Ingredients
1½cupsall-purpose flour
2¼tspground ginger
2tspground cinnamon
1tspground cloves
1tspsalt
1cupwhite sugar
½cupbutter,softened
1tsporange extract
1tspbaking soda
1cupapplesauce
8ozcream cheese,(1 package) softened
1tspvanilla extract
½tsporange extract
2½cupsconfectioners’ sugar
2tbspcrystallized ginger,finely chopped, or to taste
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9×5-inch loaf pans.
Combine flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a bowl.
Cream sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric blender until light and fluffy; stir in 1 teaspoon orange extract. Mix baking soda into applesauce and stir into butter mixture.
Add flour mixture and mix until batter is smooth. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pans.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean for 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack until cool for about 1 hour.
Combine cream cheese, vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon orange extract in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
Beat in confectioners’ sugar gradually. Spread frosting over cooled loaves. Decorate with crystallized ginger.
