Ima’s Favorite Gingerbread is a recipe taken from A Book of Favorite Recipes compiled by the First United Pentecostal Church Ladies’ Auxiliary. According to a note in the book, Ima (Balla) Creech said this was a recipe that was “passed down since 1870.” (Note: It is unclear if this is a Balla or Creech family recipe. However, gingerbread making is considered an art-form in parts of Hungary.)
Gingerbread Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup soft shortening
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup dark molasses
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tsp. soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt or cut to 1/4 tsp.
- 1 tsp. ginger
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Directions: Mix shortening, sugar, and egg. Blend in molasses and hot water. Sift together all the dry ingredients, blend into other mixture until smooth. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Use 10 X 13 inch baking pan, greased and floured. Oven temperature, 325 to 350 degrees. You can use homemade sugar cane syrup–if you got it–I use Grandma’s Molasses, or you may use 1/2 of each.
Bon appetit! (or Jó étvágyat! in Hungarian)
Balla Family History 