It’s Christmastime!
Or is it really? {crink eye}
I feel like the world is playing a trick on me. From where I stand it looks more like primo beach season. True, people are wearing jeans and little sweater-like things, Christmas music and flashing neon nativity scenes have been going strong since, oh, I dunno, JULY, and I can’t find a seat at Starbucks.
But nothing about the climate in the Philippines makes me feel like it’s Christmastime. Nothing. There’s not even like, a stray orange leaf or anything.
Bjork and I sometimes create mini Minnesota winters with the air conditioning in our scrappy little office (you should see the curtains that Bjork bought). You know, the whole turn it to “max cool” and put on a hoodie for a little bit kinda thing? And then when that gets old, I go bake something cause it feels like I’m sitting next to the crackling fireplace. That might have something to do with THE ACTUAL FIRE that’s blazing away inside the oven. I dunno, real cold, real fire… it might actually be the Christmas season after all.
I baked this gingerbread a few years ago for my coworkers. It was so yummy, and then I took not-very-good pictures of it and thought they were great. I literally remember thinking that I especially liked this one shot:
But I don’t really like that shot anymore. Funny how things can change.
Speaking of things changing, I am super excited because for the last few weeks (minus Virus Week) I’ve been in the process of making some additions and updates to my food photography eBook, Tasty Food Photography. Yay!
To be a truth teller: I was kind of not excited to start working on it again.
But it’s been such a fun process! I never could have imagined the kind of response that I’ve gotten from you, my readers, on how Tasty Food Photography has made such a positive difference in your food photography, which makes getting back into it supermotivating. Thank you for being so encouraging!
Plus, it gives me a good excuse to go to The Coffee Bean every.single.night. And if I don’t look out the window, The Coffee Bean gives me the warm Christmas fuzzies somethin’ fierce. So it’s Christmas. Fine. I accept, and I’ll take the White Dream Mocha Thingie.
Know what else gives me warm Christmas fuzzies? Gingerbread. It’s so cozy. And is that lemon glaze pretty or what? These make great gifts, but if you can’t summon the strength, I will just let you know that they make perfect Christmastime breakfasts with a side of chai tea latte. Just saying.
Gingerbread Loaves with Lemon Glaze
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
Description
These gingerbread loaves are soft and moist and fluffy, and they make the house smell amazing. The lemon glaze is the perfect finishing touch!
Ingredients
- 2 scant cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 10 tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 tbs. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground sea salt
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground cloves
- (other spice options: nutmeg, allspice)
- 1 tsp. ground mustard
- 3 tablespoons fresh grated ginger soaked in 1-2 tablespoons hot water (or 3 tablespoons ginger paste such as Fresh Gourmet)
- juice of one lemon
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter with sugar. Add eggs and beat until fluffy – about 2 minutes.
- Add all other ingredients (except lemon and powdered sugar) and mix until moistened.
- Divide the batter evenly between two greased loaf pans and bake for about 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of pan, until golden brown and the tops spring back when touched.
- After loaves have cooled completely, stir lemon juice with powdered sugar until a thick glaze forms. Spread over tops of loaves and allow to set.
Notes
Covering the bread with foil during the last 10 minutes will help the top not to get too brown as it bakes.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: gingerbread loaf, lemon glaze, gingerbread bread
I started to get crocodile tears just listening to Amy Grant singing about chesnuts and yuletide carols and coming home for Christmas, so I decided that this year all my Christmas music has to be totally new. Unfamiliar and unknown. No memories attached. I downloaded a Christmas album from… Martina McBride. Is that weird? Cause I really like it.
CHRISTMASSSS.
would love to try this out for christmas..looks great!
Hope you enjoy it!
Hi!
So I’m a college girl looking to use up my eggs before I leave to go home for break, and was searching for something Christmasey/gingery/yummy- to bake, and this looks perfect! The only thing is I only have ground ginger, not ginger paste. Is there any way I can try substituting? Otherwise I guess I’ll have to try making it when I get home 🙂 Can’t wait!
Yes! You can sub. Just use less, maybe more like 1 teaspoon to start (taste and adjust).
Hi Lindsay!
Greetings from Bankok, Thailand! The first 2 times I made this recipe, it turned out so very delicious – just perfect balance of tastes and the flavor of the orange zest was so refreshing. However, the last 4 times, it has turned out peculiarly bitter and the orange flavor no longer prominent. I still enjoy it myself, but others do not. I long for the original delightful taste….I can’t figure out what could be wrong…..any suggestions?
