Baby it’s cold outside….
We are having what one might call a cold spell around these parts. Which makes me fear most for our ever controversial bikini baristas. 
They have been in the news around here as of late. In my area (note as I type this my heart swells with pride) we had 5 baristas get arrested for offering a little more than coffee…let’s just say extra whipped cream was an option. 
Then recently we had one open up in the uber-yuppie town of Bellevue near a park. And oh the uproar that has caused. But here’s my beef. I have no actual beef with the baristas themselves. It’s a good marketing plan and they make lots of tips. No, my beef is their actual name, Bikini Baristas. As, I have never seen one in an actual bikini. All the girls they interview on TV all seem to be in lingerie. No bikini. So I am starting a movement to get them called Boudoir Barsitas instead of Bikini Baristas. I have a feeling it will catch on.
You may be asking yourself what this has to do with gingerbread? Oddly enough, a lot. I often joke with people that I am going to open up my own Boudoir Barista based coffee shack. And I want the outside of the shack to look like a gingerbread house. I wont tell you the name I have in mind…it’s a little in the gutter. But I envisioned a little gingerbread girl in lingerie as our mascot of sorts. Of course, instead of bikinis or lingerie, I would want the girls to wear cinnamon buns for tops. Non-edible of course, as I feel if they were edible, a few health code violations might be in the works.
So I offer up what would surely appear on the menu of this fine coffee shack I would start. They are little gingerbread men. They don’t really have a ton of ginger in them, just a hint. I did that so you could taste the hint of the liqueur and the chocolate. You can certainly ditch the Grand Marnier if you would like, but I think it adds a little something special to these. If you don’t have a mini gingerbread man pan (I bought mine at Target) then you can just use mini muffin pans. Though clearly, not as festive.
Keep warm!
Mini Gingerbread Men Cakes with Grand Marnier Chocolate Glaze
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
6 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup mild-flavored molasses
2 large eggs
1 tsp orange extract
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray either mini gingerbread men pan or mini muffin pans (2).
Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
Mix warm water and baking soda in small bowl until baking soda dissolves.
Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, molasses, eggs, and orange extract in large bowl until well blended.
Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with water mixture in 2 additions, beating until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 12-14 minutes depending on your oven and the type of pans you used.
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com
Grand Marnier Chocolate Glaze
5 TBSP clarified melted butter
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 TBSP Grand Marnier
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Over a double boiler add chocolate and butter in a bowl over simmering water. Melt until smooth.
Remove from double boiler and add liqueur, ground ginger, and whipping cream. Whisk until fully incorporated.
Place cooled gingerbread men on a wire rack with a pan below to catch the chocolate. Pour chocolate glaze over the gingerbread men. Let glaze set up for an hour.
47 Responses
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December 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Too cute! I LOVE the smell of gingerbread baking in the oven, I’m going to try this recipe ASAP!
December 6th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Freezing here too!!
Love your jokes (and baked goods!) as always, haha
December 6th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Those cake look irresistible! What great flavors!
Cheers,
Rosa
December 6th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Great post! I had to read it to my husband. Just like the football pool post. That was so funny;) How is the pool going this year? I was hoping for a 3-peat.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Wow, this looks amazing! Such an elegant version of gingerbread men!
December 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
These look fantastic! I now need to be on the lookout for the little gingerbread man pan. The chocolate orange topping I’m sure was the icing on the cake (I couldn’t resist that…)
Here in NY we had a bikini deli which seemed really odd to me. I never found a place that sold cold cut sandwiches sexy. I can see coffee at least a little more sensual…
December 6th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Those are great–I love the first picture. =)
December 6th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Yummo! These little gingerbread men cakes look fab, especially the glaze.
December 6th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Those gingerbread men are so cute. I’ve never seen a pan like that either.
In Austin, we have Bikinis-which is similar to Hooters. We also have Twin Peaks, which I believe is such a tacky name.
So what happens to these scantily clad women when hot coffee sloshes on them? OUCH!!
December 6th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Ugh! The icing looks so smooth and rich! Wow. I would have to add more ginger and subtract the alcohol. Yummy! Stay warm!
December 6th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
They are so cute and very festive. They are wearing one pieces and no lingerie in sight.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Bikini Baristas? Really? If they can have that, then you should totally go with your idea. I’d visit your shop, regardless of whether there are cinnamon bun clad gals in there or not!
December 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Beautiful!!! Love the flavors! Spice + chocolate + orange = bliss! Even better than a coffee served with extra, um, whipped cream (wink, wink)…
December 7th, 2009 at 1:34 am
LOL! Oh, this post is too funny. I can just imagine a boudoir barista with a gingerbread shack…but only if you gave me a job working there. Hee hee.
