Getty Images, Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
You never have to ask me twice to make a seasonal dessert! I’ll take any excuse to whip up a batch of winter treats, whether it’s sugar cookies for classic holiday decorating or baking mini loaves to share with friends. This year, I created a copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaf recipe that’s the perfect addition to my holiday baking.
This two-bowl recipe has all the holiday vibes you’re looking for. Served in thick slices with a nice layer of frosting, it’s as delicious with your morning coffee as it is after dinner for a sweet treat.
Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- Zest from 1/2 orange
- Optional: Chopped walnuts for topping
For the Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 – 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- Zest from 1/2 orange
Tools You’ll Need
- Microplane: This classic kitchen tool is perfect for grating the orange zest and nutmeg in this Starbucks gingerbread loaf, but it will come in handy for all kinds of recipes.
- Offset Spatula: Use this simple tool to make your frosting look like it came from a bakery.
- Silicone Spatula: A sturdy spatula is my most-used kitchen item. You’ll need it for scraping the bowl while mixing and evening out the top of the batter in the pan.
Directions
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and fresh grated nutmeg. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the batter
Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
Using a stand mixer or an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and egg, and mix well. Blend in the applesauce and orange zest.
Gradually add the flour mixture a third at a time, mixing just until combined each time. Pour the batter into the oiled loaf pan and even out the top with a rubber spatula.
Step 3: Bake off loaf
Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
Bake for 50-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when you test the center of the cake. Let it cool slightly in the loaf pan on a cooling rack. Then run a small knife around the edge of the pan to make sure it won’t stick, and turn the loaf over onto the rack to cool completely before frosting.
Step 4: Make the cream cheese frosting
Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
Using the stand mixer or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla. Add the remaining orange zest and 1-1/2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar, and beat until smooth and creamy. You can add a bit more sugar if it’s not thick enough.
Spread a heavy layer of frosting over the gingerbread cake, smoothing it out with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, if desired.
Here’s What I Thought
Jamie Thrower for Taste Recipes
I can’t wait to make this loaf cake again! It’s easy to make, not overly sweet and delicious.
As with most baked goods, make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature before starting. If you don’t have any room temperature butter, try these tricks to soften butter quickly. And when it comes to mixing the butter and sugar, make sure to whip it long enough that they fully come together and the texture becomes creamy. All of this will help give your loaf the perfect light texture.
This cake smells so good while it’s in the oven that you’ll want to frost it and dig in right away. But you never want to frost a warm cake! The frosting will fall off and melt. While your cake is cooling you can pull out the cream cheese so it has plenty of time to come to room temperature.
This cake is great in slices, and I think it would also be fun to make as mini loaf cakes in a pan like this. You could also get creative with the toppings and try chopped pecans or hazelnuts instead of walnuts, or add in some chopped candied ginger. This recipe is a keeper!
More Copycat Starbucks Recipes
Inspired by: Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
My family loves this comforting chai tea latte recipe, especially on cold days instead of cocoa or when they're feeling under the weather. I simplified this
chai tea recipe by using the filter basket of our coffeepot. It's delicious and great after dinner! —Julie Plummer, Sykesville, Maryland
Get Our Recipe for Chai Tea Latte
Molly Allen for Taste Recipes
You can make Starbucks cranberry bliss bars any time you please with this step-by-step copycat recipe. It makes an entire pan of bars that taste just like the real deal. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
Inspired by: Starbucks Egg BitesYou can substitute Gruyere cheese for the Swiss and ham for the bacon, or add in small-cut veggies to these copycat Starbucks egg bites. I also like to bake these in small Mason jars for fun single-portion presentations. Serve with avocado slices and fresh fruit for a healthy breakfast. —Maria Morelli, West Kelowna, British Columbia
Inspired by: Starbucks Caramel FrappuccinoI love caramel frappuccinos from Starbucks, but they get too expensive. I now make my own, and they are just as good. If you blend the milk with all the other ingredients, it gets too foamy—instead stir it in with a spoon after all the ice is crushed. —Heather Egger, Davenport, Iowa
NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME
The flaky layers of laminated dough and a sweet, cheese filling in the center make this Danish a natural to pair with hot coffee or tea. It’s as delicious for breakfast as it is for a late-night snack. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont
Inspired by: Starbucks Roasted Ham, Swiss and Egg SandwichOn a busy morning, these freezer breakfast sandwiches save the day. A hearty combo of eggs, Canadian bacon and cheese will keep you fueled through lunchtime and beyond. —Christine Rukavena,
Taste Recipes Senior Editor
Inspired by: Starbucks Cold Brew CoffeeCold brewing reduces the acidity of coffee, which enhances its natural sweetness and complex flavors. Even those who take hot coffee with sugar and cream might find themselves sipping cold brew plain. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Or if you rather buy it at the store, our Test Kitchen team found the very
best options to kick start your mornings.
