Ginger Loaf

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup applesauce
• Frosting:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger, or to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
2. Combine flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a bowl.
3. 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.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack until cool, about 1 hour.
5. Combine cream cheese, vanilla extract, and 1/2 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.

flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, white sugar, butter, orange, baking soda, applesauce, frosting, cream cheese, vanilla, orange extract, sugar, ginger

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/260965/ginger-loaf/ (may not work)