Gingerbread Loaf
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One of the greatest things about the holidays in my opinion is gingerbread, and more specifically this gingerbread loaf!
This post has been sponsored by Sprouts. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Kroll’s Korner running!
This quick bread is super easy to whip up, no stand mixer required and it’s finished with a cinnamon-y cream cheese frosting that is life-changing!
Baked goods with warming spices in any form are a must for the holiday season. If you love this recipe you’ll be sure to love my chewy molasses cookies and this best ever banana bread!
A few things to note about why this gingerbread loaf is the best:
- It’s perfectly moist
- Easy to make using a hand mixer
- Great for holidays and/or gift giving
- Had the perfect about of spice!
- Delicious with a warm cup of coffee
Ingredients you will need
I always shop at Sprouts for our organic ingredients; I just love the variety and how accessible the ingredients are. I especially love sopping at Sprouts around the holidays because the seasonality of items and how helpful their staff always is!
Pro Tip:
Use the spice bulk section at Sprouts to stock up on your holiday spices. You can scoop out however much you need instead of buying a large container!
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Dry ingredients:
- Flour
- Ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- Baking Soda
- Salt
Wet ingredients
- Unsalted Butter
- Organic Brown sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla
- Organic Molasses
- Boiling water/ hot water
For the frosting:
- Cream cheese, softened
- Butter
- Organic Molasses
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt
- Organic powdered confectioners sugar
How to make it:
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a loaf pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl.
- Cream together the butter and brown sugar in another bowl. Add in egg and vanilla.
- Combine the molasses and boiling water in a measuring cup or bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add flour mixture alternately with molasses mixture.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely.
- Make the cream cheese frosting and spread on the cooled loaf.
Tips and tricks for making a gingerbread loaf
- Mixing the molasses with boiling water helps to thin out the molasses and add moisture to the loaf.
- Use a Metal Loaf Pan 9×5 inch: a darker color metal loaf pan absorbs more heat and may result in a darker and thicker crust. Use a light colored aluminum loaf pan for a lighter more tender crust.
- The bake time can vary from oven to oven. Your bread may take a few minutes longer, or less, but I recommend to start checking the bread around 35 minutes.
- Be careful not to over mix. You hear this ALL the time with quick bread recipes, I know! Overmixing can lead to a dense gingerbread loaf and essentially ruining the gluten development in the bread. Beat just until combined and smooth. The more gently you handle the bread, the more tender the bread will be!
- Store leftovers in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days.
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Gingerbread Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-Purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature ((8 Tbsp.))
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Frosting
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened ((4 Tbsp.))
- 1 Tbsp. molasses
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 pinch salt
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5 inch bread pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, baking powder and baking soda.2 cups All-Purpose flour, 1 Tbsp. ground ginger, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. ground cloves, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy (1-2 min). Add in the egg and vanilla and mix again.1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed, 1 large egg, room temperature, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Combine the molasses and boiling water in a measuring cup or bowl and whisk until smooth.1/2 cup molasses, 1/2 cup boiling water
- Add the flour mixture alternately with molasses mixture into the butter & sugar. Do not over mix the batter.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack
- For the frosting, in a medium bowl cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Then add in the molasses, cinnamon and salt. Mix again. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 Tbsp. molasses, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 pinch salt, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Spread over the cooled gingerbread loaf , sprinkle cinnamon on top and allow frosting to set up for 1 hour (if you can wait!)
Video
Notes
- Keep wrapped in plastic wrap or in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
- This can also be made in an 8×4 inch loaf pan, you will need to bake longer. I would check around 40-45 minutes, ovens may vary.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
What is the purpose of using water and mix it with the molasses?
hi! good question. it’s used to thin out the molasses and provide some liquid for the gingerbread batter 🙂
Such a great recipe! I added white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to my bread and it turned out so good!
This bread is very moist and flavorful. So good with coffee! I love the warm spices and holiday flavors. I will definitely be adding this to my list of things to bake for family and friends for Christmas!
I really loved the gingerbread and the cream cheese icing, though not together. It wasn’t terrible, but I think next time I’ll put a maple or vanilla glaze over it. My daughter on the other hand loved the combo! Different tastes 🙂 if you like gingerbread, I highly recommend this loaf! It’s warm and cozy with just enough spice!
Would adding a box of instant pudding mix provide the texture of the pumpkin bread (which was a HIT)? If so, what flavor?
oooo that’s a good idea. Thank you! Maybe just the vanilla?! LMK how it goes if you try it!
Can you make this in a mini loaf pan?
Hi Aneta. I haven’t tried a mini loaf pan yet to advise. If you do an experiment with a mini loaf pan and find it works well, please share with us how it goes. Thank you! xo, Tawnie
This gingerbread loaf looks and sounds so delicious and so easy to make. I am saving this recipe for this weekend and can’t wait to have a piece with my coffee 🙂
Gingerbread is one of my favorite holiday treats! This looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
You had me at soft, moist, and delicious! I also would’ve never thought of molasses cream cheese but it sounds so terrific with the gingerbread!
What a fantastic seasonal quick bread! Will be great as a gift too!