Description
Soft gingerbread cookie bars with warm spices and optional frosting for a festive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- ¾ cup melted butter (1 ½ sticks)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- ½ cup molasses
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- Buttercream Frosting Option:
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- Cream Cheese Frosting Option:
- 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Mix melted butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg, and molasses in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir until combined.
- Spread dough evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 18-22 minutes.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
- For buttercream frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Add milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Mix until creamy.
- For cream cheese frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- For softer bars, slightly underbake.
- Adjust spices to taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: gingerbread, cookie bars, holiday dessert, spiced cookies