Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting

The aroma of gingerbread baking is probably one of the most memorable scents of the Christmas holiday. The combination of spices is hard to mistake and we automatically envision decorated cookies or houses. If making gingerbread from scratch seems too complicated, you're not relegated to those elaborately constructed houses—just skip the architectural project and bake up a rich, moist, and fragrant loaf cake instead.


Gingerbread is also wonderfully customizable. Love the earthy sweetness of molasses? Use more of that and less of the granulated sugar. Want just a hint of molasses? Feel free to reduce it a bit. This recipe strives for a good balance between the two, but sample the batter and decide for yourself.

Ingredients
For the Cake

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk

For the Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 8 tablespoon unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer (you can also use a hand mixer) and beat for a few minutes until the sugar has been completely incorporated.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and continue beating.
4. Add the molasses and vanilla extract and beat to incorporate.
5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt.
6. Alternate beating in the buttermilk and the flour mixture until fully incorporated, but do not over mix.
7. Butter and flour a loaf pan and pour in the batter.
8. Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let rest before removing from the loaf pan.
9. Add the softened cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt to a bowl and beat together until smooth.
10. ..........................................................

For full instructions please see : www.thespruceeats.com

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