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Gingerbread Loaf

sliced gingerbread loaf topped with cream cheese frosting, candied ginger, orange zest and dried cranberries
  • Serves:  12
  • Prep Time:  20 min
  • Cook Time:  1 hr

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest, plus more for serving orange zest, plus more for serving
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice, (from 1 large orange)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 -2 tablespoons heavy cream

For Serving (optional)

  • Candied ginger, roughly chopped
  • Orange zest, mixed with 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • Dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the lower third position. Grease a metal 9 × 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick baking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
  3. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, applesauce, vegetable oil, vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice until well combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, mixing after each addition until incorporated.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Allow the gingerbread to cool in the pan before serving.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, cream together the powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the heavy cream. Add remaining heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
  7. Frost the gingerbread and sprinkle with the candied ginger, orange zest sugar, and dried cranberries, if using.