Chewy Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Get ready to indulge in the delightful flavors of the holiday season with these Chewy Gingerbread Bars. These bars are packed with warm spices and topped with a creamy, luscious cream cheese frosting. Whether you’re looking for a festive treat to share or a cozy dessert to enjoy at home, these gingerbread bars are sure to impress. Let’s dive into the recipe!
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Bars:
- 3/4 cup butter, melted 🧈
- 1 cup sugar 🍚
- 1/4 cup molasses 🍯
- 1 egg 🥚
- 2 cups flour 🌾
- 2 tsp baking soda 🥄
- 1 tsp cinnamon 🌿
- 1/2 tsp salt 🧂
- 1/2 tsp ginger 🌿
- 1/2 tsp cloves 🌿
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese (half a brick), softened 🧀
- 2 tbsp butter, softened 🧈
- 2 cups powdered sugar 🍚
- 1 tbsp milk 🥛
- 1/2 tsp vanilla 🌿
- Dash of salt 🧂
Instructions
- Prepare the Batter:
- Start by pouring the melted butter, sugar, and molasses into your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Beat until well combined and smooth. 🥄
- Add the egg and continue beating until the mixture is fully incorporated and smooth. 🥚
- Combine the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves. 🌾
- Mix the Batter:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the stand mixer. Beat just until the ingredients are combined. Be careful not to overmix. 🥣
- Bake the Bars:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. 🧈
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye on the bars, and avoid overbaking. Use a knife to check the center—if it comes out clean, the bars are done. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan. 🕒
- Prepare the Frosting:
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In your stand mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and a dash of salt. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. 🍰
- Frost and Serve:
- Once the gingerbread bars have cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. ❄️
- Refrigerate the bars for one hour to allow the frosting to set. Cut into squares and serve!
Storage Tips
Store any leftover bars in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh. Enjoy these chewy gingerbread bars as a sweet treat any time of the day!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
These Chewy Gingerbread Bars are perfect for any holiday gathering or just for enjoying a taste of the season at home. With their rich flavor and creamy frosting, they’re bound to become a new favorite. Happy baking! 🎄
Print
Chewy Gingerbread Bars
- Total Time: 30min
- Yield: 9 1x
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Bars:
3/4 cup butter, melted 🧈
1 cup sugar 🍚
1/4 cup molasses 🍯
1 egg 🥚
2 cups flour 🌾
2 tsp baking soda 🥄
1 tsp cinnamon 🌿
1/2 tsp salt 🧂
1/2 tsp ginger 🌿
1/2 tsp cloves 🌿
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese (half a brick), softened 🧀
2 tbsp butter, softened 🧈
2 cups powdered sugar 🍚
1 tbsp milk 🥛
1/2 tsp vanilla 🌿
Dash of salt 🧂
Instructions
1️⃣ Pour the melted butter, sugar, and molasses into your stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Beat until well combined. 🥄
2️⃣ Add the egg and beat until smooth. 🥚
3️⃣ In a separate bowl, toss together all of the dry ingredients. 🌾
4️⃣ Pour the dry ingredients into the mixer and beat just until combined. 🥣
5️⃣ Spray a 9×9 pan with cooking spray and press the dough into it. 🧈
6️⃣ Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Do not overbake. Stick a knife into the center of the bars. If it comes out clean, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely. The bars will continue to cook a bit as they cool. 🕒
7️⃣ Mix all frosting ingredients together in your stand mixer. Beat until nice and smooth. 🍰
8️⃣ Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Refrigerate for one hour, cut, and serve! ❄️
Store leftover bars in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!!! 😋
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 20min