Homemade Gingerbread Loaf

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper (or grease and flour the bottom and sides) and set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, add butter and sugar. With a hand mixer (or stand mixer) on medium speed, mix until fully combined. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until creamed and fluffy, about a minute. Scrape down the sides of your bowl.

Step 3

In a separate small bowl, add molasses and hot water. Stir until combined.

Step 4

In a third bowl, whisk (or sift) together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.

Step 5

To your butter mixture, add half of your dry ingredients, stirring until mostly incorporated. Then, add half of your molasses mixture, stirring until incorporated. Repeat once more, adding your remaining dry ingredients and molasses mixture. Stir until just combined (make sure not to over-mix, this can cause your bread to turn out dry/dense).

Step 6

Pour batter into loaf pan. Cover loaf pan loosely with foil (remove foil halfway through baking. This ensures that the top of your bread doesn't burn.) Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with crumbs).

Step 7

Transfer loaf pan to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before removing from pan and slicing.

Step 8

Optionally, dust with confectioner's sugar or serve with a dollop of whipped cream.