Nothing says the holiday season like gingerbread! This Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf recipe is a delicious sweet recipe you can serve at Christmas brunch or breakfast! Tastes just like an old-fashioned gingerbread recipe with warm and cozy flavors and a delicious moist crumb. Top with our decadent cream cheese frosting!
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Jump to:
- Why You Should Make This Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf
- Ingredients and Substitutions for Gingerbread Cake Bread
- How to Make This Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
- How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Gingerbread Quick Bread
- Expert Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Other Copycat Recipes You'll Love!
- Better than Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Why You Should Make This Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf
Here are the top 3 reasons you should make this Gingerbread Loaf Recipe:
- A delicious copycat recipe that is made with fewer ingredients and is cheaper than the Starbucks version.
- Easy to make with no electric mixer or stand mixer needed.
- A favorite holiday treat to serve guests with a cup of coffee (just like this coffee cake)!
Ingredients and Substitutions for Gingerbread Cake Bread
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
Dry Ingredients
Flour: use all-purpose flour or gluten-free one-to-one baking flour like Cup4Cup. I do not recommend substituting any other flours.
Baking Soda: Baking soda will help the gingerbread loaf to rise. Check your baking soda's expiration date to ensure it is not expired.
Be sure to use baking soda, not baking powder so that the texture is bread-like, rather than like a ginger cake.
Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkin spice contains the delicious and warm flavors of cloves, ground cinnamon, and cardamom. A teaspoon of vanilla extract will also draw out warm, sweet flavors.
Salt: Salt helps to balance out the sweet flavors and helps to maintain a fluffy texture.
Wet Ingredients
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar provides sweetness and a warm, caramel-like flavor as opposed to granulated white sugar.
Applesauce: Applesauce provides moisture and provides additional natural sweetness. Use apple butter for a more rich and sweet apple flavor.
Greek Yogurt: Adding yogurt to baked goods helps to provide delicious moisture and crumb. Sour cream may be substituted for Greek yogurt.
Eggs: Eggs are crucial to help the gingerbread loaf maintain a light and fluffy texture. I have not tested other egg replacements like flax eggs.
Molasses: Molasses is a classic flavor and common ingredient associated with gingerbread. If you are out of molasses, you can substitute maple syrup for a similar flavor. Light, dark, or blackstrap molasses may all be used.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is the fat component that helps to keep the loaf moist. I use refined coconut oil that removes coconut flavor. Melted unsalted butter may also be used.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Icing
Cream cheese: You can use light cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese in place of full-fat cream cheese. Room temperature cream cheese will mix easiest.
Milk: Use just enough milk to help the cream cheese frosting come together. You can substitute almond milk if needed.
Powdered sugar: To reduce the sugar in this frosting, use powdered erythritol or stevia.
How to Make This Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350F and prepare a bread loaf pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray or lining it with a piece of parchment paper.
Combine all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
Step 2
In a separate large mixing bowl, beat two eggs. Add in the remaining wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
Step 3
Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
Step 4
Spoon the loaf batter into a prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack before topping it with the frosting. Once frosted, cut it into thick slices and serve.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Gingerbread Quick Bread
In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of milk.
More milk will provide a thinner consistency, while using less milk will make the frosting more thick.
Expert Tips
- Use softened, room-temperature cream cheese to make the frosting.
- Substitute maple syrup for molasses if you do not have it on hand.
- A bit of orange zest provides a delicious seasonal sweetness for this yummy winter treat.
Recipe FAQs
Leftovers must be stored in the refrigerator if using the cream cheese frosting.
The loaf does tend to dry out the longer it is stored in the refrigerator, so be sure to store it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil, or an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze the full, cooled loaf once by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before placing it in a freezer-safe container. Starbucks gingerbread loaf may be stored frozen for up to 3 months.
Other Copycat Recipes You'll Love!
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Better than Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Equipment
- 1 bread pan
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup coconut oil softened
- 2 tablespoon molasses
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup applesauce
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1-2 tablespoon milk
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a bread pan with a piece of parchment paper fitted like a sling. Spray with cooking spray.
- To a medium bowl add flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice, and salt. Stir with a whisk and set aside.2 cups gluten free flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
- Add brown sugar and coconut oil to a large bowl and whisk until well blended. Add eggs one at a time and whisk well. Add in the applesauce, yogurt, and molasses and whisk until blended.1 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, ¼ cup coconut oil, 2 tablespoon molasses, ½ cup applesauce, ½ cup Greek yogurt
- Add the dry ingredients in three parts, until just blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared bread pan.
- Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan then lift the parchment sling out to fully cool on a cooling rack.
- Combine cream cheese frosting ingredients in a small bowl and evenly spread over the cooled loaf.4 oz. cream cheese, 1-2 tablespoon milk, 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
Notes
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Cecilia says
I was really hoping this would turn out as moist as Starbucks' loaf, but it is a bit dry. I tried it because I could see it was a healthier recipe, and it should be presented as such, so people know what they're making.
Lyndsey Piccolino says
Sorry it didn't work out for you. Blessings in the new year!
Ally rodriquez says
Can you use almond flour?
Lyndsey says
I have not tried almond flour.