Those gingerbread men look insane. Everything you make looks insane. I am drooling, drooling, drooling.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:59 am
Hmm, I like your business model. Maybe that would have gone over better in my home state of Maine. There was a topless coffee shop for less than a year, then someone burned it down.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Cute!
Poor thing has its head bitten off for a good cause
December 7th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Gosh, gingerbread. Mmm. I haven’t had any yet this year
I need to get to making some, but I keep forgetting to get molasses at the store haha.
Beautiful pics and so cute!
December 7th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I’m not coming to the cafe unless the gingerbread men are anatomically correct
December 7th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Oh no! Mister Gingerbread is headless! Well, at least, when you bite into an arm, he won’t cry…
I also baked gingerbread this week-end
December 7th, 2009 at 10:28 am
They could wear sprinkles in suggestive places and that might get around the health code violations, lol!
December 7th, 2009 at 10:40 am
They look absolutely lovely!! I love the 1st funny picture,…hahaha!
a lovely & tasty glaze as well!
December 7th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
HELLO YUM!!! I always bite the heads off too! haha SO tempting!!
Great site and photographs!
December 7th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
You crack me up!!! I’ve been working on reports all morning – this was just what I needed – made me laugh! thanks!
December 7th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Plus, it wouldn’t be as fun to put bikinis on circles
Love gingerbread! Would def. add a pinch more for mine, hee 
December 7th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Ahh I love this post!! So cute! And I love the idwa of the glaze… YUM!
December 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
oh my gosh those are adorable!
my windshield was frozen this morning. if only i had one of these to keep me company (until eaten, of course) while waiting for the ice to melt off.
take care <3
December 7th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I’m freezing as well =D. These are so sweet!
December 7th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
“F!”
Peabody – you always seem to know how to make Crack!
December 7th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Bikini Baristas??? I’m sure your coffee place would be loads more interesting…with better food to boot
Heeheehee! You are the funniest Peabody 
December 7th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
brrrr! it’s cold in Vancouver too! I love the little gingerbread pan you have! it creates such cute cakes!
December 8th, 2009 at 4:26 am
That’s a killer recipe! Lose the Grand Marnier? Not likely! I love the glaze dripping all over. Yum.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for giving me a good laugh! You should totally petition for the name change. The flavors in these cakes sound great and I agree with toning down the spice. If I use Grand Marnier in something, I definitely want to taste it!
December 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am
A bit too chilly for bikinis or lingerie. Brrr. I think warming up with house with gingerbread sounds perfect. And my husband would throttle me if I tried to leave out the Grand Marnier. Let me know if you need a business partner on this venture – I’m in!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Yes, it is COLD! I am feeling warmer after reading your post though:)
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December 9th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Love the gingerbread man shape – you could have all kinds of fun w/ the decorating.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
here too! the glaze….oooo
December 9th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Wonders of the Northwest! Boudoir Baristas and smutty gingerbread shacks. Your little gingerbread men are certainly decadent enough to get fantasies going.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
haha! I love your story… I just laughed out loud at work haha and Boudoir Baristas is a much better name…. a little more classy.
December 11th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I love your Boudoir Barista idea…..if it ever comes to life, I’m looking for a career change and don’t mind dressing as a gingerbread girl
December 11th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Thanks for making me laugh out loud today! Can I work in your gingerbread shop? I really want to wear the cinnabon bun tops! Hehehehe… I’m thinking all sorts of in-the-gutter things.
December 13th, 2009 at 12:23 am
The gingerbread men look delicious! Perfect frosting job, I must say!!
And your own Bikini Barista idea sounds like a winner to me, I sure would visit!!
December 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
These are absolutely stunning! Cute and I am sure delicious.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Oh, those dirty little ideas are wonderful, Pea – if you ever need a partner for the business, I’m here!
The little gingerbread men are so cute! I love anything chocolate + orange, so I’m keeping the glaze.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:10 am
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December 17th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I baked some of these and they are wonderful!!!!
December 18th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hey- I’m in Vietnam right now but was feeling like I needed a little shot of home so I came to check up on you. It’s definitely a hotspell here but I would still love some gingerbread, especially with chocolate sauce, (chocolate is not an easy to come by ingredient here…). This is going to be the weirdest Christmas ever- no snow. Keep baking so I have yummy things to drool over!
December 20th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
When you open your barista, i will stop by! the glaze is an added treat for this cookie!