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I want to kick off this post by saying – I am not a fan of gingerbread. I never have been. When I think of gingerbread, I think of those rock hard spicy cookies you use to build gingerbread houses.
I really don’t think that gingerbread houses are meant to be eaten…someone tell me I’m wrong! I suppose I just don’t see the appeal in rock hard cookies, sweet gummy stick-in-your-teeth candies and concrete textured icing.
So with my disdain for gingerbread, I don’t remember what compelled me to order a Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf that one time many years ago. Once I bit into this divine loaf, I was hooked!
I found the texture to be perfect, and the flavour just right – not leaning too strong toward any one spice. The fluffy orange-flavoured cream cheese frosting is the perfect finishing touch to this loaf, providing the most perfect balance of citrus and sweetness.
I loved the taste of the Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf so much that I set out to recreate it in my kitchen and wrap up as gifts. I’ve been making this trusty copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaf recipe for as long as I can remember. I can prep the batter quickly and without onerous thought, and it turns out amazing each and every time! I must say…I am really proud to include this recipe in my very small bank of go-tos.
Christmas is right around the corner. And while I’m not HUGE on Christmas like most people are huge on Christmas, I do enjoy having an excuse to bake gifts for family and friends.
Because my recipe is meant for gifts, the below recipe makes 3 x 2-pound loaves, or 6 mini loaves. You can scale the recipe up or down to suit your needs.
I always bake these copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaves in disposable ready-to-gift loaf pans and this saves so much hassle with wrapping. Yep, I’m all about the chic but easy over here!
Your house will smell heavenly as these are baking in the oven. You will also need to make more than you originally plan for because I’m certain you and any family members will want to gobble up at least one loaf before you have the chance to wrap and gift it.
For a chic look to a humble loaf in a Dollarstore aluminum pan, I love adorning with fresh cut greenery from my Christmas tree. I can go on and on about the benefits of having a real tree. And one of my favourite reasons is that I always have a near endless supply of gift toppers!
While I’m not posting a holiday house tour this year, you can check out how I minimally adorn my home for the holiday season here.
Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Course: Baked Gifts, DessertCuisine: ChristmasDifficulty: Easy3
loaves20
minutes55
minutesIngredients
- For Loaves
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons ground ginger
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon orange extract
- For Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange extract
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add vanilla, orange extract and eggs, and mix until well incorporated.
- Add applesauce and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture a third at a time to the applesauce mixture, slowly blending until just incorporated each time. Do not over mix.
- Divide batter evenly between three loaf pans and bake for 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean. Allow loaves to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Frosting
- Using a stand mixer with paddle or whisk attachment, beat cream cheese, vanilla and orange extract.
- Add confectioners’ sugar one cup at a time and beat on high until smooth and creamy. Add more sugar if needed to achieve a smooth and spreadable but slightly stiff consistency.
- Spread a thick even layer of frosting to top of loaves with an offset spatula. Sprinkle dried candied ginger pieces to top of loaves.
