Description
These Gingerbread Cookie Bars are a festive and comforting holiday treat, perfectly spiced with warming ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and molasses. They feature a chewy yet tender texture and come together quickly, making them ideal for family gatherings or gifting during the season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup molasses (robust, unsulfured recommended)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Pan: Line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out after baking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt until combined and fragrant.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add Molasses, Egg, and Vanilla: Mix in the molasses, then the egg and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the dough comes together and no flour streaks remain.
- Bake the Gingerbread Cookie Bars: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting out and slicing into squares for serving or gifting.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and a smooth batter texture.
- Do not overbake; bars stay chewy when slightly underdone — bake until edges are firm but center is still moist.
- Use robust, unsulfured molasses for the richest flavor.
- If the batter feels too soft, chill for 15-20 minutes before baking for easier handling.
- Use a sharp knife and wipe clean between cuts to maintain neat edges.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 to 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg