Gingerbread Loaf

• 2.5 cups all purpose flour
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temp
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup fancy molasses unsulfured light
• 1/2 cup apple sauce

• Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly butter a loaf pan. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
  
• In a bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together 1 cup hot water and molasses. Set aside.
  
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg until glossy, then mix in the apple sauce and molasses mix.
  
• Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well combined and pour into the pan.
  
• Bake for 1 hour or until a tester comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too much, top loosely with a piece of foil. Cool completely in the pan on wire rack before optional glazing (see notes for glaze).
  

This is a medium-low sweet loaf, so the glaze will add a lot of sweetness if you’re looking for that.

To glaze: mix 1.5 cups powdered sugar with 3 tbsp milk until smooth. Spoon over the top of the loaf.

Estimated nutrition doesn’t include glaze.