Enjoy the cozy, spiced flavors of the holidays with this irresistible copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaf recipe. This moist, tender loaf is infused with the warm notes of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting that will make your mouth water.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always counting down the days until Starbucks brings back their gingerbread loaf. There’s just something about that spicy-sweet slice that screams “holidays”. But now, with this recipe, I can recreate that same magic at home, and so can you!
This gingerbread loaf has the perfect balance of flavors and textures. The secret? Applesauce and molasses keep the loaf super moist, while the triple threat of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves combines with fresh orange zest to bring the cozy, warm flavor. And don’t even get me started on the cream cheese frosting, which totally takes it over the top!
And this recipe is perfectly doable, even if you’re not a baking pro. Once you pop this loaf in the oven, your whole house will smell like the holidays. This gingerbread loaf is the ultimate treat to enjoy with your morning coffee or to share with your friends and family during the holiday season.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the easy step-by-step process for making your own copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaf. I’ll also include some tips and tricks for storing and serving this treat.
Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fabulous recipe! I used fresh orange zest and it takes the flavor to the next level. Highly recommend trying this. It won’t disappoint!
— Brian
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Butter, softened
- Sugar
- Vanilla
- Egg
- Applesauce: The applesauce helps keep the loaf moist and tender without adding a ton of extra fat or calories. Plus, it adds a subtle sweetness that really complements the spices.
- Molasses: I like to use unsulphurated molasses, which tastes slightly milder than the blackstrap variety.
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Orange: For zesting. You can use packaged orange zest, but fresh is always best!
- Spices: salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves
- Cream cheese
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
Are you looking for more delicious holiday quick bread recipes? Try pumpkin blueberry bread, Starbucks lemon loaf, or Amish cinnamon bread.
🥣How to Make Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and prep your loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper.
- Zest your orange. Set half of the zest aside to use in the frosting.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to whip together the softened butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes at medium speed.
- Next, mix the egg, applesauce, and molasses until everything is well combined.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing at low speed until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper to carefully remove it and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- After cooling the loaf, prepare the icing by whipping the cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and the remaining orange zest until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the frosting over the top in an even layer.
🍴Serving Ideas
This DIY Starbucks gingerbread loaf hits all the right notes—it’s super moist, packed with spices, and so much cheaper than the coffee shop stuff. Slice it up, and maybe warm it a bit if you’re feeling fancy.
A few seconds in the microwave gives it that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste and makes the cream cheese frosting just a little melty.
It’s perfect for capping off dinner or munching on for a snack. Fair warning: The smell of ginger and cinnamon might have everyone in the kitchen asking for a piece!
If you are feeling really decadent, serve it up for breakfast or brunch! There is nothing like waking up on a chilly morning to the smell of fresh coffee and a thick slice of this spicy, moist gingerbread.
It’s like dessert for breakfast. You can even toast it and slather it with a little butter or cream cheese. And, of course, it pairs perfectly with a pumpkin spice latte!
💭How to Store
Store the loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Store the gingerbread loaf whole for maximum freshness. When you’re ready to eat, just slice what you need. The rest stays fresh and delicious for your next snack attack.
If you want to keep your gingerbread loaf fresh even longer, you can freeze it. Wrap the entire loaf (or individual slices) tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen gingerbread, let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours or pop a slice in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until it’s warm and fragrant.
If you’re planning to freeze your gingerbread loaf, hold off on adding the cream cheese icing until you’re ready to serve. The icing can get a little funky in the freezer, so it’s best to add it fresh.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Room temperature ingredients blend more efficiently and create a smoother, more batter. So, take the butter and cream cheese out of the fridge an hour or so before you start baking.
- Lining the loaf pan with parchment paper makes it easy to take the loaf out of the pan.
- Nothing beats fresh orange zest. Zesting an orange only takes a minute or two, so use fresh zest if you can.
- Starbucks serves this with cream cheese frosting, but you don’t have to add it. It is good with just a dusting of powdered sugar over the top, making it less rich and indulgent.
- You can also bake this recipe as gingerbread muffins. Just fill muffin tins half full and bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- If you really want to take this gingerbread loaf over the top, add some mix-ins to the batter before baking. Chopped crystallized ginger, dried cranberries, or even some mini chocolate chips would all be delicious additions. Just fold them in gently at the end so they don’t sink to the bottom of the pan.
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Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 cup applesauce
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 orange or orange zest
Icing
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Zest the orange. Set aside half the zest to use in the frosting.1 orange
- Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Extend the ends of the parchment paper over the pan so you can lift the loaf out.
- Use an electric mixer to whip the butter, sugar, and vanilla together until light and fluffy.1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Next, mix in the egg, applesauce, and molasses and mix well.1 egg, 1 cup applesauce, ⅓ cup molasses
- Next, stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to smooth out the top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper to lift it out of the pan and set it aside to cool completely.
- Once the cake is cool, prepare the icing. Whip the cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and remaining orange zest using a mixer.4 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups powdered sugar, Orange zest
- Spread the icing over the top of the cake.
Notes
- For best results, take the butter and cream cheese out of the fridge an hour or so before you start baking.
- Lining the loaf pan with parchment paper makes it easy to take the loaf out of the pan.
- Nothing beats fresh orange zest. Zesting an orange only takes a minute or two, so use fresh zest if you can.
- This loaf is delicious with just a dusting of powdered sugar over the top, making it less rich and indulgent.
- You can also bake this recipe as gingerbread muffins. Just fill muffin tins half full and bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Fabulous recipe! I used fresh orange zest and it takes the flavor to the next level. Highly recommend trying this. It won’t disappoint!
Just curious if you use butter in the cream cheese frosting?? I’ve never made it without. Hmm… the recipe doesn’t call for it.
You don’t have to use butter in cream cheese frosting, although you can. If you use butter it is a little smoother and easier to spread, but a loaf cake is so easy to frost it doesn’t really matter.