Wow, I have no idea, especially since you made it successfully the first two times. Did you change any of the ingredients at all?
Lindsay, I am supposed to add the grated ginger too, right? Not just the juice after soaking in the water, right?
Yes – I just had it soaking in water to make it more like a paste. 🙂
Is this recipe for regular sized loaf pans or the mini sized? Thanks and cannot wait to try!
This is for regular sized loaf pans.
Hello,
Have you used this recipe in different pans? I have the cutest mini bundt pans that I would love to use for this recipe. Looks so yummy!
Thanks, Mary
I did put half the batter in muffin tins one time and it worked fine! I’m sure you could do it – just watch the baking time. 🙂
So nice to have dropped in on your blog. When I read that you’re here in the Philippines, I thought you’re Filipino but reading the ABOUT section in your blog, found out you aren’t but is currently a teacher in Cebu!
Nope! Definitely not Filipino – I could not handle this heat permanently! You guys are insanely tough. 🙂
I love gingerbread, too, and have added this to my list of recipes to try. I love all your photographs, even the one you decided you don’t like. : ) Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks Vespa! 🙂
Made this yesterday and it’s delicious! Is the reason it’s so light and fluffy the 1 Tbs of baking soda? That quantity totally threw me off but I followed your instructions anyway and it came out great…especially the crumbs at the end with the remaining glaze that pooled over!
I’ve got this in the oven right now and it smells amazing!!! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
It’s so sad it doesn’t feel like Christmas but I had to smile of the turn the AC to max idea. Your loaf turned out so beautiful, I love the glaze and the flavors.
Thanks for sharing
It doesn’t really feel like Christmas out here in LA too!
These loaves btw are gorgeous! That dripping lemon glaze is so inviting!
This gingerbread loaf looks amazing. Your photography has improved a lot! I remember looking back at old food photos and thinking how did I ever think this looked good?
This looks so good. Wow your pictures have really improved 🙂 Glad you are all better. That bites its not feeling like Christmas there. I COMPLETELY understand. I grew up in cold wet rainy soggy Washington State and have lived in all warm places since I got married (9 yrs ago). We occasionally travel back for Christmas but its hard. I miss the cold weather.. Currently have been transplanted to a dessert (Arizona) ugh. no snow. wearing t-shirts and sandles in December doesn’t exactly want me to start drinking cocoa but we are doing the a.c. thing too which makes it nice for baking yummy treats like THIS! 🙂
Omg I think I just drooled on the keyboard while I looked at these gingerbread photos, it looks delicious! Also, I know how you feel about the hot weather not feeling like Christmas thing. I live in GA and it has been like 80 degrees here everyday lately, so when I need a little Christmas cheer I just go to Starbucks and get my little (or big) red Christmas themed cup filled with something sweet and seasonal (and way to many calories) and taa daaa, it feels like Christmas time!! And If you are still looking for Christmas music I strongly suggest downloading Justin’s Biebers new album..guilty pleasure 😉
I know exactly what you mean about it not feeling like Christmas! We are currently traveling through China and nothing about China is christmasy. In a few days we’ll be heading to Vietnam and I’m going to take a wild guess that that won’t be particularly into the holiday season either! Knowing I would miss out on having a xmas tree this year, last year I kept mine up until March to try and make up for it (though it still doesn’t). This gingerbread looks great and I’m seriously jealous you can at least whip up xmas themed treats in your kitchen! We have been staying in hostels so no kitchen facilities in sight : (
Your photography is beautiful, but I love the drip on that loaf. I am going to the kitchen and make this now. If I am successful I am going to try to make into mini-loaves to give to the neighbors. Last year they gave me lemons from their tree, and my other neighbor gave me pots of herbs that he had thinned from his garden. Both highly appreciated.
I totally get that Christmas music thing. Hmmm. Maybe that’s why we liked to get a new Christmas CD every year, so we wouldn’t have to listen to the old ones with all the homesick-making memories?
Your gingerbread loaves sound wonderful. I’ll have to give them a try.
Sorry you were sick and had to go to the hospital. Not fun at all! Glad you lived to tell the story.
Oh Lindsay, yes, welcome to the world of the strange tropical Christmas. We pull the crank-up-the-AC trick too. Our third December in the tropics and it turns out that there may be no hope for Midwesterners to adapt to 90-degree “winters”. Baking helps though, and this gingerbread looks amazing!
It does my heart good to know that you understand me. 🙂