Best Gingerbread Icebox Cake With Blood Orange Syrup Recipes

UPSIDE-DOWN BLOOD ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter. Add the brown sugar and lemon juice; stir until sugar melts, about 3 minutes. Scrape mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
• Grate 1/2 teaspoon zest from one of the oranges, then slice off the tops and bottoms of both oranges. Place oranges on a clean, flat surface, and slice away the rind and pith, top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Slice each orange crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick wheels; discard any seeds. Arrange orange wheels on top of brown sugar mixture in a single, tight layer.
• In a large bowl, whisk together orange zest, cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together remaining 2 sticks (225 grams) butter with granulated sugar. Beat in eggs, one a time, then beat in sour cream and vanilla. Fold in the dry mixture by hand.
• Scrape batter into pan over oranges. Transfer to oven and bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes, then run a knife along pan's edges to loosen it; invert onto a platter and cool completely before serving.

SYRUPY BLOOD ORANGES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add orange slices, and cook until semi-translucent, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a baking sheet.
• Cut a round of parchment paper to fit in a large, shallow saucepan. Bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Carefully add orange slices, and place parchment directly on surface. Reduce heat, and simmer gently until oranges have softened and liquid is syrupy, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and let oranges cool in syrup. Halve or quarter some of the orange slices if desired.

GINGERBREAD ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower positions. On generously floured pieces of parchment paper, roll out dough to about 1/16 inch thick. Brush off excess flour. Slide dough and parchment onto baking sheets, and freeze 10 minutes.
• Using a 2 3/8-inch fluted cutter, cut out rounds, rerolling scraps to get a total of 72. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake cookies 5 minutes. Remove sheets from oven; tap pans firmly on counter to flatten cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets from top to bottom and front to back; bake until cookies are set and edges have darkened slightly, about 5 minutes more. Transfer sheets to wire racks to cool completely.
• With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla just until stiff peaks form. Arrange 7 cookies in a circle on a cake stand or a serving plate, sides touching; place 1 cookie in center. Spread 3/4 cup whipped cream over cookies, leaving a 3/4-inch cookie border. Repeat, making 8 more layers each of cookies and whipped cream. Chill at least 1 hour.
• Just before serving, spoon some of the oranges and their syrup over top. Serve remaining oranges on the side.

MOLASSES-GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a medium bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Divide dough into 3 portions, and wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a generously floured piece of parchment, roll dough to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Brush off excess flour. Slide dough and parchment onto baking sheets, and freeze for 15 minutes.
• Cut out desired shapes. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze for 15 minutes.
• Bake cookies for 6 minutes. Remove sheets from oven, and tap them firmly on counter to flatten cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets, and bake until crisp but not darkened, 6 to 8 minutes more. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
• Spoon icing into a pastry bag fitted with a very small plain round tip (such as Ateco #0 or #1). Pipe designs on cookies. Let cookies stand at room temperature until set, at least 2 hours (preferably overnight).

BLOOD ORANGE SYRUP

Steps:

• Stir all ingredients in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until syrup is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes. Refrigerate until cold. Cover and keep refrigerated up to 2 days.

GINGERBREAD ICEBOX CAKE WITH BLOOD-ORANGE SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a generously floured piece of parchment, roll dough to 1/16 inch thick. Brush off excess flour. Slide dough and parchment onto baking sheets, and freeze for 10 minutes.
• Using a 2 3/8-inch fluted cutter, cut out 72 rounds. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake cookies for 5 minutes. Remove sheets from oven, and tap them firmly on counter to flatten cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets, and bake until cookies are set and edges have darkened slightly, about 5 minutes more. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
• Beat cream, sugar, and vanilla just until stiff peaks form. Arrange 7 cookies in a circle on a cake stand or a serving plate (cookies should be touching one another). Place 1 cookie in center. Carefully spread 3/4 cup whipped cream evenly over cookies, leaving a 3/4-inch cookie border. Repeat, making 8 more layers each of cookies and whipped cream. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Just before serving, spoon some of the oranges and their syrup over top. Serve remaining oranges on the side.