Vegan Gingerbread Slice Recipe with Caramel and Chocolate-Orange Ganache

As the weather gets colder and warm aromas fill kitchens, we start craving spiced, comforting desserts, and nothing captures the season's magic better than gingerbread. It is rich, warm and full of nostalgic spice.

The classic gingerbread recipe gets an elevated, plant-based twist with this recipe for vegan gingerbread slices layered with silky caramel and a bright, luxurious chocolate-orange ganache.

This gluten-free, no-bake recipe is everything the season should taste like: deep molasses notes, cozy cinnamon, creamy caramel, and a citrusy chocolate finish that cuts through the sweetness in the most perfect way.

It's a heart-warming treat with the tastes of apple and ginger—a nutrient prized for its muscle and joint benefits—and it fits both large holiday gatherings and cozy nights.

What are gingerbread slices?

Gingerbread slices are a soft, moist, bar-style version of classic gingerbread, making them the perfect alternative to traditional baked gingerbread cookies. A blend between a spiced cake and a chewy blondie, they are tender, deeply flavored with molasses, and infused with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and especially ginger.

Ginger isn't just delicious: it also has health benefits that make this nutrient especially comforting. In research, ginger has been studied for its joint health properties as well as its ability to support a healthy inflammatory response.

Ginger is also well-studied for digestive health and comfort. Its warmth creates a cozy, soothing effect on the body, making it an excellent addition to nourishing soups as well as this spice-forward, good-for-you winter dessert.

Why do chocolate and orange go together so well?

Chocolate and orange are all about contrast. Dark chocolate has natural bitter and roasted notes. Orange, especially when made from real juice or the zest, brings in sweetness, acidity, and a burst of brightness.

They work well together in this recipe for several reasons:

• Aromatic harmony: Chocolate contains complex aromatic compounds that overlap beautifully with citrus oils from orange zest. This makes the two flavors blend in a way that feels smooth, warm, and luxurious.
• Balance of rich and bright: Chocolate brings depth. Orange brings freshness. Together, they create that perfect "cozy but not heavy" mouthfeel.
• Enhanced by spice: Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses have warm, earthy tones. Orange lifts them. Chocolate rounds them out. The result: a beautifully balanced flavor that feels comforting and sophisticated.

How to Make Gingerbread Slices with Caramel and Chocolate-Orange Ganache

This no-bake recipe is made in the blender.

No baking is needed for this recipe, which makes eight slices.

Ingredients

There are three elements to this recipe:

Gingerbread dough

• 1/3 cup cashews or ground almonds (not almond flour)
• 3/4 cup oat flour
• 2.5 tsp coconut flour
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ tsp tamari
• 1.5 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• ¼ tsp clove
• 3/4 cup apple, peeled and chopped
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 3 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Caramel ganache

• 3.5 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup cacao butter, melted
• 1/4 cup nut butter (cashew or almond butter)
• 1.5 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup water at room temperature

Chocolate-orange ganache

• 2.5 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 3-5 drops sweet orange essential oil or 1 tsp of orange zest
• 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted and at room temperature (only if needed)

Preparation

Gingerbread dough

• In a food processor, first blend the dry ingredients until smooth.
• Add the wet ingredients and blend until the mix comes together. Add a little water, if needed, to bring it together. You want the batter not to feel crumbly, so it achieves a cake-like texture that holds together.
• Line a 6" square mold with parchment paper and press the gingerbread dough evenly into the mold.
• Place it in the freezer to set while you make the caramel and chocolate ganache.

Caramel ganache

• In a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients for caramel ganache, except the water, and blend at a low speed just to combine.
• With the blender running on low/medium, drizzle in the water slowly until you achieve a silky-smooth texture.
• Pour half of the caramel ganache onto the gingerbread dough layer, tap to remove air bubbles, and pop it in the fridge to set for about 1 hour, or set it in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Chocolate-orange ganache

• To the high-speed blender jar containing the other half of the caramel, add the cacao powder, molasses and orange essence or orange zest.
• Blend until fully combined.
• If the chocolate-orange ganache is too thick, add the melted coconut oil slowly to add more fluidity; otherwise, do not add.
• Pour the chocolate-orange ganache on top of the caramel layer and spread evenly.
• Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or until it is firm to the touch.
• Remove the gingerbread cake from the mold and cut it into even slices.
• Enjoy!

Nutritional Values per serving

• Calories: 283
• Fat: 19.75 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 3.5 g
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 2 mg

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes.

Tips for Success

• For best results, use the ingredients at room temperature to ensure proper blending.
• For the caramel ganache, if you enjoy coffee flavor, you can replace the water with strong brewed coffee. Ensure it is at room temperature when incorporating it into the recipe.
• This gingerbread can be stored for one week in the refrigerator or for two months in the freezer in an airtight container.

Do gingerbread slices get you enough ginger?

This vegan gingerbread slice recipe is not just a healthier alternative, it also might become your new favorite seasonal treat to share with family, friends and loved ones.

While these delicious slices can occasionally be part of a healthy diet, they do not supply enough ginger to support muscle comfort and a healthy inflammatory response. Instead, taking a daily nutritional supplement is a better choice to promote health and wellness. This consistent targeted nutrition can help support your joint health goals.

Clinical studies have found compounds in ginger help encourage a healthy inflammatory response, support immune health and muscle comfort, and have other whole-body health benefits. Ginger is also used in combination with chaste tree extract to promote lower back comfort.

References

• Anh NH, et al. "Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials." Nutrients. January 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
• Crichton M, et al. "Orally consumed ginger and human health: an umbrella review." Am J Clin Nutr. June 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9170469/
• Mathieu S, et al. "A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms." Nutrients. April 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9025331/
• Nikkhah Bodagh M, et al. "Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials." Food Sci Nutr. November 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6341159/
• Ozkur M, et al. "Ginger for Healthy Ageing: A Systematic Review on Current Evidence of Its Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Properties." Oxid Med Cell Longev. May 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35585878/
• Srivastava S, et al. "Effect of E-PR-01 on non-specific low back pain in the adult population: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial." J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38073372/