Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting tastes even better at home! Moist, delicious with a thick, creamy frosting!
STARBUCK'S GINGERBREAD LOAF WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Apparently I am all about them copycat Starbucks loaf recipes lately. I shared a recipe recently for the STARBUCK'S LEMON LOAF and I promised I would share the recipe for their gingerbread loaf. This one took a little longer to get on the blog than I initially had planned on. The truth is, I wasn't real crazy with my first attempt. It wasn't as moist as I had wanted. And I made WAY too much frosting for one loaf - not that I'm complaining 😉
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
A GREAT USE FOR APPLE BUTTER
After realizing it needed something to help make it more tender, I went back to the drawing board. It turns out that it really needed some applesauce. Actually, apple butter would be amazing if you have that on hand. It added that additional moistness without adding a bunch of oil. And I scaled back on the frosting just a bit so you don't have a ton leftover. Again, not a problem from my perspective. 🙂 Side note: if you have fresh nutmeg - use it here. Freshly grated nutmeg has the best flavor but the pre-grated nutmeg will do the job in this.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
for the loaf:
salted butter
sugar
vanilla extract
egg
apple butter (or applesauce)
all-purpose flour
baking soda
ground ginger
ground cinnamon
ground cloves
nutmeg
chopped walnuts
for the frosting:
cream cheese
vanilla extract
powdered sugar
HOW TO MAKE STARBUCK'S GINGERBREAD LOAF:
HOW TO MAKE STARBUCK'S GINGERBREAD LOAF:Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray (the kind with flour in it - like Baker's Joy.) Using a stand mixer or an electric mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar until fluffy.
Beat in the vanilla and the egg. Blend in the apple butter (or applesauce.)
Slowly add the flour, baking soda, and spices (ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.)
When everything is mixed, pour the batter into your loaf pan. Bake for about 55 minutes until it is risen and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely on a rack before frosting. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla and then add 1 ½ cups of the powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a little more sugar if it's not as thick as you like. 
Spread a thick layer of the frosting over the gingerbread cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Then dig in!
Enjoy!
WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS? TRY THESE!
COPYCAT STARBUCK'S LEMON LOAF
BAKED GINGERBREAD DOUGHNUTS
STARBUCK'S CRANBERRY LOAF
SPARKLING APPLE CIDER POUND CAKE
CINNAMON ROLL QUICK BREAD
STARBUCK'S GINGERBREAD LOAF WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Ingredients
For the loaf:
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 cup applesauce, or apple butter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- chopped walnuts, for topping (optional)
For the frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese (½ block), room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ - 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
For the loaf:
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray (the kind with flour in it - like Baker's Joy.)
- Using a stand mixer or an electric mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and the egg. Blend in the applesauce.
- Slowly add the flour, baking soda and spices (ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.) When everything is mixed, pour the batter into your loaf pan.
- Bake for about 55 minutes until it is risen and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely on a rack before frosting.
For the frosting:
- Beat the cream cheese with the vanilla and then add 1 ½ cups of the powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a little more sugar if it's not as thick as you like.
- Spread a thick layer of the frosting over the gingerbread cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Then dig in!
Video
Nutrition
I so miss the Starbucks Gingerbread loaf but you hit this out of the park! This absolutely was the next best thing! So glad I found it! Thanks so much!
Followed recipe exactly, making sure butter was completely softened, and was careful not to over-mix. I did add one ingredient-1 tbsp maple syrup. Batter was thick but extremely airy. Turned out perfectly tender and flavorful! Love this recipe since it does not have the overpowering flavor of molasses.
It had good flavor but i found that the cloves overpowered the ginger. All i could taste was clove rather than a blend of spices. Very moist and easy to make.