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Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Delightfully spiced gingerbread bars filled with warm flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, topped with creamy frosting. A soft and chewy treat that's not heavy or overly sweet, perfect for holiday or wintertime gatherings.
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Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

For the gingerbread Bars:

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ground cinnamon optional, for dusting

Instructions
 

Prepare the Baking Pan

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.

Mix Dry Ingredients

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Set aside.

Cream Butter and Sugars

  • In another bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.

Add Wet Ingredients

  • Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until well combined.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Spread the Batter

  • Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

Bake the Bars

  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool the Bars

  • Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.

Prepare the Frosting

  • In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating until smooth and creamy.
  • Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Frost the Bars

  • Once the bars are completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top.
  • Dust with ground cinnamon if desired.

Cut and Serve

  • Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan.
  • Cut into squares and serve.
Keyword gingerbread bars, gingerbread frosting, Holiday Dessert, spiced cookie bars