is very nice warm with a bit of whipped cream on the side.

Enjoy!

Note:  If you use a different gluten-free flour mix, alter the amount of or eliminate the xanthan gum or use a different gluten-replacer, use dairy-free or egg-free substitutes, or change any other ingredients in this recipe, your results may not match my results.

PRINT FRIENDLY RECIPE