Gingerbread Loaf Cake #christmas #cake

at the same time as we’re all in complete Thanksgiving mode right now, I want to proportion something you can make over the weekend and the weeks leading up to Christmas. This spiced gingerbread loaf will make your property odor absolutely divine as guests come and go, now not to say put you in a totally festive holiday state of mind. Even greater festive than buddy the elf! Smiling’s my preferred.

What I love about this loaf is that it’s breakfast, snack, and dessert all rolled into one. Orange icing and all. You can make the loaf as muffins (see my notes!) or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Have a slice with coffee in the afternoon or top with homemade whipped cream and fresh cranberries.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 3/4 cup (180ml) unsulphured or dark molasses
• 3/4 cup (180ml) hot water (about 100°F (38°C))
• 1/2 cup (115g; 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature1
• 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Orange Icing

• 1 cup (120g) confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2-3 Tablespoons (30-45ml) orange juice

DIRECTIONS

1. regulate the oven rack to the decrease 1/3 function and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt and pepper together till combined. Set apart. In a separate bowl or dish, whisk the molasses and hot water collectively.
3. In a large bowl the use of a hand held or stand mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy - approximately 1 minute. upload the brown sugar and beat on high speed for 1 minute till creamed collectively fairly well. Scrape down the edges and up the lowest of the bowl with a rubber spatula as wished. On medium-excessive pace, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until mixed. Scrape down the perimeters and up the bottom of the bowl as wanted. With the mixer on low pace, upload the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the new water/molasses and combining every addition just till included. avoid overmixing. Batter can be skinny. Whisk out any big lumps.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for around 50-60 mins or till the gingerbread loaf is baked through. All ovens are distinct and your loaf ought to take a little greater or less time. to check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the gingerbread loaf. If it comes out smooth with simplest a couple moist (no longer wet) crumbs, it's miles completed. permit to cool completely in the pan set on a twine rack earlier than casting off from pan.
5. Make the icing: Whisk the confectioners' sugar and orange juice together. Drizzle over cooled loaf.
6. Leftover loaf keeps properly included tightly within the fridge for as much as five days. The taste gets even higher after an afternoon or two!

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