Pull Apart Gingerbread Loaf

Get ready to fall in love with this irresistible Pull Apart Gingerbread Loaf that's bursting with warm and cozy holiday flavors. Filled with a buttery filling and topped with a cream cheese icing, you’ll have a treat that is truly decadent.

This gingerbread loaf is perfect for holiday celebrations, weekend brunches, or a special treat for family, friends, or close neighbors. 

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Gingerbread Loaf
• Ingredient Notes
• Substitutions and Variations
• How To Make Pull Apart Gingerbread Loaf
• Storing and Freezing
• Recipe Tips

My family loves monkey bread, and I wanted to change the flavor to gingerbread for the holidays. I love gingerbread season! And this Pull Apart Gingerbread Loaf is full of classic gingerbread flavors.

It starts with a soft gingerbread dough, beautifully spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. As it bakes, your kitchen will fill with the deliciousness of freshly baked gingerbread. No need for a candle when you make the real thing!

Once it's baked to golden perfection, it's time to drizzle on a luscious cream cheese icing, adding a creamy and tangy contrast to the sweet and spiced layers.

Why You Will Love This Gingerbread Loaf

• It's a slice of holiday nostalgia that warms your heart.
• The pull-apart design makes it fun and shareable.
• The cream cheese icing adds a creamy, indulgent touch.
• It's a treat that is fancy enough for a holiday meal but simple enough to make for a cozy family gathering. 

We love to have this gingerbread loaf at breakfast or brunch during the holidays! It's great served alongside this Meaty Breakfast Casserole to make it a complete meal.

Ingredient Notes

See the printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.

• Bread dough made with flour, instant yeast, salt, sugar, milk, butter, egg, and blackstrap molasses.
• Warm fall spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and brown sugar.
• Cream cheese icing is made with cream cheese, butter, milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.

Substitutions and Variations

• Add a crunchy texture by mixing chopped nuts (e.g., pecans or walnuts) into the filling mixture before spreading it on the dough.
• Replace the brown sugar, ginger, and cinnamon in the filling with a generous layer of Nutella for a gooey, chocolate-hazelnut filling.
• Modify the icing by replacing the vanilla extract with maple extract or using real maple syrup for a distinctive flavor.

How To Make Pull Apart Gingerbread Loaf

The easiest way to make this is using a stand mixer with a dough hook or spiral attachment.

To make the dough start by adding the flour, yeast, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and sugar to a bowl of stand mixer and stir to combine. Then add the milk, butter, molasses, and egg to the flour mixture.

Refer to your mixer's instructions for speed settings with dough hook or spiral attachment. Set to recommended speed and mix until everything is combined.

Knead the dough for about 7 minutes until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. You can add a little flour to adjust the consistency if it's too sticky.

Once the kneading is done, shape the dough into a ball and cover it. Let it rise until it doubles in size. This usually takes about 2 hours.

After it has doubled in size, punch the dough down and roll it out to approximately ¼ inch thickness. Then evenly spread butter over the dough.

Next sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger over the buttered dough until evenly coated. Cut the dough into 2-inch squares. (I like to use a pizza cutter instead of a knife.)

Thoroughly grease a 12-cup Bundt pan. Then arrange the dough squares inside, standing them up in a row as much as possible.

Cover the pan and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until nearly doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Once the oven is preheated place the gingerbread loaf in the center of the oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until it's golden brown on top and fully cooked through.

Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Loosen the bread from using an icing spatula or a similar tool. Then invert onto a cooling rack to allow the bread cool.

While the bread is cooling, place the icing ingredients in a bowl and mix until smooth.

Drizzle the icing over the bread before serving.

Storing and Freezing

Make Ahead: Right after you make the dough, place it in the fridge overnight. Remove it and allow it to come to room temperature in the morning, then continue the recipe as directed.

Storing: This gingerbread loaf can be stored wrapped tightly in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

Freezing: Prepare and bake the bread as instructed, but leave off the glaze. Let the loaf cool completely in the pan, then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Place the loaf in a freezer bag or storage container and freeze for up to 1 month.

Recipe Tips

• Follow your stand mixer's specific instructions for dough preparation.
• Ensure the dough rises until it has doubled in size during the resting period.
• Grease the bundt pan generously to prevent sticking.
• Be cautious when removing the bread from the pan to maintain its shape.
• Adjust the icing's consistency by adding more liquid or sugar, if needed, for your desired drizzling texture.

Recipe FAQs

You are going to love this sweet pull apart Gingerbread Loaf and the warmth it brings to your holiday breakfast table.

The pull-apart feature of this bread makes it fun for the family, and the cream cheese icing sets the flavor over the top. And you can make it extra festive by adding sprinkles!

If you try it, be sure to let us know by commenting below!