Cholly's World-Famous Gingerbread Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup dark molasses
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Crème anglaise
• Unsweetened cocoa and/or powdered sugar (optional)
• Fresh mint sprigs (optional), rinsed

Preparation

1. 1. In a 2- to 3-quart pan over high heat, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in molasses and baking soda. After mixture stops foaming, stir in 1/2 cup cold water; let cool to room temperature, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
2. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves.
3. 3. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and brown sugar until well blended. Beat in eggs until blended. Reduce speed to medium-low. Add flour and molasses mixtures alternately until incorporated, then beat on high speed until well blended. Pour into a buttered and floured 9-inch square pan.
4. 4. Bake in a 325° regular or convection oven until a toothpick inserted in center of thickest part comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a rack at least 1 1/4 hours.
5. 5. Pour about 1/4 cup crème anglaise onto each plate. Cut cake into pieces (see notes) and set them in sauce on plates. If desired, lightly sift cocoa and/or powdered sugar over each plate and garnish with a mint sprig. Offer remaining crème anglaise to add to taste.