Spiced Gingerbread Loaf With Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep Time:
1 hour, 10 minutes
Cook Time:
50 minutes
Servings:
10 Servings
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup honey
  • ⅓ cup molasses
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.
  3. Place the prepared loaf pan over a small baking sheet (to prevent drips when the loaf bakes). Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk to combine the oil, brown sugar, honey, molasses, and eggs.
  5. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and warm water, whisking until smooth.
  6. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  7. Bake the loaf for 45-50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
  8. Lift the loaf out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare the frosting: In a small saucepan, melt and cook butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, until browned bits form on the bottom of the pan. Be careful not to burn the butter.
  10. Cool the brown butter slightly, then refrigerate it, stirring every 5-10 minutes until it is thickened and spreadable.
  11. Place cream cheese and thickened brown butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with a paddle attachment until smooth and creamy.
  12. Add the powdered sugar and salt, beating until uniform and fluffy.
  13. Transfer the cooled loaf to a serving platter.
  14. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
  15. Pipe frosting over the top of the loaf, swirling the frosting as desired.
  16. Serve the gingerbread loaf as-is, or optionally decorate it with mini gingerbread men cookies, candied ginger pieces, or festive sprinkles.