Have this delicious holiday treat today! This easy Gingerbread Loaf Without Molasses is topped with pillowy clouds of cream cheese frosting. This impressive bread recipe is easy to bake, customizable, and perfect for any time of day!
More holiday-themed desserts like Gingerbread houses? Try my fan-favorite Peppermint Oreo Cookies, Easy Cookie Dough Bites, or my easy Magic Cake!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This deliciously spiced Gingerbread loaf cake is topped with a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting, which adds a touch to this simple cake. Your house will smell so good and put you in a completely festive holiday state of mind. Kids will love this flavour of sweetness!
By the way, Gingerbread refers to baked goods typically flavored with ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. It often uses honey, sugar, or molasses as sweeteners. The term "gingerbread" is originally from a Latin word "zingiber" which refers to "preserved ginger".
Eventually, it referred to a confection made with honey and spices. The first known recipe for "Soft gingerbread to be baked in pans" comes from American Cookery in 1796 by Amelia Simmons.
It is absolutely great for all occasions, but especially for holidays like Christmas. It is lovely and rich enough to serve as breakfast, snacks or dessert!
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
Gingerbread Loaf
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated white sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Applesauce
- All-purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Nutmeg
- Baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Make the Gingerbread Loaf
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the sides and bottom of a 9x5-inch loaf pan with oil spray, then dust with flour or use a baking spray with flour. Set aside.
2. In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, blend softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add vanilla extract, egg, and applesauce. Mix until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and baking soda.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating on low after each addition.
6. Once combined, mix on high speed for 2–3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Transfer the loaf to a cooling rack and let it cool completely for at least 1 hour before frosting.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
9. While the loaf is baking, prepare the frosting.
10. In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, whip the softened cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
11. Gradually add powdered sugar and a pinch of salt, then beat until smooth and spreadable.
Frost and Serve
12. Once the loaf has completely cooled, spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
13. Slice and serve.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ingredient Swap
Use coconut oil instead of butter. - Variation
For a fruitier flavor, try mashed banana instead of applesauce.
Mix in chocolate chips for a fun twist. - Mistake to Avoid
Never overbake if you want to keep it moist, like it's meant to be. Do the toothpick test to check. - Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. This loaf freezes well for up to 2 months.
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil before freezing.
FAQs
Gingerbread Loaf Without Molasses
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- pinch of salt
Instructions
Make the Gingerbread Loaf
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the sides and bottom of a 9x5-inch loaf pan with oil spray, then dust with flour or use a baking spray with flour. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, blend softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract, egg, and applesauce. Mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating on low after each addition.
- Once combined, mix on high speed for 2–3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Transfer the loaf to a cooling rack and let it cool completely for at least 1 hour before frosting.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
- While the loaf is baking, prepare the frosting.
- In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, whip the softened cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and a pinch of salt, then beat until smooth and spreadable.
Frost and Serve
- Once the loaf has completely cooled, spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
- Slice and serve.
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Craving something sweet without molasses? This Gingerbread Loaf bakes up fast and satisfies that gingerbread craving effortlessly!
Anika says
Love this! Thank you!
Sweet says
This looks very good bread. I will make this at home!
Simply Bakings Kitchen Team says
Yay! I’m so glad you think so! It’s such a fun bread to make — your home’s going to smell amazing while it bakes! Let me know how it turns out when you try it!