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Smell the holidays baking in your oven! Our Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf recipe with cream cheese frosting is as tasty as can be and perfect for the holiday season.
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What makes this the best gingerbread loaf recipe ever?
Featuring a classic homemade cream cheese icing and crunchy caramelized pecans, this easy gingerbread recipe is just what you need to get into the holiday spirit. Make it for breakfast, brunch, dessert, as a snack, or as a food gift family and friends will love!
- Copycat Starbucks recipe: Tastes just like the Starbucks gingerbread loaf recipe, so much cheaper!
- Simple ingredients: This is an easy bread recipe that uses only simple ingredients. Did we mention it's an applesauce bread?
- Just so darn delicious: Candied pecans, cream cheese frosting, moist gingerbread... what could be better? This loaf is so delicious, you'll want to make more right away.
- ⭐ You do not need a mixer: No need for an electric mixer to make this recipe! You can easily mix it all by hand with a whisk.
🍽 Equipment
- Loaf pan: Try this Large Loaf Pan or Mini Loaf Pan
- 2 large mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Icing spatula or spoon; we like this Icing Spatula
- ⭐ Optional: Electric mixer for beating cream cheese frosting; you can use a whisk if you do not have one! This 6-speed electric mixer works well.
One of the best features of this homemade gingerbread spice bread is that it does not require a mixer to make. You can use a mixer to make the cream cheese frosting a bit easier to mix, but it isn't necessary!
You can make this recipe in a regular loaf pan (9.25 by 5.25-inch) or in a mini loaf pan. I love to make mini loaves to give as gifts to friends and family!
🥘 Ingredients
Gingerbread Loaf
- Neutral cooking oil (I use canola oil)
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Applesauce (I use Slow Cooker Applesauce)
- Plain flour
- Baking powder
- Ground ginger
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt
We use classic gingerbread recipe loaf ingredients to make this bread, which is to say: plenty of spices! But what really sets this recipe apart from the rest is our secret ingredient...
Applesauce! Applesauce bread is so light, moist, and fluffy. You will love every bite of this gingerbread - we promise!
Cream Cheese Icing
- Cream cheese
- Icing sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Optional: Orange zest
You can make our easy cream cheese frosting with only 3 basic ingredients. Orange zest is optional, but adds a lovely zing of flavor to the frosting that pairs deliciously with our gingerbread loaf. It's a match made in heaven!
See: Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Candied Pecans
- Brown sugar
- Pecans
- Water
Caramelized pecans are a beautiful addition to our moist gingerbread cake loaf. Paired with the cream cheese icing, they're like the cherry on top. Be careful: you'll want to snack on them all day!
🔪 Instructions
How to Make Gingerbread
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan. Dust it with flour or line with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and brown sugar until frothy. Add cooking oil, maple syrup, and applesauce. Stir well.
- Mix plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt, then sift into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Quickly mix with your whisk until fully combined.
- Pour the gingerbread recipe loaf batter into the loaf pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. The tip of a knife or toothpick should come out clean when it's ready.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
Try my Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe to learn how to make cream cheese frosting using simple ingredients in just a few steps!
How to Make Candied Pecans
- Add brown sugar and water to a small pan on low heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add pecans (chopped or whole).
- Leave to caramelize for 2 minutes or until all the liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally to evenly coat the pecans.
- Transfer to a plate and allow to cool before adding over the frosting on your gingerbread loaf.
For full ingredient measurements and tips, keep scrolling to the recipe card below!
⭐ Family Foodie Tips
- Refrigerate after frosting: After adding the cream cheese, you will need to keep the gingerbread loaf refrigerated.
- Spread out the pecans: When done cooking the caramelized pecans, make sure to spread them flat and not on top of each other, otherwise, they will stick together.
To get the perfect 'center crack' in the loaf, remove it from the oven mid-baking and use a sharp knife to cut a straight line in the middle before placing it back in the oven. It will help it open evenly.
How long can cream cheese sit out?
You'll need to bring your cream cheese to room temperature before making the frosting. It is safe to let cream cheese sit out to soften for up to 2 hours, but it should not sit out for longer than that.
Can you freeze cream cheese frosting?
You can safely freeze cream cheese frosting for up to 3 months. You can make the frosting ahead of time, then add it to a freezer-safe plastic bag.
