Ingredients:

8 tablespoons (4 ounces) butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs
5 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk or yogurt

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter a 9-inch cake pan and dust with flour.

Beat the butter with the brown sugar until light.  Beat in the molasses and maple syrup.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Stir in the ginger.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pepper.  Add half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until smooth, then stir in half the buttermilk.  Repeat the process with the rest of the dry ingredients and the remaining milk.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely and dust with confectioner’s sugar.