Healthy Gingerbread Loaf
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
45 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
9
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Calories
217 kcal
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Course
Breakfast, Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
Healthy Gingerbread Loaf
Description
The Healthy Gingerbread Loaf combines a mixture of all-purpose and whole wheat pastry flour with aromatic spices such as cinnamon, ground ginger, and cloves for a classic gingerbread flavor. Sweeteners like applesauce, pure maple syrup, and blackstrap molasses enrich the batter, producing a moist and tender crumb once baked. The loaf is baked in a standard 9×5-inch pan until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, ensuring it’s not overdone.
After cooling, the loaf is frosted with a maple cream cheese frosting made by blending softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup into a smooth, fluffy topping. This frosting adds a gentle sweetness and creamy texture to complement the loaf’s warm spices. The result is a loaf suitable for breakfast or as a snack, providing a balance of spice, sweetness, and moistness.
To store, keep leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer preservation, freeze without frosting for up to three months and frost after thawing. The loaf can be made vegan by substituting a flaxseed egg and using vegan cream cheese and butter for the frosting. Gluten-free flour blends can replace the flours in a 1:1 ratio, though the texture may vary slightly.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon cloves ground
- ½ cup applesauce
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup blackstrap molasses
- 2 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup almond milk any milk will work, unsweetened
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 Tablespoons butter softened, unsalted
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9″x5″ loaf pan or line with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, stir together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger and cloves.
- In a large bowl, whisk together applesauce, maple syrup, molasses, eggs, vanilla and milk until combined.
- Add dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir together until just combined (don’t over mix).
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. If you notice the top is browning quickly, cover it with tin foil to prevent burning.
- Let loaf cool for 15-20 minutes before removing from pan and frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or a regular bowl if using a hand mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and maple syrup. Whisk until smooth and fluffy. Spread over gingerbread loaf and serve.
Notes
- Use a flaxseed egg and vegan cream cheese and butter to make this loaf vegan.
- All-purpose and whole wheat pastry flours can be replaced 1:1 with a gluten-free blend, though it has not been tested.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the unfrosted loaf for up to 3 months and add frosting after thawing.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 9Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 217 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 217kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 35g | 12% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 52mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 403mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 327mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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