Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

From EatingWell: November/December 1998, The Essential EatingWell Cookbook (2004) — Subscribe Now!

Ginger, which can be traced as far back as the first century A.D., is an ancient culinary staple. Honor its tradition by baking this moist, spicy cake, served plain or with a spoonful of Lemon Curd.

12 servings

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Nutrition Profile

Low cholesterol | Low saturated fat | Low sodium | Heart healthy | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-by-11 1/2-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
Place egg, sugar and oil in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in molasses and applesauce.
Gently mix the dry ingredients and buttermilk into the egg mixture with a rubber spatula, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of buttermilk. (Do not overmix.)
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly in the pan on a wire rack. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Per serving: 262 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 50 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 337 mg sodium; 467 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Magnesium (18% daily value).

3 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 3 other carbohydrates, 1 fat