Festive Gingerbread Bars

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We can’t ignore gingerbread desserts during the Christmas season, can we?  These soft and chewy festive Gingerbread Bars are so yummy and made with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses along with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Layered with a delicious creamy cream cheese buttercream frosting, these are totally irresistible, like this Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf!

Why You’ll Love These Festive Gingerbread Bars

So, what’s the most delicious and festive treat that comes to mind when you think about the holiday season? Chances are, gingerbread is at the top of your list. With its warm spices and cozy flavors, gingerbread has become synonymous with the holidays.

These easy tempting gingerbread bars are the perfect combination of soft and chewy, with a creamy and tangy frosting that will have your taste buds wanting more!

Using Ginger In Our Gingerbread Bars

Ginger is one of our favorite holiday spices to bake with. It has a low-key spicy vibe along with strong flavor that pairs perfectly with other warming spices like ground cinnamon and cloves.

I topped these gingerbread cookie bars with a lovely cream cheese frosting, because cream cheese frosting tastes amazing with these gingerbread cookie bars!

You could even add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the frosting to take it up a notch.  If you’ve ever had lemon and gingerbread together, it is amazing, giving it a fresh, tangy flavor!!  This Starbuck’s Gingerbread Loaf has a delicious lemon cream cheese frosting and it was so delish!  You may want to try it!

What Kind of Molasses Should I Use In These Gingerbread Bars?

You need to use unsulfured molasses, it should be clearly stated somewhere on the label. Avoid using blackstrap molasses, which is quite intense.  I like to use Grandma’s Brand or Golden Barrel.

The brightness of the gingerbread color depends on the brand of molasses you use, so your gingerbread cookie bars may be darker or brighter in the end.

Light molasses comes from the first boiling of the sugar syrup and is more delicate in flavor and color. Dark molasses comes from a second boiling and is darker, thicker, and less sweet than light or regular molasses. Blackstrap Molasses is the darkest and most concentrated form of molasses.

Ingredients You Need 

Try this gingerbread cookie bars with cream cheese frosting recipe for a sweet twist on a classic. Soft, spiced bars topped with a creamy layer make these perfect for sharing during the holidays or at a Christmas gathering. Quick to prepare and easy to serve, these bars are sure to be a new seasonal favorite. Save this recipe and enjoy festive baking!

Gingerbread Cookie Bars Recipe

• unsalted butter, softened
• light brown sugar, packed
• egg
• molasses
• all-purpose flour
• baking soda
• cinnamon
• ground ginger
• cloves (if you don’t have, it’s fine to leave out)
• salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

• unsalted butter, softened
• cream cheese, softened
• powdered sugar
• vanilla extract
• festive sprinkles, if desired, we used little gingerbread men sprinkles
• pinch of salt

Add some zing and freshness to your cream cheese frosting by adding tablespoon of lemon juice for tangy cream cheese frosting if desired.

Instructions How to Make Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Bars

Gingerbread Cookie Bars Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients of flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt, set aside.
3. Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, in a large bowl, combine softened butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Then, add in the egg and beat until smooth. Follow with molasses and beat until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you mix each of the additions.
4. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix together until combined without overmixing.
5. Press cookie dough into baking dish. Cookie dough will be sticky, so lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray, then press the mixture down into the pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, salt and vanilla and beat an additional 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Spread frosting over cooled bars. 
3. Add sprinkles if desired.
4. Store in airtight container for up to one week.

To add a little more spice, feel free to add other spices to your gingerbread bars

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and/or ¼ teaspoon ground cloves  pairs very well with ginger, so they are also a another great spice to add in, while you’re adding in spices!  

More Variations for your Festive Gingerbread Bars

• Add dried cranberries or raisins to your gingerbread cookie batter for some added texture with each bite.
• Instead of the cream cheese frosting, you may want to drizzle a delicious brown butter glaze or vanilla glaze on top.

These gingerbread bars with cream cheese frosting are a such an easy holiday treat that can be made in 30 minutes or less total time, then add some frosting and you’re good to go!

Get ready to learn how to make these irresistible treats that will be the star of any holiday gathering. So put on your apron and grab your rolling pin, because we’re about to spice up your holiday baking with these mouth-watering gingerbread bars!

More Christmas Cookies & Bars!

• Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
• Christmas Cookie Bars
• Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
• Easy Applesauce Bars
• Reese’s Pieces Magic Bars
• Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
• Spiced Molasses Cookie Cream Pies
• Red Velvet Cookie Bars
• Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
• Gingerdoodles

Gingerbread Bars

Kim Lange

We can't ignore gingerbread desserts during the Christmas season, can we?  These Gingerbread Bars are so yummy and made with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses along with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves!  Layered with a delicious creamy cream cheese buttercream frosting, these are totally irresistible!

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Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Servings 15 Servings

Calories

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Gingerbread Bars

• ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup molasses
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 2 -3 cups powdered sugar add more if needed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk of choice
• Pinch of salt
• sprinkles if desired

Instructions

 

Gingerbread Bars

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients of flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt, set aside.
• Using mixer, combine softened butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and beat until smooth. Add in the molasses and beat until well combined.
• Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix until combined.
• Cookie dough will be sticky, so lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray, then press the mixture down into the pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy, approx 4-5 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla and beat an additional 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Spread frosting over cooled bars.
• Add sprinkles if desired.

Notes

• Can store in airtight container for up to one week, preferably refrigerated.
• To add a little more spice, feel free to add in ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, if you wish.

Keyword bars, christmas, cookies, cream cheese frosting, ginger, gingerbread

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