Irresistibly soft and full of warm winter spices, this Gingerbread Loaf Cake is ideal for upcoming Holidays. It's made with all HEALTHY wholesome ingredients and refined sugar-free. Guilt-free dessert that goes perfectly with cup of tea or coffee.
I really thought that my Almond Sugar Cookies will be the last recipe that I publish before I unplug myself from the internet and go on deserved holiday break. But things quickly turn around in this digital world of food blogging.
So on Sunday, I decided to make Gingerbread Loaf Cake for dessert. Nothing fancy. Just plain simple gingerbread cake for us family to enjoy after dinner.
And that afternoon when I served the fully decorated cake on the table and wanted to pierce it with my cake knife and slice it, my hubby stopped my hand literally in the air. And then he asked me that ultimate THE question: Are you sure you don't want to photo shoot that gingerbread loaf cake first? (.... crickets).
That Sunday I didn't plan to turn on my camera or to take any pictures of ANY food. Or do anything blogging related. But he insisted that I take few pictures of that Gingerbread Loaf Cake before we rush to it.
So I set up my studio in a hurry, adjusted the cake for photo shooting and took few photos before daylight was completely gone.
Husband also INSISTED that I post the recipe before Christmas. That Sunday my weakness was that Gingerbread Loaf Cake ... and my husband.
After dinner, we all throw ourselves on the couch and enjoy in that fragrant perfection that lured us all afternoon with its fragrance. Our favorite Christmas movie was on,The Christmas Story.
And so the season of watching movies and enjoying in holiday atmosphere officially started in our house.
This Gingerbread Loaf Cake is made with whole wheat flour and is full of fragrant winter spices - cinnamon, minced ginger, allspice, cloves and vanilla. I wanted to emphasize the taste of ginger, so I added some freshly grated ginger too. Fresh ginger gave a slight spiciness to the cake and deepened its fragrant aroma.
I sweeten the cake with molasses, unrefined brown sugar rich in caramel flavor. Molasses gave the cake that beautiful brow color. Instead of butter, which is normally used for making gingerbread, I used super healthy coconut oil. That way I enriched furthermore this Gingerbread Loaf Cake with nutritious and healthy ingredients.
I decorated the cake with royal icing made from xylitol or birch sugar. Xylitol is a granulated sweetener that looks like white sugar and tastes almost exactly like it but is 34% lower in calories than table sugar and has a much lower glycemic index which makes him a healthier alternative. So I made this Gingerbread Loaf Cake and the royal icing completely healthy and perfect for a carefree holiday enjoyment.
GINGERBREAD LOAF CAKE is ...
- made with all healthy ingredients,
- needs only a few simple ingredients,
- doesn't contain unhealthy fats, refined white sugar or white flour,
- rich in nutrients,
- full of super spices - Ceylon cinnamon and fresh ginger,
- full of high quality fibers.
This Gingerbread Loaf Cake is so irresistibly fragrant, soft and just perfect for holidays. Or actually, perfect for cold winter days. It may seem simple, rustic, but the taste and texture are just superb.
You can serve this cake with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or hot tea, and I bet your kids will love it with the cup of warm milk.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Healthy Gingerbread Loaf Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups 240g whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ teaspoon Himalayan salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons of Ceylon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ⅓ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons ground vanilla
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup molasses
- ½ cup extra virgin coconut oil melted and cooled
- 1 inch 2.5 cm fresh ginger root, grated
- 1 cup buttermilk
For the glaze
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup 125g of xylitol
- lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 356F (180C). Put baking paper in a 9x5 baking pan and grease a bit with coconut oil.
- Mix the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, salt, spices and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add molasses, oil and grated ginger and mix.
- Slowly stir in the dry ingredients into the wet. Add buttermilk and mix once again.
- Pour mixture into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before decorating with icing.
- For royal icing: Beat the egg white. Add the powdered xylitol and lemon juice. Mix.
- For buttermilk: Stir 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in the cup of warm milk. Leave 10 minutes at room temperature.
Notes
As a measure, I used a US cup (240 ml).
These are my picks for this recipe:
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Jyothi (Jo) says
Ginger bread is a must in our family during winter and every year I try to make something new along with ginger bread cookies. This ginger bread loaf looks so amazing, can't wait to give ti a try soon. Thanks for this amazing recipe
Mahy Elamin says
I can only imagine how wonderful this bread smells! I am so ready to do some holiday baking!!
