Fill your home with the holiday aroma of gingerbread baking in the oven and put a festive mood in the air. Then serve your guests warm gingerbread topped with sweetened whipped cream.

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup molasses

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups buttermilk

2 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

Sweetened whipped cream for accompaniment (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan; set aside.
2. Combine sugar, butter, molasses, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a large mixing bowl; stir well.
3. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. Add to first mixture, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs and blend well. Add flour and beat until just blended.
4. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Serve with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Make 15 servings.