Molasses Gingersnaps

In New England both hard and soft gingerbread were served on Muster or Militia Day, when the local militia paraded arms on the village green and townsfolk celebrated with mugs of foaming cider or ale and ginger cakes bought from the ginger vendors. Such patriotic associations account for Eliza Leslie’s names Franklin Gingerbread and Lafayette Gingerbread. Her festive cakes are made with candied orange peel, or orange rind and fresh orange juice, to refresh the gingered dough baked in “littl