Servings
Font
Back
0 from 9 votes

Peppermint Ginger Bars with Buttercream Frosting

Inspired by Candy Lasses, these gingerbread bars are full of peppermint flavor and frosted with vanilla buttercream. Gingerbread and candy cane. It's a thing. An amazing thing. Don't knock it til you try it.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
42 mins
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 588 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup butter 1 stick plus 2 and 2/3 tablespoons
  • 1 & 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 teaspoons Lightly Dried Ginger or powdered ginger--see note
  • 2/3 cup Crushed candy canes about 8
Frosting:
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 2 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3-4 Crushed candy canes to stir into frosting or sprinkle on top

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch glass pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray with nonstick spray if you use foil.
  2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter for 1-3 minutes, scraping sides, until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the brown sugar and beat again.
  4. Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well, scraping sides.
  5. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Crush 8 candy canes in a food processor. (I like to add the Lightly Dried Ginger to let it get a little more chopped up, but you don't have to.) If you don't have a food processor put them in a ziplock and use a rolling pin. Add the candy cane and the Lightly Dried Ginger to the flour mixture and whisk in.
  6. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.
  7. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 27-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Err on the side of under baking, just as you would with brownies.
  8. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. When cool, lift the bars from the pan.
  9. Meanwhile make the frosting. Beat 3/4 cup butter until smooth, 1-3 minutes (depending on how cold your butter is).
  10. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla.
  11. Add the remaining powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat well. Add more milk or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency. Beat well, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  12. Spread the frosting over the bars. Sprinkle with 3-4 crushed candy canes right away. You could also stir them straight into the frosting. Then stuff your face.

Notes

  • *2 teaspoons regular powdered ginger can be substituted. I tested the recipe both ways.
  • This recipe is really easy to cut in half and bake in a glass 9x9 or 8x8 inch pan. The bake time is roughly the same, but start checking at 25 minutes to be safe.
  • I prefer to bake these bars in a glass pan because the edges come out softer. A metal pan will also make them bake a few minutes faster so watch out for that.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1bar Calories 588kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 94g (31%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 6g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 85mg (28%) Potassium 200mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 73g (146%) Vitamin A 714IU (14%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 80mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 588

% Daily Value*

Serving 1bar
Calories 588kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 94g 31%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 85mg 28%
Potassium 200mg 4%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 73g 146%
Vitamin A 714IU 14%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 80mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

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