1-Making this gingerbread loaf is a fun process that anyone can enjoy, and it all starts with getting your oven ready. Preheat it to 350°F and grease an 8×4-inch or 9×5-inch loaf pan to ensure your loaf slides out easily later. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and black pepper until everything is evenly mixed.

2-Next, in a separate container, mix the molasses with the hot water to help it blend smoothly. Using a mixer, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until it’s nice and smooth, then add the egg and vanilla extract, blending until everything combines well. Now, alternately add the dry ingredients and the molasses mixture in three parts each, mixing on low speed just until incorporated the batter should be a bit thin with some lumps, which is okay for a tender loaf.

3-Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top for even baking. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes for the larger pan, or 55 to 65 minutes for the smaller one; check if it’s done by inserting a toothpick it should come out with moist crumbs but no wet batter. Let the loaf cool in the pan for one hour, then move it to a rack to cool completely before adding the icing.

4-For the icing, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice until smooth, then drizzle it over the cooled loaf for a sweet finish. If you’re looking for more baking ideas, try this blueberry cream cheese crumb cake recipe from my blog for another delightful treat that pairs well with gingerbread flavors.

5-You can also bake this as muffins using cupcake liners and reduce the time to 20 22 minutes at 350°F. With these steps, even busy parents or students can whip up something special.