Description
Homemade gingerbread loaf offers a delightful blend of warm spices and rich molasses. Bakers cherish this comforting classic that connects heritage with modern baking techniques and fills kitchens with irresistible winter aromas.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (170 g) molasses
- ½ cup (106 g) brown sugar
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup (113 g) hot water
- 2 tsps ground ginger
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or grease with butter and flour.
- Creaming: Using an electric mixer, blend softened butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until light and fluffy.
- Liquid Mixture: Whisk molasses with hot water until fully combined.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together in a separate bowl.
- Combining: Gently fold dry ingredients into butter mixture, alternating with molasses liquid. Mix until just incorporated to maintain a tender consistency.
- Baking: Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 55 minutes.
- Finishing Touches: Remove foil halfway through baking to allow golden browning. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean or with minimal crumbs.
- Cooling and Serving: Transfer loaf to a wire rack and cool completely. Optional: dust with powdered sugar or serve with whipped cream for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently to keep the loaf tender and avoid developing tough gluten strands.
- Moisture Control: Covering with foil during initial baking prevents excessive browning while ensuring even internal cooking.
- Spice Intensity Tip: Fresh ground spices boost the gingerbread’s robust flavor profile compared to pre-ground alternatives.
- Temperature Precision: Allow ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing for smoother, more consistent batter integration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg