Description
Gingerbread Cookie Bars: Soft, chewy, and warmly spiced, these easy bars capture all the cozy flavors of gingerbread in a simple sheet-pan dessert. Made with molasses, brown sugar, and aromatic ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, they bake quickly and stay moist beneath a creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or a cozy night in, these bars slice neatly into 16 portions and stay delicious for days. Quick to assemble with pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until combined.
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20–22 minutes, until the edges are set but the center is soft.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until fluffy.
- Spread evenly over cooled bars and slice into squares.
Notes
- You can chill the dough slightly for easier spreading if your butter is very warm.
- Frosting can be prepared a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated until ready to use.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Yield: 16 bars; cut into even squares for uniform portions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: Approx. 300 per bar
- Sugar: Approx. 22 g
- Sodium: Approx. 120 mg
- Fat: Approx. 16 g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 36 g
- Fiber: Approx. 1 g
- Protein: Approx. 3 g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 40 mg
Keywords: Gingerbread cookie bars, gingerbread bars, easy gingerbread recipe, holiday dessert bars, cream cheese frosting bars, Christmas treats, chewy gingerbread, molasses bars, cozy winter dessert