Gingerbread with Orange-Scented Whipped Cream

For the holidays, our good friend Jennifer (@JennifahBravo) created a gingerbread loaf recipe to pair with Curieux—our bourbon barrel-aged Belgian-style golden ale. Curieux’s aromas and notes of vanilla, coconut, and bourbon are a perfect accompaniment to the deep, rich molasses flavor of the gingerbread. The zesty orange-scented whipped cream really brings it to the next level. Highly recommended for your next holiday get-together.

• 2 cups all-purpose Maine Grains flour (about 240 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 teaspoons grated ginger (about 4” piece, peeled and freshly grated)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons nutmeg (about ½ nutmeg seed freshly grated)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• 1 orange, zested and juiced
• Serve with Allagash Curieux

PROCEDURE:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. In a mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter until well combined, about 5 minutes. Add molasses and vanilla and mix well. Add the eggs, one at a time, until well mixed.
4. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and alternate with the buttermilk, stirring just until blended after each addition.
5. Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
6. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then remove onto a cooling rack.
7. Using a handheld mixer, mix heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar, orange zest, and juice for about 7 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Taste and add more orange if needed. The mix is finished when peaks form. Be careful not to overmix.
8. Serve each slice with a heavy dollop of whipped cream and an Allagash Curieux.