Gingerbread Cookie Bars

These easy gingerbread cookie bars have a delicious ginger molasses flavor and a soft, chewy texture. Instead of royal icing - they're topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting for the perfect Christmas treat!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword 9x13, Gingerbread Bars, Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 25

Total Time 55

Servings bars

Calories 379kcal

Author Fiona Dowling

Ingredients

Gingerbread Cookie Bars

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup brown sugar light or dark
⅓ cup unsulphered molasses
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk discard the egg white
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup unsalted butter softened
8 oz brick-style cream cheese full-fat
2-3 cups powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons whipping cream or milk

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
Grease a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking soda.
In a separate large bowl beat together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
Beat in the molasses and vanilla extract. Then beat in the egg and egg yolk.
Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture about ½ at a time until combined.
Spread or press the cookie dough into the prepared pan. If pressing with your hands, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, or until the sides are starting to pull away from the edges of the pan or an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool fully in the pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the butter until fluffy.
Beat in the cream cheese.
With the mixer on low speed, beat in the powdered sugar about 1 cup at a time alternating with 1 tablespoon of cream until the desired sweetness is reached.
Frost the cooled bars, then optionally decorate with sprinkles

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate only and based on 1 bar with frosting (without sprinkles) assuming the pan is sliced into 15 equal pieces.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 8 hours, then store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Unfrosted bars can be frozen for up to 2 months, then thaw in the fridge.

Nutrition