Homemade BagelsOur easy bagel recipe lets you skip the store and make a dozen homemade bagels right in the comfort of your kitchen. Customize them with your favorite bagel toppings like everything bagel seasoning, poppy seeds or Asiago cheese.
Inspired by: Starbucks Salted Caramel MochaIf you crave cafe-style coffees at home, here's a recipe for caramel mocha. You can make this decadent, sweet recipe within a few minutes and have a drink that rivals what you'd get at a coffeehouse.
Jamie Thrower for Taste Of Home
Inspired by: Starbucks Iced CoffeeWhen my sister introduced me to iced coffee, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. Not only did I love it, but I decided to start making my own iced coffee recipe. This easy version is a refreshing alternative to hot coffee. —Jenny Reece, Lowry, Minnesota
Inspired by: Starbucks Iced Lemon LoafMy family always asks for this love-me-tender lemon loaf cake. Sometimes, I shake things up and make cupcakes with the batter. So awesome for brunch! —Lola Baxter, Winnebago, Minnesota
Inspired by: Starbucks Honey Oatmilk LatteWe combine rich molasses, golden honey and a host of spices to create this warm and comforting beverage.—Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Inspired by: Starbucks Berry Trio ParfaitHomemade granola layered with fresh fruit and yogurt makes a superb breakfast. Sometimes I skip the parfait step to enjoy it on a hikes or picnics.—Donna Speirs, Kennebunk, ME
Pumpkin Spice LatteYearning for a pumpkin spice latte but can’t wait for fall? It’s always PSL season with this pumpkin spice latte recipe, which uses real canned pumpkin for authentic autumnal flavor.
Inspired by: Starbucks Double Chocolate BrownieCoffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Inspired by: Starbucks Caffe MochaWhen I'm sipping this delicious coffee, I almost feel as if I'm visiting my favorite coffeehouse. —Jill Rodriguez, Gonzales, Louisiana
Inspired by: Starbucks Toasted Coconut Cold BrewCold-brew lattes are all the rage at coffee shops, but they're so easy to make at home. This coconut cold-brew version is ridiculously refreshing and it's vegan! —Natalie Larsen, Columbia, Maryland
Inspired by: Starbucks Pumpkin BreadSkip the line and bake Starbucks's pumpkin bread in your own kitchen. This copycat recipe is better than the original! —
Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Inspired by: Starbucks Hot ChocolateEach winter in early February my friends and I gather for an outdoor show called Mittenfest. We skip the Bloody Marys and fill our thermoses with these hot cocoas instead.
Special Banana Nut BreadThis extra-special banana bread makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors. The recipe makes two loaves, so I can serve one and keep the other one in the freezer to use as a last-minute gift. —Beverly Sprague, Catonsville, Maryland
Inspired by: Starbucks Peppermint MochaMake spirits bright with a minty mocha to share under the mistletoe or around the piano. I’ve also stirred in coffee liqueur instead of peppermint. —Lauren Brien-Wooster, South Lake Tahoe, California
Inspired by: Starbucks Iced Black Tea LemonadeI have always loved iced tea with lemon, and this irresistible thirst-quencher takes it one step further. The lemonade gives this refreshing drink a nice color, too. —Gail Buss, New Bern, North Carolina
Inspired by: Starbucks Blueberry SconeSave your precious summer blueberries for these blueberry scones! They’re so good, you’ll be thankful you get 16 scones out of the recipe.
Taste Recipes
Skip the drive-thru and head straight to your kitchen to shake up this coffee drink. You only need four ingredients!
Get Our Recipe for Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Inspired by: Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese MuffinI first made this recipe back in 1987 and have since made it many times over the years because it's my children's favorite muffin recipe.
—Wendy Stenman
Inspired by: Starbucks Peppermint White Hot ChocolateMy soothing white hot chocolate is a great warm-up after a wintry day spent sledding or ice skating. Or include it as a festive addition to brunch or an afternoon tea party. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
The Ultimate Chocolate Chip CookieEveryone has a favorite type of chocolate chip cookie—a little crispy, a little chewy—but they all have to begin with a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. This is the best place to start! —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
