Gingerbread Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.5
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Description
The Gingerbread Cookie Bars recipe combines melted butter, granulated and brown sugars, molasses, and vanilla to create a rich, flavorful batter spiced with classic gingerbread spices including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Baking soda provides leavening, while the 9x13-inch pan shape yields a dense, chewy bar texture after a brief 15 to 20-minute bake.
These bars are cool enough to frost with a smooth cream cheese frosting made by creaming together butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, though they can also be served simply with a dusting of powdered sugar. The final result is a spiced, moist, and slightly sweet treat that balances the intensity of molasses with the warmth of the spices.
The bars are easy to cut into squares for serving and make a good dessert or snack during colder seasons where gingerbread flavors are popular. The accompanying frosting adds a creamy tang that complements the sweetness.
Since the bars should not be overbaked to maintain moistness, close attention to baking time is advised. The frosting mixture benefits from beating at low then high speed to develop a fluffy texture.
Ingredients
- 1/2 /2 cup butter melted
- 3/4 /4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 /4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 /3 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 /4 teaspoon cloves ground
- 1/4 /4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting: (or just dust with powdered sugar)
- 1/2 /2 cup butter softened
- 1 cream cheese 8 ounce package, softened
- 1 lb powdered sugar 3 3/4 cups
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses on medium speed until creamy.
- Add the egg and stir until completely incorporated. Add baking soda, flour, spices, and salt and mix until well combined. Spread dough into prepared pan, using clean hands or a rubber spatula to press the dough to the edges of the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes; do not overbake! Cool in a pan with a wire rack.
- When bars have cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting or dust lightly with powdered sugar. They are delicious with nothing on them! Cut into squares and serve.
- For the frosting: Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Slowly mix on low and then beat it on high until fluffy.
Notes
- The bars bake quickly; avoid overbaking to keep them moist and tender.
- Cream cheese frosting adds a rich contrast but is optional; powdered sugar dusting works well too.
- The recipe scales well in a 9x13-inch pan for convenient serving as squares.
- Spices measured precisely contribute to the classic gingerbread flavor profile.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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