Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Gingerbread Loaf Recipe pieces stacked high on a white round plate

Gingerbread Loaf Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Moist and spicy Gingerbread Loaf Cake is whipped up in just a few minutes with simple ingredients. Baked to golden brown perfection and topped with a tangy and sweet cream cheese frosting. Perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 Slices 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Gingerbread Loaf

  • 4oz (1/2 Cup/ 1 Stick) Unsalted Butter, at room temp.
  • 200 grams (1 Cup) Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Large Egg, at room temp.
  • 6oz (3/4 Cup) Applesauce
  • 2oz ( 1/4 Cup) Molasses
  • Zest of 1 Large Lemon
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Teaspoons Each of Ground Ginger & Cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 188 grams (1 1/2 Cups) All-Purpose Flour

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temp.
  • 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 313 grams (2 1/2 Cups) Powdered Sugar*
  • Zest of 1 Medium Lemon
  • Candied Ginger for Decoration

Instructions

Gingerbread Loaf

  1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease a 9"X 5" loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl or bowl of your electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment add the butter and sugar creaming together until it gets very light and fluffy- 3-5 minutes on medium speed. Then add the egg and beat for another minute to combine.
  3. Next comes the molasses, applesauce, fresh lemon zest. The mixture will look funny and curdled a bit, that is totally fine. Next mix in the baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Then gently fold the flour in- you don't want to over mix the flour into the batter- this can create a tough gingerbread loaf. Once the flour streaks have just gone pour the gingerbread batter into a prepared loaf pan.
  4. Bake for 40-45 minutes- or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean with no wet batter. Invert on to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. In a large bowl or bowl of your electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment add the cream cheese and whisk on medium speed until smooth, 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and fresh lemon zest. If frosting is too thin feel free to add a little more powdered sugar until you reach desired consistency.
  3. Pour frosting on top of gingerbread loaf- I put the loaf in the fridge for the frosting to set up. Add pieces of candied ginger. The loaf will last 2-3 days, I keep mine refrigerated.
  • Author: Elizabeth I Confessions of a Baking Queen
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 45
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
confessions of a baking queen logo

Weekend Baking Projects

free email series

Tips & recipes for delicious weekend

baking projects

Dulce de Leche Millie Feuille on a white plate