The holidays! Is there anything better than a kitchen filled with warm, spicy smells? For me, it’s all about sharing those comforting flavors with everyone I love. And honestly? I’m all about easy recipes, especially when I’m baking for a crowd. I still remember one Christmas Eve where I tried a complicated cookie recipe and ended up with a kitchen disaster! Ever since then, I’ve been on the hunt for delicious, foolproof recipes that don’t take all day.
That’s where these amazing Gingerbread Bars come in! They’re seriously the perfect treat for any holiday gathering. Think all the warm spices of gingerbread, but in a super easy bar form. Plus, that creamy frosting? It’s the perfect touch. Trust me, these are a total crowd-pleaser!
Why You’ll Love These Gingerbread Bars
- Easy to make – seriously, way easier than cookies!
- Perfect for the holidays – that warm gingerbread spice is just *chef’s kiss*.
- A total crowd-pleaser – everyone always asks for the recipe.
- That flavor combo? Amazing. Gingerbread and cream cheese frosting? Yes, please!
- Portable! Take ’em to parties, potlucks, you name it!
Easy Holiday Baking
Let’s be real, holiday baking can be stressful. But these bars? They’re a breeze! No rolling, no cutting, no decorating individual cookies. Just mix, bake, and frost! It’s so much easier than making gingerbread men!
Perfect for a Crowd
Bars are just the best for parties, aren’t they? They’re so easy to slice and serve. Plus, they travel like a dream! No more worrying about broken cookies. Just pop these Gingerbread Bars in a container and you’re good to go!
Ingredients for Your Gingerbread Bars
Okay, let’s talk ingredients! You’ll want to gather everything *before* you start mixing – trust me, it makes things so much easier. Here’s what you’ll need for these amazing Gingerbread Bars:
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger (don’t skimp – this is what gives it that zing!)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups shortening (I use vegetable shortening, but you can experiment!)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup molasses (not blackstrap, just regular!)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (super important – it needs to be *soft*!)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (again, softened is key for smooth frosting!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- Sprinkles (because sprinkles make everything better!)
How to Prepare Gingerbread Bars: Step-by-Step Instructions
Alright, let’s get baking! Don’t worry, these Gingerbread Bars are super straightforward. Just follow these steps and you’ll have a pan of deliciousness in no time!
Getting Started: Preparing the Dough for Gingerbread Bars
First things first: preheat that oven to 350 degrees F. While it’s heating up, line your 9×15-inch (or 9×13-inch, if that’s what you’ve got!) baking pan with parchment paper. This makes it SO much easier to get the bars out later. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Just give it a good whisk to make sure everything’s evenly distributed. Set that aside for now.
Mixing the Gingerbread Bar Batter
Now for the fun part! In a separate large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), beat the shortening on low speed. Slowly add in the sugar and beat until it’s all combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go – you don’t want any stray shortening hanging out! Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Then, mix in the molasses until it’s all incorporated. That molasses is what gives these bars that classic gingerbread flavor!
Baking Your Gingerbread Bars to Perfection
Okay, time to bring it all together. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients a little at a time, mixing until it’s *just* combined. Don’t overmix! Now, transfer the dough to your prepared pan and gently press it in. Bake for 18 to 24 minutes, until the edges start to turn golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool COMPLETELY on a wire rack before frosting. This is important – or your frosting will melt!
Cream Cheese Frosting for Gingerbread Bars
While the bars are cooling, let’s make that dreamy cream cheese frosting! In a bowl, beat together the softened butter, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract until it’s smooth and creamy. Then, add the powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until the frosting is silky smooth. If it’s too thick, add a tiny splash of milk. If it’s too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar. You got this!
Finishing Touches on Your Gingerbread Bars
Once the bars are completely cool (seriously, don’t rush it!), spread that glorious cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Then, top with SPRINKLES! Because sprinkles are mandatory, in my opinion. Finally, slice the bars into squares. And there you have it – perfect Gingerbread Bars, ready to be devoured!
Tips for the Best Gingerbread Bars
Want to make sure your Gingerbread Bars turn out absolutely perfect? I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve! First, *don’t* overbake them! Slightly underbaked is better than dry and crumbly. Also, make sure your butter and cream cheese are *really* soft before making the frosting. It makes a HUGE difference! Oh, and one more thing: chilling the frosted bars for a bit helps the frosting set up and makes them even easier to slice. Trust me on this one!
