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4.8 from 18 votes

Iced Gingerbread Bars

Soft, chewy bars that are full of rich gingery molasses flavor!! Wayyyy faster and easier than rolling out gingerbread cookies! No mixer, no fuss, and the sweet icing seals the deal!!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Cooling Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 9
Calories: 279 kcal
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Bars
  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour don’t overmeasure
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup medium or mild molasses
Icing
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • about 2 teaspoons water cream, or milk

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and handheld electric mixer), add the brown sugar, butter, and beat until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and beat to combine.
  4. Add the flour (don’t overmeasure or hard-pack the flour or bars will be dry and crumbly), baking soda, and beat to combine. Mixture will be dry.
  5. Add the molasses and beat to combine.
  6. Turn mixture out into pan and hard-pack it with a spatula. It will be on the dry and crumbly side but bakes together fine.
  7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until center is just set. Edges will be pulling away slightly from pan; don’t over-bake because bars firm up as they cool.
  8. Place pan on a wire rack to cool for about 45 minutes before adding the icing.
  9. To a medium bowl, add the confectioners’ sugar, liquid of your choice, and whisk until smooth and combined. Play with the liquid and sugar amounts as necessary to achieve desired consistency.
  10. Evenly drizzle icing over bars, noting you will likely have extra. Alternatively, pour icing over bars for complete coverage. Icing will set up in about 15 minutes. I recommend waiting until it sets up before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Storage: Bars will keep airtight at room temp for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Adapted from King Arthur Flour.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 279kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 33mg (11%) Sodium 149mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 22g (44%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 9Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 279

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 279kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 149mg 6%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 22g 44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.