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.