GINGER CAKE FROM SIERRA LEONE By Darlene at International Cuisine Leave a Comment

Ginger Cake is common street food in Sierra Leone typically enjoyed as a snack.  We had it as dessert for our International cuisine meal and it was excellent.  Ginger is a common ingredient in Sierra Leone often grown in their subsistence gardens.  This recipe calls for fresh and ground ginger. 

Ginger cake is just one of the street cakes you will find in Sierra Leone.  There are many sweet cakes that are popular like banana fritters, benni cakes which are made with sesame seeds, or ground nut cakes.  There is one that is called king or kill driver. The story goes that it is so sweet and heavy that if a driver eats it they will fall into a sugar coma and crash the car.

You will find these street vendors carrying the cakes in plastic tubs on their heads. 

Did you know that Sierra Leone was originally established to be a safe haven for freed slaves?  This is why it’s capital city is called Freeport.

If you would like more authentic recipes from Sierra Leone to enjoy your ginger cake with, then please check out “Our Journey to Sierra Leone”.  There you will find an authentic Cassava leaf stew recipe as well as a ginger beer to wash it down.  You will also learn a bit about this West African country.

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

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Ginger Cake from Sierra Leone

A delicious cake recipe that is often enjoyed as a street food there.

 Course Dessert

 Cuisine Sierra Leone

 Keyword Ginger Cake

 Prep Time 15 minutes

 Cook Time 50 minutes

 Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

 Servings 8

 Calories 602 kcal

 Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour all-purpose
• 2 Tablespoons ginger root grated
• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons confectioners sugar

Instructions

1. Grease and flour two bread loaf pans.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
3. In large bowl hand mix flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt.
4. In another large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy with a mixer.
5. Add in eggs, one at time, the grated ginger root and vanilla into the butter mixture.
6. Add the milk, mix in the flour mixture until incorporated.
7. Pour 1/2 the batter into a prepared pan and repeat with the other half.
8. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a serving plate.
10. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving

Nutrition Facts

Ginger Cake from Sierra Leone

Amount Per Serving

Calories 602Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 16g100%

Cholesterol 125mg42%

Sodium 394mg17%

Potassium 263mg8%

Carbohydrates 87g29%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 55g61%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 844IU17%

Calcium 125mg13%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.