I’m back with yet another holiday baking recipe for ya today!
So obviously Christmas cookies are the best thing ever. But there’s definitely a point for me when I just can’t take the pure butter/sugar/frosting combination anymore.
That’s why you gotta switch it up and remember there is more to the holiday dessert selection than cookies (gasp!).
I am, to many people’s surprise, more of a savory person than a sweet person. I have a much lower tolerance for sugar than I do for carbs.
(Homegirl can do justice to half a bag of pasta #noshame)
So sometimes amid all the indulgent sugary holiday cookie goodness, I need to slip in something a little less sweet. This gingerbread loaf is packed with complex flavors: rich molasses, brown sugar, coconut sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and of course, ginger.
The rich and not-too-sweet cake is topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting that is definitely decadent. Luckily, the frosting:cake ratio is like 1:10, so you’re not going into a sugar coma anytime soon!
This vegan gingerbread is also perfect to make ahead, because the flavors deepen and the loaf becomes softer and richer overnight! Enjoy xx
- 2½ cups unbleached flour
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 3 tsp. ground allspice
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup vegan butter (=1 stick)
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup vegan cream cheese
- ¼ cup vegan butter (=1/2 stick)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease your loaf pan.
- Cream butter with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually incorporate brown sugar and mix until well combined and creamy. Gradually add flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and salt and beat on low until just combined.
- Combine molasses and vinegar in a separate bowl and gently stir boiling water into molasses mixture. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, incorporate molasses mixture into batter.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until gingerbread begins to pull away from sides of pan and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.
- Beat together frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth and use a spatula to frost cooled loaf.
**PS!! If you make a recipe of mine, post a photo on social media and tag #whiskandshout! I love to see my recipes in action!**
This looks perfect Medha! So moist and I bet it tastes heavenly with that cream cheese frosting!
Thanks, Sarah!
Wow. You need to open up your own vegan bakery, girl! That frosting looks so amazing!!
Haha thanks, Mir!
Yum!! Gingerbread has totally been my flavor of the season and I am loving this cake and frosting!
Yay! Thanks 🙂
I’m loving the cream cheese frosting addition here! Looks perfect for the holidays!
Thanks, David!
This gingerbread looks so tasty, Medha! I bet the frosting is finger lincking!!
It is! 🙂
Well, thank God for vegan cream cheese right?!!!! This spiced gingerbread is gorgeous and LOVE that cream cheese frosting! Beautiful!!! Hooray for holiday baking!
Seriously! Thanks, Alice!
I have been on holiday cookie overload, so something other than cookies is much welcome in my life! This spiced gingerbread loaf looks fabulous! And I happen to LOVE cream cheese frostings! Need this loaf in my belly.. ALL of it! 🙂 Cheers!
Aw yay 🙂
This sounds so good, and I must say your photographs just add to the temptation!
Thanks so much for the photo love!
What a beautiful loaf! Love the frosting! Pinning! Happy Holidays Medha!
Thanks for the pin, Mira!
Your vegan gingerbread looks great! I am with you – love, love holiday cookies but you want to make and eat some variety. I made loaves of chocolate gingerbread as one of my food gifts…it was a nice change of pace. Happy Holidays!
Thank you! That sounds amazing 🙂
I also have very little tolerance for sugary sweets now! I am always cutting down my sugar measurement in half when I am baking and opt for less sweeter and more flavorful sugar alternatives. Coconut sugar and molasses is definitely my go-to! Loving this cake!
Thanks!
Oh this looks so good! Like the holidays in one bite. Love this!
Thanks, Rachel!
I have to admit that I’m tired of looking at Christmas cookies, so this gingerbread loaf is the perfect thing! I baked gingerbread yesterday and it was just what I wanted — spicy and not too sweet like you described this. I love the cream cheese frosting on top!
Yay! Thanks 🙂
Now this is a holiday loaf for me. Great flavors, no little cookie cutters, and plenty for everyone.
True! Thanks 🙂
The first thing I thought when I saw your photos was ‘how did she get such a deep rich color in that gingerbread’…and then I saw the 1 cup of molasses in the recipe! I’ve got to try this, it has my name all over it 🙂
The molasses is ESSENTIAL 🙂
I am more of a sweet person than a savory person, so this would be PERFECT for me! I love all the spices in here 🙂
Thanks!
Mmm, that cream cheese frosting! Bet it goes splendidly with the gingerbread. Love your photos here! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Girl, this cake looks delicious and those pics are gorgeous! I agree with Mir – you def need to open a vegan bakery!
Aw thanks so much!
I have been allll about gingerbread the last few years for Christmas! This looks awesome!!
Thanks, Ashley!
These flavours sound just perfect together! I haven’t quite reached Christmas cookie overload yet, but there is definitely room for desserts of all shapes and sizes 😉
Thanks!
I love this!! It’s so pretty, and we can definitely all go for something a little less sweet this time of year 🙂 love the cream cheese frosting 🙂 yum!
Thank you!
I’m more of a savory person too but love anything gingerbread! This looks so moist & delicious! Love the vegan cream cheese frosting!
Thank you 🙂
this bread looks so moist and perfect Medha, love the frosting! 🙂 Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to you & your family! 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Moist and delicious! Made a giant batch for my whole co-op and it was hit! Didn’t even need frosting
So glad you enjoyed!