Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TWD - Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

I'll admit that I had pigeon-holed gingerbread into the category of treats to be only enjoyed during the Christmas holidays but let me tell you, this chocolate gingerbread is to die for any time of the year! Holy smokes, this was one heck of a good recipe! Thanks Heather of Sherry Trifle for choosing the Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread. The recipe can be found on Heather's blog and on page 212 of "Baking: From My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan.

Now, before we delve into TWD business let's see a show of hands - who here watches Top Chef? If you don't, I recommend you do, and if you do you'll recall that last week's episode was the infamous "restaurant wars". In this particular episode, Stefan, makes a wonderful little treat which is not really talked about and is only shown for a few seconds - Mango Lollipops. How are chocolate dipped mangoes related to gingerbread you ask? Patience, grasshopper, patience ... I'm getting there. When I saw the little chocolate/mango squares, I knew I would make gingerbread lollipops. I have been eyeballing a silicone brownie bites pan and this weeks recipe gave me just the excuse I was looking for to buy it! Of course, I really think I need another one because I had to fill that bad boy up 4 or 5 times to use up all of the gingerbread batter! So now do you see my plan coming together? Do you?
The recipe calls for letting the icing firm up for about 10 minutes before spreading on the gingerbread but I wanted a smooth satiny finish so I used it right away. I put the icing in a squeeze bottle and squirted it on the brownie bites allowing it to dribble over the sides a wee bit.

I topped them with a little piece of mango and a lollipop stick for a tasty little nibble. These things were awesome by themselves but the mango pushed them to spectacular.

I also made the ginger infused whipped cream but whipped it until stiff peaks formed to that I could pipe it. I added a little swirl to the top of some of the gingerbread squares.

I also added a little dollop to be scooped up on my lollipop. Wow. Just wow.

Each gingerbread bite was about one inch square and 1/2 inch tall. I double the icing recipe but still didn't make enough to frost each and every square. I will definitely be making the chocolate gingerbread again! Yum! Please check out the rest of TWD group to see how they handled this weeks challenge.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very, very cool and creative. I love the mango/gingerbread lollipops.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I bet these were fabulous. Mango is a brilliant addition to the flavors in the gingerbread and your pops are beautiful. BRAVO!

natalia said...

How nice ! I like your lollypop style !!

vibi said...

I could kill for one of those little ginger whipped cream covered munchies! YUMMY!
Very well done, Kimberly... nice touch, the ginger infused cream!

Sabrina said...

So creative!!! You did a great job!

chocolatechic said...

Oh...how gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

another brilliant creation!

Coincidentally, my book should arrive in the mail today--I can hardly wait!

Danielle said...

Very cute,I love that you made them into bite sizes!

kimberly salem said...

ooh, wonderful idea!! i watch top chef too... glad i am just watching stefan and not working with him, haha.

Lillian said...

You are a culinary genius. Those are magnificent.

Cooking for Comfort by Jennifer said...

I've seen these brownie bites pans and wondered about them...your gingerbread bites are ADORABLE! So creative! Way to go!

Melissa said...

They look fabulous! You're the first one I've seen to make the whipped topping, I bet it tasted amazing!

Natalie said...

They look so cute! I love mini-versions of things.. I practically make every TWD recipe in a mini pan of some kind. :) They're perfect!

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm always so impressed by the TWD creations! This is so cool!

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Love the presentation!!! Very cute lollypops! :)

Banjo said...

Great job in cutting them into bite size pieces, that is really all you need anyways!! Well done. :)

jen said...

Mango - OMG THE perfect addition. I wish we hadn't given some away to the neighbours-guess I'll just have to make them again...

Anonymous said...

very, very cool. i love top chef. this season has actually turned out way better than i expected.

Pamela said...

I love Top Chef but I've been missing it lately. Thankfully, we just got our DVR and I will soon be watching with regularity. These look really beautiful! The bites look so pretty covered in their chocolate.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

You really went the extra mile (or 10) on this one! So cool, and I'm glad you've become a yearlong gingerbread fan. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a brownie bites pan.
Nancy

farah said...

Oh my goodness, these look amazing!! Great idea!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

gingerbread bites--great idea!!

Anonymous said...

wow your mini cake lollipops are SO cute!

Anonymous said...

OH NO WAY!!! That is awesome! And it looks amazing! I would eat all of them. I am so serious.

TeaLady said...

Those are cute. Very creative. Yummy!!!

Cathy said...

These are so inventive and just so beautiful! And I am glad that you loved the flavor to boot! Sounds like an all-around success to me!

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

These are absolutely lovely! How imaginative to make the gingerbread lollipops.