Spiced Gingerbread Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 whole egg
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
• 1/3 cup Maple Syrup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour one 9-inch square pan.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.
4. Beat in the egg, and mix in the molasses.
5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
6. Blend dry ingredients into the creamed mixture.
7. Stir in the hot water. Pour into the prepared pan.
8. Bake for 45 minutes - 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool in pan before serving.
10. For serving, whip about 1 cup of cream with 1/2 teaspoon rum extract until there are soft peaks.
11. Heat about 1/3 cup of maple syrup to just slightly warm.
12. Pour a little syrup over each serving, then dollop on some whipped cream.