Dutch Ginger Cake Recipe
served on painted plates, a collaboration between Astier de Villatte and John Derian
Knowing we were heading to a sun-drenched barn with a long table, the working space of Aila of Hands In The Dirt, afternoon tea was the obvious moment to create...
Astrid, Aila's mother, who has dexterous hands not only for seedlings and tubers, but also for fine dessert cakes and tartes, kindly accepted our suggestion to fill our painted plates with something beautiful. The result was a Dutch Ginger Cake, thin and almost biscuit like, once sliced, the cake revealed its belly dotted with ginger jewels.
A perfect pairing then, to be served upon the Lambeth Circle 1725 Dessert Plate, which draws on the painted pottery tradition of Dutch manufacturers in Delft — a craft with roots reaching back to the 12th century. They feature a central medallion ringed in blue, surrounded by radiating botanical motifs in teal, rust, mustard and deep red, each applied with a brushstroke that makes no attempt to be uniform.
A collaboration between Astier de Villatte and John Derian, the Lambeth Circle 1725 Dessert Plates are the perfect set to pull out for special occasions. Below, Astrid shares her recipe, which we paired with a dollop of fresh yoghurt and a second round of black coffee.
Lambeth Circle 1725 Dessert Plate by John Derian and Astier de Villatte, $234.50
Dutch Ginger Cake
INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup caster sugar
125g dried ginger, chopped
185g butter
1 egg
60g whole blanched almonds
METHOD
Stir flour and salt.
Add sugar and chopped ginger.
Melt the butter, cool it, then mix in the beaten egg, reserving 1 tsp of egg for glazing.
Add butter and egg mixture to flour. Mix well.
Press mixture into 8 inch round tin. Brush the top with egg to glaze. Arrange the almonds decoratively.
Bake in moderate oven (180c) for 45mins, or until golden.
Allow to cool in the tin.
Tom Bowl by Astier de Villatte, $275.50
Tom Bowl by Astier de Villatte, $275.50
Lambeth Circle 1725 Dessert Plate by John Derian and Astier de Villatte, $234.50
Lambeth Circle 1725 Dessert Plate by John Derian and Astier de Villatte, $234.50
