Gingerbread Loaf Lemon Glaze (Printable version)
Spiced gingerbread loaf with creamy lemon glaze for a festive and cozy treat.
# List of ingredients:
→ Gingerbread Loaf
01 - 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
11 - 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
12 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
13 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
14 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze
15 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
16 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
18 - 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
19 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
20 - Pinch of salt
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add molasses and combine thoroughly.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until mixed.
05 - Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix gently. Pour in milk, mix, then add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth surface. Bake for 48 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
07 - Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt until smooth; adjust lemon juice to desired consistency.
09 - Once loaf is fully cool, drizzle glaze evenly on top and set before slicing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's soft enough to slice on day three and still feels fresh, thanks to the molasses keeping everything impossibly moist.
- The lemon glaze cuts through the spice so perfectly that it feels like two desserts in one bite.
- You can mix it by hand if you want to, or let an electric mixer do the work—either way, you'll have a foolproof loaf ready in under two hours.
02 -
- Room temperature eggs and milk blend into the butter mixture without curdling—cold ones can cause the batter to break and create an uneven crumb.
- The molasses is what keeps this loaf moist for days; it's not just flavor, it's texture insurance.
- Overmixing after you add the dry ingredients is the fastest way to a dense, tough loaf—stop stirring the moment you don't see flour streaks anymore.
03 -
- Sift the powdered sugar for the glaze so you don't end up with lumps that won't blend smoothly into the cream cheese.
- If your glaze looks too thin after you mix it, add a touch more powdered sugar a teaspoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you want—it should drape rather than run.