Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting tastes even better at home! Moist, delicious with a thick, creamy frosting!
A HOMEMADE SWEET CAKE WITH CREAM CHESE 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 😉
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.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- salted butter
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- egg
- apple butter (or applesauce)
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- ground ginger
- ground cinnamon
- ground cloves
- nutmeg
- chopped walnuts
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
HOW TO MAKE STARBUCK'S GINGERBREAD LOAF:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x5-inch 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!
WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS? TRY THESE!
Copycat Starbuck's Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the loaf:
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup apple butter, or applesauce
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
For the frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese (½ block), room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ - 2 cups powdered sugar
- chopped walnuts, for topping (optional)
Instructions
For the loaf:
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x5-inch 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 (optional). Then slice and serve!
Video
Nutrition
Originally published: March 2017
Updated & republished: December 2021
Bev
This gingerbread loaf is a wonderful treat. I used apple butter instead of applesauce which I think is the trick that sets this loaf apart from all the others. I made a cinnamon buttercream frosting instead of a cream cheese frosting that paired really well with it. Thanks for sharing your talent of creating great recipes.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Bev! Thank you so much for coming back to comment!! Love hearing that!
Holly
The flavor of this was great - I used apple butter as instructed and I tend to use "heaping" measurements of spice in spice cakes and breads because I like them to bite. My only concern is that the finished product is really dense and kind of dry. Like another baker, I came back to double check because my bread mixture was SOOO thick, but aside from a little extra spice, I seemed to have followed instructions well. Any pointers for lightening the mixture? Did I over-mix, maybe? Has anyone added additional liquid successfully? I thought about molasses, since that tends to pop up in gingerbread recipes, but didn't give it a try this time. Maybe more eggs? I don't know.
Dorothy
This recipe is easy and tastes great!
Kayleen
Does the icing harden?
Amanda
How would you adjust the baking time and temp is you used mini loaf pans?!
Rebecca Baker
Loved it!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Rebecca, it should hold its shape in a decorative loaf pan. 🙂
Cloud
Salted butter was used, no need to add extra salt.
Julie @ Back To My Southern Roots
This looks SO good!
Cindy
If I use mini loaf pans to make for gifts, would the cooking time change?
Nancy Skipper
I'm making this recipe at this very moment & I had to come back to check the recipe because I thought there had to be a mistake as there is no liquid anything except the applebutter (I just happened to have one last pint from the previous batch I canned! YuM!!). When I watched the video - which I did not do before - I see your batter is very thick also! I can't wait to try this! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes.
Tasha
Do you think this can be made in a bread machine? I'm new to bread machine and would like to try this recipe in it, does anyone know in what order the ingredients would go in?
LeeAnne Brown
*3/4 cup Molasses
Denise Shelley
So good! Everyone wanted the recipe! And I finally have a use for all that apple butter everyone gives me - LOL.
LeeAnne Brown
Oh My Goodness - this is truly the BEST Gingerbread I EVER tasted!!! I did make a small adjustment - I was making a double batch - I added 3/4 cup (because that was all I had) and reduced the applesauce to equal the 2 cups requested for a double batch!
Thanks for an awesome recipe! I made it to give away as small loaves and am trying to remind myself that I "can always make more!" so that I won't keep it all at home!
Lahela
Honestly this is WAY better than starbucks. I added a splash of milk to the icing and didnt add any nuts to the top. This was fabulous. Will be making this again very soon.
GG
If you really want it to be like the Starbucks Gingerbread loaf, add chopped, candied orange peel to the top of the cream cheese frosting instead of nuts. This recipe looks delicious.
Roxie
I would add a couple of Tablespoons of oil and replace some of the applesauce with buttermilk powder, yum. It will be very moist.
Karen Fanjoy
Would be wonderful with raisins throw in, I think.
Janice
What is Clove?
Karen Fanjoy
It is a spice...ground cloves in the spice aisle. Whole cloves are harder to find.
Connie J
Beyond delicious! I am so pleased with the flavour.
Deborah
I love the Starbucks version I will definitely make this this holiday season.
Betty Arnal
Hi there!
Would love to add this to my Christmas baking treats! Do you think it could be frozen with the icing on?
Thanks!
Stacy
I love loaf breads! I do wonder though, do we have to use applesauce in it? I have none right now.
Shay Collins
Is there a gluten free version of this?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
I'm sorry Shay - I'm not on a gluten free diet so I can't offer one. 🙁
Kathy
You can buy Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour with the xanthum gum already in it, in a large bag for around $8 at SAMs Club. I use it 1:1 like regular flour.
G
Just made this gluten-free with Bob's 1:1 baking flour and it was beyond amazing!! Had it today for Christmas eve breakfast and have slices ready for tomorrow. Was worried as I'm new to a gluten-free diet and usually everything tastes like cardboard, but this bread is plenty moist and delicious with that substitution. Thank you for this amazing recipe which is sure to become part of our holiday tradition!!
Michelle
Loved this bread before I was vegan. Now I will veganize it so I can enjoy it again!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love that! Make it your own 🙂
Kelly Lynn
Sounds yummy. I have never had the Starbucks one, but your recipe sounds amazing!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hope you love it Kelly! I feel like every time I am actually at Starbucks - they have already sold out! Ha! So now we can make it at home!
Marsha
Looks SO scrumptious! I am in love with fresh grated nutmeg too. Thanks for sharing! I am especially fond of quick breads..and this one is very unique.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you SO much Mrs. B!