Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS

for the loaf:

1/2 cup

(1 stick)butter (at room temperature)

1 cup

sugar

1/2 tsp

vanilla extract

Eggland's Best egg

1 cup

applesauce (or apple butter)

1 1/2 cups

all-purpose flour

1 tsp

baking soda

1 tsp

salt

2 tsp

ground ginger

2 tsp

ground cinnamon

1 tsp

ground cloves

1/2 tsp

nutmeg

chopped walnuts (for topping (optional))

for the frosting:

4 oz

cream cheese (1/2 block) (room temperature)

1 tsp

vanilla extract

1 cup

powdered sugar