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square of gingerbread bar on a plate with a bite on a fork
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Gingerbread Bars

Chewy gingerbread bars are bursting with warm spices making them the perfect Christmas treat.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Calories 188kcal
Author Ayla O'Neill

Equipment

  • stand mixer
  • 9x13 baking pan

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set dry ingredient mixture aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 minutes.
  • Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture, and continue to beat until well combined.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until well combined.
  • Press the gingerbread dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • In the meantime, make the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
  • On low speed, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture.
  • Once your gingerbread bars have completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the bars.

Notes

Note, the dough is quite thick and I really had to use my fingers/bottom of a glass to evenly spread the dough all the way through the pan. It will be a thin layer of dough, but it rises as it bakes!
If you like a heavier cream cheese frosting, double the recipe. 

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcal