Description
Homemade gingerbread bars with cream cheese frosting offer a delightful winter treat packed with warm spices. Rich flavors and creamy frosting create a memorable dessert you’ll crave throughout cold seasonal celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (113 g) butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup (60 ml) molasses
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- ¾ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter, softened
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Set oven to 325°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment, lightly coating with cooking spray for effortless removal.
- Creaming: Blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the gingerbread bars.
- Wet Ingredients: Add egg, vanilla, and molasses to the sugar mixture, whisking vigorously until the batter transforms into a rich, caramel-like consistency.
- Dry Ingredients: Gently incorporate cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ground ginger, salt, flour, and baking soda, mixing until just combined to maintain a tender texture.
- Baking: Spread the spiced dough evenly across the prepared pan, then bake for 20-22 minutes until edges develop a gentle golden-brown color.
- Cooling: Remove from oven and allow bars to cool completely in the pan, letting flavors meld and intensify.
- Frosting: Whip cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until achieving a silky, smooth consistency perfect for spreading.
- Finishing: Once bars reach room temperature, generously cover with cream cheese frosting, then slice into elegant squares and serve, or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Spice Precision: Freshly ground spices enhance the depth and warmth of traditional gingerbread flavor, elevating the entire dessert’s complexity.
- Temperature Matters: Allow butter and cream cheese to soften at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure smooth, lump-free mixing and optimal texture.
- Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the batter after adding flour to prevent tough, dense bars; stop stirring the moment dry ingredients disappear.
- Frosting Finesse: Chill cream cheese frosting for 15 minutes before spreading to create cleaner, more defined edges and prevent melting on warm bars.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg