Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe) is a yummy version of “a famous coffee place’s” beloved gingerbread loaf. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!
Our family recently gobbled up some of the most wonderful gingerbread with cream cheese icing I’ve ever made! It’s a knockoff recipe called Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe), because it tastes as good (or better) than the kind available at our local “famous” coffee spot.
The gingerbread loaf is flavor-filled with lots of aromatic spices associated with Fall… cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, and is a very moist cake… definitely NOT dry!
This Starbucks gingerbread copycat recipe is perfect for a late afternoon snack, or a quick breakfast with a great cup of coffee or tea! My family thought it was absolutely fantastic, and it did not last long around our home, at all.
Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At the Bottom Of The Page
How To Prepare Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe)
First preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×5 inch bread loaf pan by spraying it with non-stick spray. To make your work easier, line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Leave some of the parchment paper well extended over the rim of the pan, so that you can easily lift the entire loaf out of the pan once cooled. Set pan aside.
Cream the room temperature butter and granulated sugar until it is fully combined. Add the vanilla and a room temperature egg. Beat the ingredients well until fully incorporated.
Add apple butter to the batter and mix well, to combine. I was fortunate to have some home canned Apple Butter available in our pantry. You can substitute applesauce for the apple butter, if desired. TIP: The blogger I got this recipe from used a 15 ounce can or pears, drained them and pureed them. That is another good substitute you could try.
Sift the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg together. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter, mixing well to combine. Once the batter is fully mixed together, evenly spread it out in your prepared loaf pan.
Baking Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe)
Place the batter-filled baking pan in a preheated oven. Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the top/middle part of the loaf comes out clean. TIP: Check the bread at 50 minutes to test for done-ness.
When the gingerbread is done, remove pan to a wire rack to cool. Once it has cooled, lift the Starbucks gingerbread loaf out of the pan, using the extended edges of the parchment paper.
Make The Icing
While the gingerbread is baking, beat together 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese. Trust me, it will blend much smoother if it’s at room temp. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, continuing to beat until icing is smooth and creamy, with no lumps. A bit too thick? Add a drop or two of water. Too thin? Add a bit more powdered sugar.
Frost The Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf
Once the gingerbread has completely cooled, frost the top (and let it slightly run over the edges) of the gingerbread. You will end up with a LOT of frosting, which makes for a thick, creamy and amazing topping for the gingerbread.
If you don’t want that much frosting on the gingerbread (but it’s soooo good!), simply cut the icing quantity in half. Lightly dust the frosted gingerbread loaf with ground nutmeg.
Time To Eat!
Once the icing has had a chance to slightly firm up, slice yourself a piece, take a big bite, and ENJOY! It tastes TERRIFIC! A whole loaf with 8 slices can be made for a fraction of the cost of buying 8 pieces of this loaf at that “you-know-where” coffee spot!
Sure hope you will try this recipe for Starbucks gingerbread (a copycat recipe). I’m going to make it again around Christmas time, and I can’t wait! Have a wonderful day!
Looking For More Recipes For “Sweet” Bread Loaves?
You can find all of my bread recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few, including:
Interested In More Recipes?
Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so. If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.
You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks
Recipe Source: http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/copycat-starbucks-gingerbread/
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg , room temperature
- 1 cup apple butter (can substitute applesauce or pear purée)
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 8 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups powdered (confectioner's) sugar
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9x5 inch bread loaf pan (Spray with non-stick spray, line with parchment paper with paper extending well past the rim of loaf pan for ease in lifting loaf out of pan once cool).
- Beat the butter and granulated sugar until completely mixed. Add vanilla and egg; beat well until batter is smooth and light. Add apple butter (or applesauce/pear puree). Blend well.
- In separate bowl, sift together the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, a little at a time, mixing as you add. Once batter is fully mixed, evenly distribute it into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 55 minutes. Check it at 50 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the top/middle of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, the gingerbread is done. Once done, remove pan to a wire rack to cool completely before lifting the loaf from the pan.
- Prepare the icing while gingerbread is baking by using electric mixer and blending room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a creamy, no lumps, thick icing.
- Once gingerbread has completely cooled, spread icing completely over the top (and let some run off the sides). Dust the icing with a small amount of ground nutmeg. Let icing firm up just a bit, then cut a piece, serve, and enjoy!
Note on Pear Purée: The original author of the recipe says she substituted a 15 ounce can of pears for the apple butter. She drained, then processed pears in food processor or blender until smooth.
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!
I love this recipe. I gave these out in food baskets last year with huge success! I used the pear puree which made it perfectly moist and the texture = 👌
this recipe has no Molasses in it, is that correct?
Hi, there! YES that is correct. No molasses. Have a good day.