Miss Parloa's Soft Molasses Gingerbread (1800's Recipe)

This 1800's recipe for soft molasses gingerbread is very easy and requires only 6 ingredients. Sweetened only with molasses, and spiced with ginger, it's delicious.

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT18M

Total time: PT28M

Rating

4.8 stars (5 reviews)

Keywords

cake recipes

Ingredients

1 cup molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
1 tablespoon butter or lard
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups flour

Steps

Heat oven to 375
To a mixing bowl, add molasses, baking powder, ginger, and butter or lard.
Stir this together, and then pour on one half a cup of boiling water, and the flour. Beat well.
Spread in a well-greased 8x8 pan.
Bake until set in the center, about 18 minutes.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 g
Calories: 176 kcal
Carbohydrates: 37 g
Protein: 2 g
Fat: 2 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 4 mg
Sodium: 59 mg
Sugar: 21 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1 g

Reviews

Pamela on 2026-05-11 (5 stars):
Just made sOme! delicious👌👌👌I used Einkorn flour and organic molasses. yummy, just yummy
Paula Williams on 2026-01-01 (4 stars):
Two things noted for if/when I make again: 1) Ingredients lists “baking soda” whereas instructions text had “powder”. I used soda and was pleased with the results. 2) I’ll reduce some spiced apple cider and make a glaze with powdered sugar over top.
LT on 2024-12-22 (5 stars):
Just made this recipe- and, it is not only simple to make- but, is very soft and good! Not too soft, not too sweet, perfectly chewy cake. Yum! I don’t know how to put a picture here, but will on the Pinterest post that I found this on. We will be enjoying this at Christmastime, from now on. Thank you!
Gena Cook-Jones on 2024-09-18 (5 stars):
Delicious. Wasn’t very sweet but nice and chewy. Will make again. Thank you
Libby on 2024-09-14 (5 stars):
Good morning, I made this for breakfast with gluten free flour. So rich & delicious!