Healthy Gingerbread Loaf with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
This healthy gingerbread loaf is a delightful blend of spices and wholesome ingredients, topped with creamy maple cream cheese frosting, making it an irresistible seasonal treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, and cloves.
- In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, maple syrup, molasses, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond milk. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Gently stir until just combined—be careful not to overmix, as this can affect the loaf's texture.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- If the top is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup together in a bowl using a hand or stand mixer until fluffy and smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled gingerbread loaf. Slice and serve!