Chewy Gingerbread Bars Recipe
These Chewy Gingerbread Bars are a delightful holiday treat, featuring a spiced, molasses-rich base topped with a smooth, tangy cream cheese frosting. Easy to prepare and perfect for sharing, this recipe yields a soft, chewy texture that’s enhanced after chilling. Ideal for festive gatherings or cozy winter snacking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes plus 1 hour chilling
- Yield: Approximately 16 bars from a 9x9-inch pan, cut to desired size 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Gingerbread Bars:
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese (half a brick), softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Pour the melted butter, sugar, and molasses into your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Beat these together until they are well combined and smooth.
- Add Egg: Incorporate the egg into the wet mixture and beat until smooth and fully blended.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves to evenly distribute the spices and leavening.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the mixer bowl with the wet ingredients. Beat just until combined to avoid overmixing the batter.
- Prepare Pan and Bake: Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Press the dough evenly into the pan. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes. Use a knife to check doneness; it should come out clean. Do not overbake, as the bars will continue cooking slightly as they cool.
- Cool Bars: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting. This step helps achieve the chewy texture.
- Make Frosting: While the bars cool, combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and a dash of salt in a stand mixer. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Frost and Chill: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled gingerbread bars. Refrigerate the frosted bars for at least one hour to let the frosting set and the bars firm up.
- Serve and Store: Cut into desired sizes and serve chilled. Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness.
Notes
- To double the recipe, use a large jelly roll pan approximately 11 1/2 by 16 inches and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
- Allow doubled batch bars to cool and frost as directed, refrigerating for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
- These bars keep well in the refrigerator and can also be frozen for longer storage.
Keywords: gingerbread bars, chewy gingerbread, holiday dessert, molasses bars, cream cheese frosting, Christmas treats, spiced bars
Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/chewy-gingerbread-bars-recipe/