Gingerbread Bars: Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Okay, so let’s talk about those ingredients a little more, shall we? For the molasses, I usually use regular, unsulphured molasses. It gives that classic gingerbread flavor. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could try blackstrap – just be warned, it’s got a *strong* flavor! As for the shortening, I usually go with vegetable shortening, but you could try butter or even coconut oil. Just keep in mind it might change the texture a bit. Oh, and if you’re out of sprinkles (gasp!), a simple dusting of powdered sugar works wonders, too!
Frequently Asked Questions About Gingerbread Bars
Got questions about these yummy Gingerbread Bars? I’ve got answers! Here are a few of the most common questions I get asked about this recipe. Hopefully, this helps you bake up the *perfect* batch!
How to Store Gingerbread Bars?
Okay, so you’ve made these amazing bars… and somehow haven’t eaten them all immediately (I’m impressed!). To store them, just pop them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They’ll stay good for up to 5 days! The fridge keeps that cream cheese frosting nice and firm, you know?
How Can I Be Sure That The Gingerbread Layer Has Finished Baking?
This is a big one! Nobody wants a soggy middle. The best way to tell if your Gingerbread Layer is done is to stick a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs), you’re good to go! If it’s still wet, give it a few more minutes. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
Can I Make This Gingerbread Blondies Recipe In A 9×13-inch Pan?
Alright, so the recipe’s designed for a 9×15-inch pan, but a 9×13-inch pan will work just fine! The bars will just be a little thicker, especially around the edges. Honestly? It’s not a big deal at all! You can frost them as is, or if you’re feeling fancy, trim the edges to make them perfectly level. Your call!
How Can I Adjust This Recipe To Get A Deeper Flavor in my Gingerbread Bars?
Want even *more* gingerbread goodness? I got you! Simply swap out 1 cup of the granulated sugar for 1 cup of light brown sugar. That little bit of molasses in the brown sugar really amps up the flavor. It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference. Trust me!
Storing and Reheating Your Gingerbread Bars
Okay, so you’ve got leftover Gingerbread Bars? Lucky you! Honestly, they’re usually gone in a flash at my house! To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. If you want to warm them up a bit, a few seconds in the microwave does the trick – just be careful not to melt the frosting!
Disclaimer Regarding Nutritional Information for Gingerbread Bars
Just a quick note: I don’t provide precise nutritional info for these Gingerbread Bars. It really varies based on the brands you use, you know? So just keep that in mind!
Rate this Recipe for Gingerbread Bars!
Tried these Gingerbread Bars? Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe and leave a comment below – I love hearing from you guys!
Gingerbread Bars: Delicious Recipe Saves Holiday Baking
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Gingerbread Bars are spiced cookie bars with cream cheese frosting. They are great for crowds during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups shortening
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×15-inch or 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and set aside.
- In a separate large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the shortening on low speed and slowly add in the sugar and beat until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition, then mix in the molasses until incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture a little at a time until fully incorporated.
- Transfer the dough to the pan and gently press it into the pan.
- Bake for 18 to 24 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean.
- Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and mix until the frosting is silky smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars and top with sprinkles.
- Slice the bars into squares.
Notes
- How To Store: Place the bars in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. Enjoy them for up to 5 days.
- How Can I Be Sure That The Gingerbread Layer Has Finished Baking? You can insert a toothpick into the center of the bars. Once the toothpick comes out clean then the bars have finished baking.
- Can I Make This Gingerbread Blondies Recipe In A 9×13-inch Pan? Though this recipe is actually designed for a 9×15-inch pan using a 9×13 would work just fine. Keep in mind that this will cause the bars to be a bit thicker on the edges. Which isn’t a big deal. You can just frost them as is or trim the bars to create level bars.
- How Can I Adjust This Recipe To Get A Deeper Flavor? Simply swap out 1 cup of granulated sugar for 1 cup of light brown sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: Unknown
- Sugar: Unknown
- Sodium: Unknown
- Fat: Unknown
- Saturated Fat: Unknown
- Unsaturated Fat: Unknown
- Trans Fat: Unknown
- Carbohydrates: Unknown
- Fiber: Unknown
- Protein: Unknown
- Cholesterol: Unknown
