This holiday season, enjoy this healthy gingerbread loaf with cream cheese frosting! Made with all natural sugar, this healthy, gluten-free gingerbread recipe is an absolute delight.
A delicious healthy gingerbread loaf with cream cheese frosting
In keeping with the holiday festivities, I knew this season's recipes wouldn't be complete if I didn't come up with a delicious bread recipe! After thinking long and hard about what I wanted to create, I dreamed up this incredible gingerbread loaf recipe. And boy, it did not disappoint!
This healthy recipe is one of my favorite "bread" recipes that I've ever made. It's hearty and filling, but has that familiarly sweet taste that only comes from gingerbread. The cream cheese icing really makes it complete!
I love to enjoy this gluten-free gingerbread loaf with my morning cup of coffee or after a nice comforting dinner. It's a true holiday treat!
I also wanted to share my Easy Gingerbread Truffles too for a bite-sized gingerbread treat.
Ingredients needed for this gingerbread recipe
For this healthy bread recipe, we'll need two sections of ingredients: those for the bread, and those for the frosting. The bread ingredients are a bit more in depth, but trust me. The taste will make the prep well worth it!
Gingerbread Loaf:
- Eggs
- Oil
- Molasses
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla
- Almond flour
- Arrowroot powder
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Ground ginger
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
Frosting:
- Melanie's Medleys
- Powdered sugar
- Butter
- Salt
Kitchen tools needed for this recipe
Despite its long ingredient list, this recipe is incredibly simple to create! From start to finish, it should only require about 60 minutes, with 35 to 40 of those devoted to cooking time!
When it comes to kitchen tools, you'll need a bread pan (I like to use an 8x4), a whisk, and two mixing bowls. That's it!
How to make this gingerbread loaf
To make this bread, start by preheating your oven to 350F, and greasing your bread pan.
Then, whisk together all of the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Then, add the dry to the wet, whisking as you combine the two together.
Once combined (it doesn't have to be perfectly mixed), pour the mixture into the baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
While the bread is baking, mix the frosting ingredients. Allow the bread to fully cool before adding the cream cheese frosting on top.
Gingerbread loaf tips and tricks
These little "hacks" will help to perfect your bread!
- Sift your flour: I recommend sifting your almond flour before adding it to your dry mixture. This will allow the flour to be broken up, which will speed up the mixing process and help create a smoother mixture.
- Let the frosting set: After frosting your bread, allow the frosting to set for about an hour or so before covering or storing.
- Great gift idea: These little loaves of goodness make great gift ideas! To share with loved ones, securely wrap in plastic wrap and top with a bow!
A healthier bread recipe
As always, I tweaked the ingredients in this recipe to make it a bit more nutrient-dense than other gingerbread loaf recipes. The biggest swap that I made was in using all natural sweeteners.
Instead of using granulated sugar which is void of any nutrients, I used maple syrup and molasses for sweetening.
The result? The most delicious healthy bread recipe ever!
Storing gingerbread
Your gingerbread cream cheese loaf should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. Be sure to keep it in an airtight container, and enjoy within 3 days.
Your bread can also be frozen and enjoyed later! Securely wrap it in plastic wrap, and then freeze for up to 3 months.
More delicious Erin Lives Whole bread recipes
Are you a bread lover like me? If so, you'll LOVE these recipes too!
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup oil I used melted coconut
- ½ cup molasses
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- splash vanilla
- 2 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup softened butter
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a bread pan (mine was 8x4).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients.
- In a larger bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until combined.
- Pour into pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- While baking, prepare frosting by using a hand mixer to blend all ingredients together.
- Frost gingerbread loaf once it has been completely cooled.
- Store in fridge.
Nutrition
Per serving. Nutrition is an estimate.
Leave a star rating below and tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Rate This Recipe
Marissa says
AMAZING. Great texture and flavor. I didn’t make the frosting because I didn’t want to deal with powdered sugar, and it is AMAZING without it too!!!
Erin says
Hi Marissa, so happy you loved it!!
ERIN N says
This recipe needs more traction because WOW! This is incredible. Made it today post Christmas and am so impressed! The gingerbread flavor is perfect and it’s so soft and fluffy. I love your almond flour recipes so much!
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy you loved it so much! 🙂
Michele says
Making it now for the 2nd time. My boyfriend keeps talking about it since I made it the 1st time. Both of us love it. Thank you so much for sharing. It's a keeper. 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Erin says
Hi Michele, so happy you both love it so much! 🙂
Maria Romanello says
What type of flour can be used in place of almond flour...
Erin says
Hi Maria, you can change out for any type of flour- just check the ratio since not all are 1:1. Let me know what flour you use and how the loaf comes out!!
Sonia says
Wow! I been craving Gingerbread and this recipe was unreal. Def will be making on repeat! & that cream cheese frosting is 🔥 Thanks for creating a gluten free recipe that is legit amazing 😁
Erin says
Hi Sonia, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Sonia says
Wow! I been craving Gingerbread and this recipe was unreal. Super soft and not overly sweet but full of flavor. Def will be making on repeat! & that cream cheese frosting is 🔥 Thanks for creating a gluten free recipe that is legit amazing 😁
Erin says
Hi Sonia, so happy you loved it so much! Thanks for sharing!!
Caroline says
SO YUM! I was craving some gingerbread last week and this recipe nailed it! I often have trouble getting a good crumb when making gluten free breads, but this one came out as fluffy as I could have dreamed! Thank you Erin!
Erin says
Hi Caroline, I am so glad you loved it so much! 🙂
lexi says
I made this and all I can say is WOW!!!! This is going to be a holiday and winter staple from now on. I loved the flavor of the gingerbread being in truly bread form. My family went crazy for it too!
Erin says
Hi Lexi, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Sam says
This looks great! Do you think mini loaf pans would work? Two or three? Thanks 😊
Erin says
Hi Sam, yes that would be fine! Just watch as they bake since the time will be different depending how many you make/pan size. Let me know how they come out!
Amanda says
My family (who are boxed baked goods lovers) ATE THIS UP! I cannot wait to make this easy, delicious recipe again!! Thank you!
Erin says
Hi Amanda, I am thrilled they loved it!!
Lane Cleary says
Would this recipe work in a bundt pan?
Erin says
Hi Lane, yes that would be fine! Just check it often to see once it is done.
Jen M says
I made this last year for Christmas and this year for Thanksgiving, and everyone raved about it!! (Thanksgiving was just our quarantine crew.) I never dreamed I would find the perfect gluten free gingerbread, but THIS IS IT! It's moist and perfectly spiced with just the right amount of sweetness! This will be a holiday staple in my house from now on.
Erin says
Hi Jen, I love hearing that! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Stephanie says
Hi Erin!
Is there something I can substitute for the arrowroot powder?
Erin says
Hi Stephanie! Yes! Cornstarch or Tapioca Powder.