Gingerbread With Crunchy Topping Recipes

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL CRUNCH

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; set aside. Butter the sides of a small heavy saucepan; add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes., Remove from the heat; stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Stir in vanilla. Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well., Transfer to 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.

MANGO GINGERBREAD WITH MACADAMIA STREUSEL

Steps:

• For streusel:
• Stir all ingredients in small bowl to blend.
• For gingerbread:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Coarsely puree mangoes in food processor. Transfer 1 cup mango puree to large bowl (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Add buttermilk, oil, and eggs to puree; whisk until blended. Add flour mixture; stir just until combined. Transfer half of batter (about 2 cups) to prepared pan. Sprinkle half of streusel over. Spoon remaining batter over, smooth evenly with spatula, then sprinkle with remaining streusel.
• Bake bread until springy to touch and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.) Cut bread into 9 squares and serve.
• Baker's wisdom:
• Buttermilk and baking soda help give the gingerbread a tender texture.

GINGERBREAD WITH LEMON TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Spray 9x5-inch or 8x4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, beat all gingerbread ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed. Pour into pan.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in 1 1/4 cups water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Stir in egg yolk. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in lemon peel and lemon juice.
• Cool gingerbread 10 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or cool gingerbread with warm or cool lemon sauce.