Holiday Gingerbread

For those of you who may not like the very spicy, dark version so often served during the holidays, this loaf is lighter and very moist. A hint of orange is a wonderful addition, and the cream cheese icing is a perfect complement. It tastes best the next day.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 548 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon orange extract (Optional)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon orange extract (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch loaf pan or a square baking pan.

Step 2

Stir flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together in a bowl.

Step 3

Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Dissolve baking soda into applesauce and mix into the creamed butter. Stir in 1 teaspoon orange extract. Add flour mixture and mix batter until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out just slightly sticky, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack, about 1 hour.

Step 5

Beat cream cheese in a bowl with the electric blender until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract. Add confectioners' sugar gradually and beat until well combined. Spread frosting onto cooled cake.