Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Soft and chewy spiced gingerbread cookie bars topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting
Ingredients
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
- 141 g unsalted butter (10 tbsp.)
- 225 g dark brown sugar (1 c. + 2 tbsp.)
- 30 g molasses (2 tbsp.)
- 1 egg room temperature
- 240 g all purpose flour (2 c.)
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp. ground ginger
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- ¾ tsp. salt
Cheesecake Frosting
- 150 g cream cheese room temperature (⅔ c.)
- 56 g unsalted butter room temperature (4 tbsp.)
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- 240 g powdered sugar (2 c.)
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease and line an 8" square pan with butter and parchment paper.
- Add the butter to a medium sized microwave safe mixing bowl. Melt the butter, then whisk in the dark brown sugar.
- Add in the molasses and egg and beat until well combined.
- Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together just until no flour streaks remain.
- Pat the cookie dough into an even layer in the prepared square pan. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cookie comes out with only a few moist crumbs.*
Cheesecake Frosting
- In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and salt until the mixture is smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar in two additions and beat until combined, followed by the vanilla.
- Once the cookies bars have completely cooled to room temperature, generously frost them with the cream cheese frosting. Top with sprinkles and mini gingerbread men, then slice, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
*The cookies will be done when they are set on the edges and the dough will still "slide" around if you tilt the pan. Be sure to check it often to make sure you don't overbake the bars, since they will continue cooking once they are taken out of the oven.
Store extra frosted cookie bars in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
Serving: 1barCalories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg