Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour (not generous)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 1/2 ounces butter, softened at room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup dark molasses
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 1/3 cup minced crystallized ginger (or candied)
• 1 cup heavy cream (not ultrapasteurized, if possible)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (or an equal amount of the syrup from candied ginger)