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starbucks gingerbread loaf recipe

Gingerbread Loaf Recipe

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp fine salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ⅓ cup neutral oil
  • ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 1 minute. Add oil, molasses, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.
  3. Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold with a spatula until just combined, about 15 to 20 strokes. Stop when no dry streaks remain.
  4. Pour batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 50 to 55 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil after 35 minutes if the top is browning quickly. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
  5. Beat softened cream cheese on medium speed for 1 minute until smooth. Add sifted powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract and beat on medium-high for 1 to 2 minutes until thick and creamy.
  6. Spread cream cheese frosting over the cooled loaf, letting it drip over the edges. Dust with ground cinnamon, then slice and serve.

Notes

This loaf genuinely tastes better on day two, once the spices have had time to settle into the crumb. If you're baking for a gathering, make it the evening before and refrigerate it overnight, then frost it the morning of. The batter also comes together faster if your eggs and cream cheese have been sitting out for at least 30 minutes before you start.