Iced Gingerbread Loaf Cake

This easy recipe creates moist and flavorful gingerbread topped with a thin layer of vanilla bean icing. Refrigeration isn't immediately required so these loaves are great for gifting around the holidays or serving as a snack or dessert.

This gingerbread loaf cake is super moist and flavorful thanks to a variety of spices, ginger paste and molasses.

Most often enjoyed during the holiday season around Christmas time into the new year, gingerbread is one of those special treats that helps get you into the holiday spirit!

This flavorful sweet bread has a signature aroma and flavor that will bring back memories, year after year. Why not make it a family tradition to bake a loaf? It's easy and yummy and great for sharing!

★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

This gingerbread loaf is the perfect versatile treat– enjoy it for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or dessert!

This is a dense, cake-like bread that is light and fluffy, perfectly sweetened, and flavored with molasses, brown sugar, and warm spices – all topped with a smooth vanilla bean glaze.

You can make this as a larger loaf or shorten the bake time for mini loaves to share with friends and family.

Gingerbread is a fun, traditional holiday treat that is just as yummy but much easier than rolling and cutting out gingerbread men!

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

For the cake:

• Flour. All purpose flour gives the gingerbread loaf just the right amount structure and softness. Make sure to measure using the spoon and level method as adding too much flour will result in a dry loaf.
• Spices. We need lots of warm spices to really get the “gingerbread” flavor into our loaf cake– in this case we’re using ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. You can use ginger powder or paste. Paste will add a little more moisture. So if you're looking for a super moist loaf, ginger paste is the best option.
• Baking soda and baking powder help the loaf cake rise so the crumb is light and tender.
• Butter adds richness and moisture to the loaf cake. Make sure it’s fully softened to room temperature so it incorporates smoothly with the brown sugar. You'll want to use unsalted butter since you'll be adding salt separately.
• Brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness to our loaf cake as well as a touch more molasses for a deep, rich flavor. You can use light or dark sugar.
• Eggs help bind the batter together and add richness and moisture.
• Vanilla extract. You can use vanilla bean paste here too if you prefer. Use ¼ teaspoon if so.

For the vanilla icing glaze:

• Milk. Whole milk adds moisture and helps bring the batter together. It’s also used to help create the glaze. You can substitute with a lower percentage or half and half if you're prefer.
• Powdered sugar. This is the base of the icing glaze– it adds sweetness and helps ensure the glaze is the right consistency.
• Vanilla bean paste. You can use extract or vanilla bean paste for a more powerful flavor. Vanilla simply enhances the sweetness and flavor of the molasses and spices in the gingerbread loaf.

★ How to Make this Recipe ★

This bread recipe is remarkably easy, despite being made completely from scratch.

Here's an overview of the steps: (Full recipe further below)

• Whisk together flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Cream butter with brown sugar.
• Add molasses and ginger.
• Add eggs and vanilla.
• Add milk then dry ingredients.
• Transfer batter to greased loaf pan.
• Bake.
• Let cool.
• Combine icing ingredients.
• Pour icing over loaf.
• Slice and serve.

Simple as that!

★ Tips & FAQs ★

What type of molasses is best for gingerbread?

Molasses is what gives gingerbread its earthy, woodsy flavor. Make sure to use unsulphured molasses which is available in most grocery stores, in the baking aisle.

You do not want to use blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses can overpower and taste too bitter.

Can Vanilla extract be used in place of vanilla bean paste?

Yes. Using vanilla bean paste add a stronger vanilla flavor as well as little specs of vanilla beans to glaze. This enhances the flavor and adds an interesting visual touch but is not absolutely necessary. You can always swap he paste for vanilla seeds from a vanilla bean or use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you prefer or only have that on hand.

How to Bake Mini Loaves

You can opt to bake these in smaller loaf pans if you want to give your gingerbread away as a gift.

You can find some really cute reusable mini loaf pans or go with paper loaf pans. Perfect either way as a giveaway during the holidays season. And since baked gingerbread can be frozen, you can make a bunch and have an easy, homemade gift for friends and family who may pop by your house during the holidays.

To bake the mini loaves, you'll want to shorten the bake time. Cut bake time in half, then check every 2-3 minutes for the load to be done.

Since bake time varies depending on size, shape and material of the baking pan, it's best to check for doneness and remove your loaves from the oven as soon as a toothpick, inserted into the center of the loaf, comes out clean.

Shop mini loaf pans on Amazon

Storage

Store any leftover gingerbread loaf in an airtight container.

It lasts in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Bring the loaf to room temperature or microwave a slice for 10-15 seconds before enjoying.

Gingerbread can be also frozen for up 10 months! If you're preparing this ahead of time for holiday visitors, this is a great option for a quick snack for visiting house guests.

What is the history of gingerbread at Christmas time?

Gingerbread has a rich history not surprisingly, due to its versatility. It's obviously a popular choice for making decorative holiday houses and gingerbread men, but even cakes have been featured in many cookbooks, carnivals and street-festivals, world-wide, year-round.

The combination of ginger and molasses gives it a distinct flavor and chewy yet firm texture that lends itself well to make uses.

Gingerbread houses were introduced with the book Hansel and Gretel written by Grimm brothers in 1812 but gingerbread men and women had been around for about 200 years prior to that.

You can learn more information about the history of gingerbread, here.

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