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
What a stunning cake! I love the frosting. I also love that it uses coconut oil and fresh buttermilk! Yum!
Pavani says
Big thanks to your husband for making you take pics and post this delicious cake recipe just in time for us. It looks soooo good and you make it so healthy too.
Byron Thomas says
Ok, so let me get this straight - there's no sugar, but you've added the deliciousness that is molasses. Then, you not only added ground ginger, but fresh grated ginger as well? You're a serious gingerbread lover, aren't you? :) I can't wait to try this!!!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love fall flavors and holiday, This just shouts Christmas with gingerbread and I know its yummy just by looking at this!
mira says
Love the story! So glad you decided to share the recipe! Looks amazing! Happy New Year!
Natalie says
Thank you Mira! Happy New Year :*
Demeter | Beaming Baker says
I'm SO glad that your husband convinced you to post this on the blog!! What a travesty it would have been if you decided to just keep this all to yourself! Hehe. :) This gingerbread loaf is so perfectly moist and incredible on the inside... and that glaze. Yowsers!! I hope you have a nice, big break and enjoy the holidays with your family! <3
Natalie says
Thank you Demeter :) Have a lovely holiday too!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Wow! That is definitely a rare reaction from a family member. Generally the photographer is the one putting the family members in straight jackets in order to protect the prized food model. Gotta love your hubby for this one. And he must have some hard core self control because this gingerbread is so lovely that I seriously doubt (even as a photographer) that I would be able to resist tearing into this beauty before the photoshoot was over.
Natalie says
Honestly we both jumped on that first few slices right after I finished taking photos. I didn't even turn off my camera haha
Amanda | The Kitcheneer says
We love A Christmas Story!! There's an old theater down the street that always has a double feature of that movie with Its a Wonderful Life. We go every year!!! This looks amazing!! I'm going to add to my infinitely long list of recipes to try!!
Natalie says
Haha thanks Amanda :) I can only imagine the atmosphere in that old theatre while watching A Christmas Story!
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says
What a good husband you have! He's a keeper. :) I thank you and him for these gorgeous pictures and recipe for a healthy gingerbread cake. Perfect for Christmas!
Natalie says
Hehe yes he's a keeper :) I'm making him gingerbread again tonight, with some chocolate chips! Thanks Annemarie!
Brian Jones says
Such wonderful classic flavours, I've been trying to think of something sweet to cook up between Christmas and New Year and this sounds perfect.
Natalie says
Guilt-free pleasure ;) Thanks Brian!
Maria says
The gingerbread loaf is the easiest thing to bake, ever! I did one myself recently, but with chocolate. Very tasty, and I also noticed that the texture would be also perfect for muffins!
Natalie says
You sooo read my mind.. I was just thinking, next time I'm making this Gingerbread I'm gonna add some chocolate chips! :D
Diana Johnson says
I'm betting that fresh ginger really adds the perfect zing to this recipe. So rich and perfect....even better that I can feel good eating it too!
Natalie says
Thanks Diana! Yes, that fresh ginger really adds up beautiful flavour.
Debi at Life Currents says
This gingerbread loaf cake looks so festive and so yummy, I can't wait to try it! Thanks for the recipe!
Natalie says
Thanks Debi :)
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
I'm afraid I could eat an entire loaf of this gingerbread. I love that glaze, too!
Natalie says
My best is two slices so far hahah It's very nutritious ;) Glaze is a blast. Sweet, white as snow - like it's made with white sugar but it's 100% healthy!
Marsha | Marsha's Baking Addiction says
This loaf looks incredibly moist and so full of flavour! I love gingerbread! :)
Natalie says
YES it's soooo moist and soft... and smells heavenly :D
Blair says
Love, love, love! I have a serious weakness for gingerbread (and for A Christmas Story), so this post was basically MADE for me. :) Your husband sounds like your #1 fan, too -- exactly how it should be!
Have a Merry Christmas!
Natalie says
A Christmas Story is the best family Christmas movie EVER. Right? haha Yup my hubby is really special! He actually encouraged me to start this blog and he's my biggest support in everything I do <3 I wish you Blair a Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!