This week has been a challenge, full of curve balls, and well, pretty crap really. The hardest by far was saying goodbye to our little dog Spoon. He ate some poison and we had him put to sleep on Monday. Utterly heartbreaking.
It's been a tough on all of us, but especially for the children. But after a week of grieving and not really caring to cook at all, today the kitchen called me back, for cake. Nothing too frivolous, just something simple to make, that is solid and somewhat nostalgic, with a generous wodge of creamy frosting.
Sometimes you need cake to make you feel better, to help to soothe a broken heart. It does help, for a little while.
Ginger Cake with Golden Syrup Frosting
225g butter
225g brown sugar
200g golden syrup
1 tablespoon molasses
300ml milk
2 eggs
380g self raising flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
250g cream cheese (at room temperature)
60g butter (at room temperature)
1/4 cup golden icing sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
Preheat oven to 150C and grease a 23cm round spring-form cake tin.
Melt butter, brown sugar, golden syrup and molasses in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow to cool slightly.
Whisk eggs and milk in a small jug, then add to the butter mixture.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour and ginger. Make a well in the centre and pour in the butter and milk mixture and give it a vigorous mix until smooth. If it's looking too lumpy use a whisk to get it smooth.
Pour into prepared cake tin and bake for around 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from tin, then cool completely on a cake rack.
To make the frosting, using a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter together until combined. Add icing sugar and syrup and beat until smooth and fluffy.
Using a palette knife, spread frosting evenly on top of cake, before making swirly flourishes with your knife.
Oh Michelle I'm so sorry about Spoon. I hope the cake helped even if just for a little bit xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Reannon x
DeleteSo sorry to hear about Spoon....
ReplyDeleteand I totally understand the needing of cake to sooth the soul and I think ginger cake is perfect.
I'm making this definitely when I get back home.
xxxx
Thank you Pen, I hope you like the cake x
DeleteLoosing much loved pets is so very sad. Poor Spoon.
ReplyDeletex
It is sad, Zara, they do become a part of the family. xx
DeleteI'm so sorry about your little dog. The heartbreak of losing a pet is horrible. I am 56 years old and my heart still hurts when I think about the day our neighbour ran over my childhood dog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kirstie, I know how you feel, I still get teary about the death of my childhood pet too after 30 odd years. We love them big x
DeleteOh Michelle, poor little Spoon. I've been thinking of your family all week, it does sound like it has been a super crappy one. I will have to make this when someone else can help me eat it, Rob has decided he has to be GF. I think he misses good sourdough and his home brew beer, even more than cake! Much love, if you need a baby cuddle or two (they never fail to help an aching heart) you know you'd be most welcome. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Marian, I would love to organise a visit for a twin cuddle, I love watching then grow on IG xx
DeleteI am so sorry Michelle, it is a very diffcult and heartbreaking time. We went through this with our 8 year old Labrador in March, Milly became ill from a tumour and within weeks we had to put her down. The pain is still there but yesterday we picked up a new puppy, and he has brought puppy joy and the enjoyment of a dog again. Time will help ... Your ginger cake looks delicious and I think I will make it this week. Ann.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Ann, I am so sorry about your loss, but that Sheldon is adorable. xx
DeleteI am so sorry Michelle, losing a special dog can be absolutely heart breaking cant it? As for the cake...you had me at the golden syrup frosting x
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane. There is something about those words, golden syrup that is very comforting. xx
DeleteOh Michelle, such an awful thing to happen.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, poor little Spoon.
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Thanks so much dear Kate xx
DeleteHow shocking and sad.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about Spoon. One can never underestimate the love pets give. You cake looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah x
DeleteBiggest hugs to you all. What a sad week. I'm so sorry. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hugs Ellie xx
DeleteThats sad to hear. Your cake looks delicious, i bet that put a smile on everyone's face's
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jo x
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your poor little dog. x
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind thoughts Vanessa x
DeleteSo sorry Michelle. It's such a sad occasion when a furry member of the family is no longer with you. Thank goodness for cake. May you find more and more things that help. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Christina xx
DeleteSo very sorry to hear about Spoon Michelle - I can still remember so clearly how devastated I felt when our dog died while I was at Uni.
ReplyDeleteYay for cake - especially with ginger
x
Our border collie Kit sends her most favorite tennis ball with her love, hoping they might help a little.
ReplyDeleteI am devastated for you all. Spoon was just 100% instantly loveable. I can still picture him dashing manically around Hideaway and then perching himself quietly and devotedly in Elsa's lap. He had a far too short but beautiful life, and one day you'll give another puppy a beautiful life. Nothing can change things but knowing that so many people feel for you and have had the same heartbreak hopefully does help.
ReplyDeleteAnge
Apologies, late to hear your sad news.
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute by Helen Razor is on The Hoopla site today for her lil cat, oh our pets are hear to just love us and that's why they score a permanent spot in our hearts
Michelle, I made your ginger cake recipe this morning. i am really happy with the outcome, the cake is delicious and thank you for adding the easy to follow recipe, under sad circumstances. Ann xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know Ann, I'm so glad you enjoyed the cake! x
DeleteHello Michelle...I came to you via Ann. I'm so sorry to hear about your beloved Spoon...I know how you feel as the same happened to our Anni. And yes cake will help a little! Thank you for the recipe. Enjoy the weekend and Bon Appetit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! Enjoy your weekend too. x
DeleteI need to make that cake too. I am sorry to hear about your pup. Grief is certainly an uneasy road and I am very sorry for your loss.
ReplyDelete