Gingerbread Cookie Bars
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These soft and chewy Gingerbread Cookie Bars topped with cream cheese frosting are so easy to make and just might become your new favorite holiday treat.
Gingerbread Cookies Bars:
Are you ready for another must-make Christmas dessert idea? Well, ready or not, these Gingerbread Cookie Bars might be your new favorite treat.
Ever since I made gingerbread cookies a couple of years ago, I honestly just can’t get enough gingerbread. I’m not sure why it took me 38 years to appreciate this magical holiday flavor, but I’m so glad I finally figured it out.
And speaking of cookies, I have the ultimate collection of Christmas cookie recipes right HERE. Tap through to check out all of my favorite holiday cookies. You’re in for a tasty adventure!
Last year I made these Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies and I couldn’t stop eating them. They were SO GOOD! This year it is all about these Gingerbread Cookie Bars. After I made them, I immediately packed them up and put them in the freezer to stop myself from eating the entire batch. Did that stop me? Nope. I’m still scrounging through the freezer, taking one out, and microwaving it for like 15 seconds! It’s pure bliss. I can’t stop myself.
Needless to say…, these are delicious. Ha! I also love that they are so easy to make. You can whip up 2 dozen cookies in no time. And I have a bonus tip for you. Once you cut out the 24 bars, cut the bars on a diagonal and you’ll have 48 perfectly sized adorable triangle-shaped cookies. You’re welcome!
LOOKING FOR Gingerbread RECIPES? TRY THESE:
- Classic Gingerbread Cookies
- Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookies
- Gingerbread House Gingerbread Cake
- Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
- Gingerbread Tree Cake
This post also includes a gift for you as I’m joined by my Tastes of the Season blogger friends who are sharing even more delicious holiday cookie inspiration. If you’re looking to try some new cookie recipes, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve linked everyone at the end of this post, so be sure to check them out before carrying on with your day.
And with that, I think it’s time to bake up these Gingerbread Cookie Bars!
Kitchen Tools I Recommend for This Recipe:
Whether you’re wondering what equipment you’ll need for this recipe, curious about my favorite utensils, or if you’re just looking to stock your own kitchen, these are the kitchen tools I recommend for this recipe:
Want more? You can find the list of My Ultimate Kitchen Essentials HERE.
How to Make Gingerbread Cookie Bars:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with baking spray. You can also line the pan with parchment paper and then coat it with baking spray. This just makes it easier to remove the bars from the pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside. I’ve provided a full list of the ingredients and detailed recipe instructions in a printable recipe card below.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer (hand or stand), beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses until light and airy: about 4-5 minutes.
Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and begin to combine. Add in the milk and start mixing again. Finally, add in the rest of the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.
With a spatula, spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
In the meantime, prepare the cream cheese frosting by creaming together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add the powdered sugar (one cup at a time), vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until light and fluffy.
Once the bars have cooled completely, frost with the prepared cream cheese frosting, then sprinkle with festive sprinkles. You can find the gingerbread people sprinkles HERE and the red, green, and white sprinkles HERE.
Cut into squares and serve.
Extras (if there are any) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
And that’s it! I told you these Gingerbread Cookie Bars were easy to make!
As I mentioned above, I think you are going to really love these. They make a delicious stand-alone dessert or a lovely addition to your cookie tray!
I hope you enjoy them! Happy Baking!
Season of Home Christmas Cookie Recipes:
And don’t forget, if you want more Christmas cookie ideas, be sure to check out the posts below. Enjoy!
Italian Christmas Cookies by Ella Claire & Co. | Sugar Sprinkled Lemon Snowflake Cookies by French Country Cottage | Ginger Orange Cream Cookies by Handmade Farmhouse
Candy Cane Sugar Cookies by Zevy Joy | Snowball Cookies by Freutcake | Gingerbread Cookie Bars by Inspired by Charm
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Gingerbread Cookie Bars Recipe:
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup whole milk
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- sprinkles to garnish
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with baking spray. (You can also line the pan with parchment paper and then coat with baking spray.)
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer (hand or stand), beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, molasses, and egg until light and airy: about 4-5 minutes.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and begin to combine. Add in the milk and start mixing again. Finally, add in the rest of the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.
- With a spatula, spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- In the meantime, prepare the cream cheese frosting by creaming together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add the powdered sugar (one cup at a time), vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until light and fluffy.
- Once the bars have cooled completely, frost with the prepared cream cheese frosting, then sprinkle with festive sprinkles. Cut into squares and serve.
- Extras (if there are any) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
These are good, but the frosting was too loose. I also thought it could use more spice. I will try them again as I love the texture and general flavor overall.
These smell heavenly!
Were they supposed to be baked in a larger pan? They seem more cake-like than cookie-bar-like.
I made these two days too early for a dinner party and we ate the entire first batch so I had to do another! The cream cheese with the gingerbread was so perfect. The cookie crust is chewy and moist. Make sure you spray the parchment or you will have a tough time removing it. I added 1/4 tsp allspice in the cookie dough and four drops of almond extract in the cream cheese. The almond isn’t recognizable but the flavor enhancement is dynamite. PS. I also do four drops almond extract with vanilla extract in my whip cream. Somehow it tastes fresher!
I made this last year for a cookie exchange; everyone loved them. I will be making them again this year
Hi, I made these bars this evening and when I took them out of the oven they sank? Any tips to what I may have done incorrectly? Thank you
Made these twice last year and they were DEVOURED almost immediately. This year my plan is to make a few batches and freeze the bars and frosting separately so I can thaw and ice later in the season as I need them.
Do you take the gingerbread out of the pan first or do you frost and cut while it’s still in the pan?
I just took these out the oven about a hour ago. My word! These are so yummy straight out the pan barely cooled off! I am hosting a holiday dinner in the afternoon and can’t wait for my guests and family to enjoy them. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. I will definitely be making them again during this holiday season!
These are absolutely scrumptious! My husband was hovering in the kitchen while I made the frosting and sliced them up, and not, they did not disappoint. They were simple to make. I’ll definitely be making them again this year and for many Christmases to come!
Hello Michael! I just made these gingerbread cookie bars – wow! So good! And that’s before I added the cream cheese frosting. I’m taking these to share at a meeting tomorrow afternoon; they’re sure to be a hit. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Merry Christmas!