Ah, the holiday season calls for some irresistible gingerbread treats, and these Gingerbread Bars are exactly what you need. They’re loaded with flavors like butter, brown sugar, molasses, and a cozy blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Plus, they’re topped with a creamy cream cheese buttercream frosting. Get ready to indulge in these delights!
Ingredients:
For the Gingerbread Bars:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar (add more if needed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or your choice of milk
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkles (if you’re feeling extra festive)
Instructions:
Let’s whip up these delightful Gingerbread Bars:
- First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper, and you’re all set.
- In a big mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar using a mixer until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Now, add the egg and beat until it’s smooth. Next, pour in the molasses and mix until everything’s nicely combined.
- Here’s where the magic happens. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Mix it all up until you have a wonderful gingerbread dough.
- Since the dough is a bit sticky, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray. Now, press this delicious dough into your prepared pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Once it’s done, let it cool completely before you move on to the frosting.
And now, for the cream cheese frosting:
- It’s time to make the frosting dreams come true. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until they’re smooth and creamy, which should take about 4-5 minutes.
- Add in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt. Beat for another 4 minutes until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Now, that’s what we’re talking about!
- Spread this heavenly frosting all over your cooled gingerbread bars.
- Feeling fancy? Add some sprinkles for that extra festive touch.
There you have it! You’ve just whipped up a batch of Gingerbread Bars that are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy every bite of these sweet and spicy delights.
Gingerbread Bars - Christmas Dessert Ideas
![Gingerbread Bars - Christmas Dessert Ideas](http://www.mariasskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gingerbread-Bars-Christmas-Dessert-Ideas_1-735x1307.jpg)
Ingredients
- For the Gingerbread Bars:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar (add more if needed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or your choice of milk
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkles (if you're feeling extra festive)
Instructions
Let's whip up these delightful Gingerbread Bars:
- First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper, and you're all set.
- In a big mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar using a mixer until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Now, add the egg and beat until it's smooth. Next, pour in the molasses and mix until everything's nicely combined.
- Here's where the magic happens. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Mix it all up until you have a wonderful gingerbread dough.
- Since the dough is a bit sticky, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray. Now, press this delicious dough into your prepared pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Once it's done, let it cool completely before you move on to the frosting.
And now, for the cream cheese frosting:
- It's time to make the frosting dreams come true. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until they're smooth and creamy, which should take about 4-5 minutes.
- Add in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt. Beat for another 4 minutes until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Now, that's what we're talking about!
- Spread this heavenly frosting all over your cooled gingerbread bars.
- Feeling fancy? Add some sprinkles for that extra festive touch.
There you have it! You've just whipped up a batch of Gingerbread Bars that are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy every bite of these sweet and spicy delights.
![](http://www.mariasskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2b73410788155b0196bee3f0dc35d785.jpg)
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