Chocolate-covered ginger? Chocolate-covered ginger! I saw this at my extremely ordinary grocery store in the bulk food section. Of course I had to try it! Of course I had to put it in a cake! After feverishly running through various options in my head (a lemon ginger cake? A dark molasses-y cake?) I decided on a light but very spicy cake, with apple cider in it. To remind you of fall walks with fresh cider and cider donuts and apple butter… It smells wonderful while it’s cooking, and tastes just as good. If you can’t find dark chocolate-covered ginger, I would recommend using candied ginger and dark chocolate chips. I cut a snowflake out of paper and dusted powder sugar over the cake (and myself!) to make the pattern. Once again proving that cooking is all about the games you played when you were little.

Here’s James Yorkston’s beautiful Woozy with Cider (I used regular American cider, but I think you could use hard cider, too. Hmmm…I’ll have to try that!)

1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup golden syrup (rare in America, I know, but I found it in my extremely ordinary grocery store. I think you could maybe substitute maple syrup or honey if you can’t find it)
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. powdered ginger
1/4 t. allspice
A few grindings of black pepper
dash nutmeg
1/3 cup apple cider
1 cup dark chocolate covered ginger. (Or 1/4 cup chopped candied ginger & 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips)

1. Cream the butter, sugar, vanilla and golden syrup together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well in between.

2 Add all of the dry ingredients and mix well.

3 Add about 1/3 cup of cider. Till it’s a nice mixable batter consistency, but still quite thick.

4. Stir in the chocolate covered ginger.

5. Pour into a prepared (greased, floured, lined) 8 or 9 inch cake tin.

6. Bake at 375 for about 1/2 hour, till browned on top, and lightly springy to the touch.

7. Allow it to cool, then turn out and decorate however you like!