Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Lemon Frosting

Name: Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Lemon Frosting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 9-12
Ingredients: GINGERBREAD LOAF:; 1 1/2 c all purpose flour; 2 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp cloves; 2 tsp ginger; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 c butter, softened; 1 c sugar; 1 tsp lemon extract; 1 c unsweetened applesauce; 1 tsp baking soda; FROSTING:; 1 pkg (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp lemon extract; 2 1/2 c sifted powdered sugar; 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

By Kathie Carr
@kathiecc

This was originally a copy cat recipe of a Starbuck's creation. Their version uses orange zest which I am allergic to. So I tried it with lemon and lime, instead, and I found I like the lemon flavored version very much.

Rating:

★★★★★ 3 votes5

Serves:

9-12

Prep:

15 Min

Cook:

40 Min

Ingredients

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GINGERBREAD LOAF:
1 1/2 c

all purpose flour
2 tsp

cinnamon
1 tsp

cloves
2 tsp

ginger
1/2 tsp

salt
1/2 c

butter, softened
1 c

sugar
1 tsp

lemon extract
1 c

unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp

baking soda
FROSTING:
1 pkg

(8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 tsp

vanilla extract
1/2 tsp

lemon extract
2 1/2 c

sifted powdered sugar
2 tsp

finely grated lemon zest

How to Make Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Lemon Frosting

Step-by-Step

FOR CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 inch loaf pan. Set aside.

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

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in lemon extract. Mix baking soda into applesauce. Stir this into creamed butter mixture. Add flour mixture. Mix until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack while preparing frosting.
FOR FROSTING: Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in vanilla and lemon extract. Slowly beat in powdered sugar.

Once the cake has cooled, spread the frosting on top. Garnish with lemon zest if desired.