three slices of gingerbread cake on a white pedestal cake stand

Damp Gingerbread

50 minutes

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see questions Lindsey has answered on this recipe

This recipe is from Delia's Cakes.

There has been much debate about the title of this recipe.

‘Damp’ is not the usual adjective to describe a cake, but a recent group of tasters nodded in assent – it does kind of say it. Its texture is quite different from other cakes, so taste some and see what you think.

The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch more cakes being made in our Family Cakes lesson which includes Sticky Prune and Date Cake, Traditional Oatmeal Parkin and Apricot Oat Slices

Got a question on Delia's recipes? Ask Lindsey

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Damp Gingerbread with mounds on the surface

Asked by: Linda

Damp Ginger Recipe - When I bake this cake it always has mounds in it, What am I doing wrong

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, It’s a pocket of air and sometimes it just happens but it could be that you have added too much bicarbonate of soda or over beaten the mixture when adding the eggs. Kind regards Lindsey

Method

First weigh out the syrup into a small saucepan, it helps to place the opened tin in a pan of barely simmering water for 5 minutes to make it easier to pour.

Then weigh a saucepan on the scales, and weigh the syrup into it. Then add the butter to the saucepan and melt the two together over a gentle heat. Meanwhile measure the dry ingredients into a bowl, then gradually pour in the syrup mixture, mixing thoroughly. Now beat the egg and milk together in a separate basin then add that bit by bit, again mixing very thoroughly.

The cake batter will seem very liquid at this stage but that’s quite normal so don’t worry, just pour it into the prepared tin and bake near the centre of the oven for about 50 minutes or until the centre is springy. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire tray to cool. When it’s cold, cut it into squares and store in an airtight tin.