Enjoy the perfect holiday treat with these Gingerbread Cookie Bars topped with cream cheese frosting. Easy to make, rich in flavor, and ideal for festive celebrations!
When the Christmas holiday season rolls around, I find myself craving gingerbread. There's something magical about the combination of spices—ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg—that instantly transports you to a cozy winter wonderland. These Gingerbread Cookie Bars are a simple twist on classic gingerbread cookies but takes the flavors and textures to a whole new level.
The gingerbread flavor in these easy Gingerbread Cookie Bars is rich and comforting, while the cream cheese frosting provides just enough sweetness and tang to keep you coming back for more. It’s a sweet, spiced, and creamy harmony that is perfect for the holidays.
If you're looking for a festive, easy, and simply delicious treat, these cookie bars are the answer. I promise they’ll become a favorite—just as they have in my home.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter that has been softened at room temperature.
- Sugars – This recipe uses granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and powdered sugar.
- Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Molasses – I like to use Grandma’s molasses in this cookie bar recipe.
- Flour – Plain all-purpose flour is needed.
- Baking Soda
- Spices/Seasonings – This recipe uses a combination of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
- Cream Cheese
- They take far less time than making traditional gingerbread cookies that have to be rolled out, cut into shapes and decorated.
- The cream cheese complements the deep spices of gingerbread perfectly. It’s like the perfect balance between comfort and decadence. Trust me, the combination is just as amazing as it sounds.
- These cookie bars have the best chewy texture! They get slightly crisp around the edges, but the centers stay nice and chewy. The perfect combination!
The beauty of making these bars yourself is that you can adjust the spices to suit your own personal taste. Whether you love a bit more cinnamon for that extra warmth or a little more ginger, these bars allow you to make them truly yours.
STEP 1
Cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Once fluffy and lighter in color add in the egg and vanilla extract and continue mixing until they are fully incorporated.
STEP 2
Now add in the molasses and mix until fully combined.
STEP 3
Mix the dry ingredients and press the mixture into a parchment-paper-lined 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
STEP 4
Once the bars are completely cooled cream together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Spread on cooled cookie bars. Enjoy!
Since these cookie bars are frosted with cream cheese frosting, they need to be refrigerated. Place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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📖 Recipe
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 5 ounces unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup dark brown sugar packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Set aside
- Cream together 4 ounces (½ cup) softened butter, dark brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cream until fully combined.
- Now add in the molasses and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish and press it out into an even layer. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- After the bars have completely cooled, cream together the cream cheese, 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of butter, powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. Spread the frosting onto the cooled cookie bars. Enjoy!
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