Gingerbread Cookie Bars
User Reviews
5
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Description
The recipe starts with a spiced flour mixture incorporating ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt to build the distinct gingerbread flavor. The wet ingredients consist of melted butter, light brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract, which are blended before gradually incorporating the flour mixture.
The batter is pressed evenly into a prepared baking dish and baked briefly to retain a soft, chewy texture characteristic of gingerbread bars. Once cooled, the bars are topped with a smooth frosting made of softened butter and cream cheese mixed with powdered sugar and vanilla extract, adding a luscious, tangy contrast to the spice.
Sprinkles are added for holiday decoration. These bars make good finger-food snacks or dessert portions at gatherings, offering a handheld alternative to cookies while maintaining traditional gingerbread flavor elements.
Ingredients
Bars:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves ground
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter melted and cooled slightly, unsalted
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 egg large
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened to almost at room temperature, unsalted
- 8 oz cream cheese softened to almost at room temperature, package
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13 by a 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set it aside.
Bars:
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt, set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a mixer, blend together butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and molasses until fully combined.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract.
- With the mixer on low speed slowly blends in the flour mixture, mix just until combined.
- Give the batter a few stirs with a spatula and transfer it into the prepared dish, press it into an even layer using your hands.
- Bake for about 15 - 17 minutes, careful not to over-bake. Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack and let the bars cool completely before adding the frosting.
Frosting:
- In a large bowl, using a stand or electric mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy. If. too soft, add more sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.
- Spread the frosting over cooled bars and immediately garnish with sprinkles.
- Chill for at least one hour and after that cut into squares and serve.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 626 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 626kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 96g | 32% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 433mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 229mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 80g | 160% |
| Vitamin A | 906IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 89mg | 9% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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