LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2022

SWEET EXCHANGES

1. Arrange rack in centre of oven. Preheat to 375°F (191°C). Generously butter two 8-cup mini-loaf baking pans (10 x 15-inch/25 x 38-cm). 2. Combine flour with baking soda, ginger, salt and spices in a large bowl. Set aside. 3. Using a sturdy whisk, combine molasses with water in a very large bowl. Whisk in eggs, butter, sugars, zest and vanilla until fully combined. Whisk in flour mixture until batter is smooth and glossy. Spoon batter into the prepared pans, filling each section no more than three quarters full.

4. Bake on middle rack until a tester inserted into centre of loaves comes out clean, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pan and transfer to two wire racks. Cool completely. 5. For the syrup, combine sugar and orange juice in a small saucepan. Set over medium-low heat, stirring just until sugar is dissolved. Set aside. 6. For the glaze, whisk icing sugar and orange juice in a medium bowl until smooth. Mixture will be thick. Set aside.

7. Once loaves are cool, tilt saucepan toward you to pool syrup mixture. Dip the top side of each loaf into the syrup, then return to the rack. Once all loaves have been dipped, repeat until syrup is gone. 8. Using an offset spatula or spoon, gently spread glaze over top of each loaf. Glaze will smooth as it sets. Return to racks and let stand until dry to the touch, about 20 more minutes. (Loaves will keep at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3 days.)

Blood Orange Gingerbread Mini Loaves

Mini loaf pans—like a muffin tin but with eight loaf moulds—are easy to find, but if you only have one, just bake these in two batches, leaving the batter at room temperature between bakes. A quick dip in orange syrup not only adds an extra hit of flavour, it keeps the loaves tender and moist for storage. LOAVES 4 cups (1 L) all-purpose flour 1 tbsp (15 mL) baking soda 2 tsp (10 mL) ground ginger 1 tsp (5 mL) fine sea salt 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground allspice 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cloves 1 cup (250 mL) fancy molasses 2/3 cup (150 mL) boiling water 4 large eggs 1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter, melted 1 cup (250 mL) light brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup (60 mL) granulated sugar 2 1/2 tsp (12 mL) finely grated blood orange zest 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract SYRUP 1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar 1/2 cup (125 mL) strained fresh blood orange juice GLAZE 2 cups (500 mL) icing sugar 3 tbsp (45 mL) strained fresh blood orange juice

Makes 16 mini loaves

110 FOOD & DRINK HOLIDAY 2022