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Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
4.9 from 96 votes

Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting bring together warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a moist bar form. These bars have a tender texture and a rich molasses sweetness, topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting that balances the spice with creamy sweetness. The recipe uses melted butter in the batter for moistness and a classic blend of fall spices, making it a suitable treat during colder months or the holidays.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 20
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 cups + 2 Tbsp (300g) all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp cloves ground
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter diced into 1 Tbsp pieces, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 cup (220g) light brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) unsulphured molasses
  • 1 egg large
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
  • 1/2 cup butter nearly at room temperature (I like to use 1/4 c salted butter 1/4 c unsalted
  • 1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese nearly at room temperature
  • 2 1/2 cups (325g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together butter, brown sugar and molasses until combined. 
  4. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. With mixer set on low speed slowly add in flour mixture and mix until combined. Fold batter with a spatula as needed until batter appears to be evenly incorporated.
  5. Pour dough into prepared baking dish and spread and press into an even layer using your hands. 
  6. Bake in preheated oven until bars have baked through, about 14 - 17 minutes (be careful not to over-bake). Transfer baking dish to a wire rack and let bars cool completely.
  7. For the cream cheese frosting: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth. 
  8. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy*. Spread frosting over cooled bars.
  9. Cut into squares. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.

Notes

  • Freeze the frosting in short bursts, mixing between intervals, to reach a creamy and spreadable texture.
  • Be careful not to overbake the bars to keep them moist and tender.
  • Use a 13x9-inch baking dish for proper thickness and even baking.