When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator or by placing in a bowl of cold water until soft.
🎁 Make it a Gift
This is the best gingerbread recipe to make for holiday food gifts! Teachers, neighbors, family, friends... everyone loves this spiced bread with candied pecans.
Use a mini loaf pan instead of a large loaf pan to make mini gingerbread loaves you can decorate with cream cheese and pecans and package to give out as gifts.
For a mini loaf pan, you may be able to bake for less time. Check at 30 minutes and if a toothpick or knife comes out clean, your bread is done.
I use the same method to make mini loaf Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, and everyone loves it!
🍂 What to Serve with Gingerbread
With its cream cheese frosting and crunchy candied pecans, this recipe for gingerbread can easily be served on its own with a nice cup of cocoa.
If you are looking to serve it with a little something extra, it is great with fruit, an extra sauce, or even ice cream!
- Drizzled with Berry Compote
- With a side of Butterscotch Sauce
- White Chocolate Mocha
- A side of Sauteed Apples
Gingerbread loaf cake is perfect as a dessert for Christmas dinner or a chilly Fall morning. I love enjoying this bread with a cup of hot cocoa or a latte!
📖 Easy Copycat Recipes
You can easily make your favorite Starbucks recipes at home! Try our Starbucks Pumpkin Bread for a little something sweet and our Starbucks Egg Bites for breakfast or brunch. Also try my Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe and Starbucks Pink Drink!
For even more copycat recipes you can make at home, our Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup is a real treat, and my Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
We also know you'll love our Milk Bar Pie Squares. Give them a try, too!
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Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!
Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Equipment
- Loaf pan: Try this Large Loaf Pan or Mini Loaf Pan
- 2 large mixing bowls
- Icing spatula or spoon; we like this Icing Spatula
- ⭐ Optional: Electric mixer for beating cream cheese frosting; you can use a whisk if you do not have one! This 6-speed electric mixer works well.
Ingredients
Gingerbread Loaf
- ⅓ cup Cooking Oil - (I use Canola oil)
- 2 Eggs
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp. Maple Syrup
- 1 cup Applesauce
- 1 ½ cup Plain Flour
- 1 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 ½ tsp. Ground Ginger
- 1 ½ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Ground Cloves
- 1 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
- 1 pinch Salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz. Cream Cheese
- ⅓ cup Icing Sugar
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- ½ Orange - zest only - (optional)
Candied Pecans (optional)
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Water
- ½ cup Pecans
Instructions
How to Make Gingerbread
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan. Dust it with flour or line with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk 2 eggs and ⅓ cup brown sugar until frothy. Add ⅓ cup cooking oil, 1 ½ Tbsp. maple syrup, and 1 cup applesauce. Stir well.Mix plain 1 ½ cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon, 1 ½ tsp. ground ginger, 1 tsp. ground cloves, 1 tsp. ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt, then sift into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Quickly mix with your whisk until fully combined.Pour the gingerbread batter into the loaf pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. The tip of a knife or toothpick should come out clean when it’s ready.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- Allow 8 oz. cream cheese to come to room temperature first by letting it sit out for at least 30 minutes before making the icing. When ready, beat the cream cheese until smooth, using a mixer or whisk. Add 1 tsp. vanilla extract and stir well.Slowly whisk in ⅓ cup icing sugar until combined. Add orange zest from half an orange and fold the frosting together.Once the bread cools completely, spread the cream cheese frosting over top.
How to Make Candied Pecans (Optional)
- Add ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ cup water to a small pan on low heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add ½ cup pecans (chopped or whole).Leave to caramelize for 2 minutes or until all the liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally to evenly coat the pecans.Transfer to a plate and allow to cool before adding over the frosting on your gingerbread loaf.
Notes
- The perfect center: To get the perfect 'center crack' in the loaf, remove it from the oven mid-baking and use a sharp knife to cut a straight line in the middle of your loaf before placing it back in the oven. It will help it open evenly.
- Refrigerate after frosting: After adding the cream cheese, you will need to keep the gingerbread loaf refrigerated.
- Spread out the pecans: When done cooking the caramelized pecans, make sure to spread them flat and not on top of each other, otherwise, they will stick together.
Nutrition
Photography by Sylvie Gruber
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