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Gingerbread Cookie Bars

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Gingerbread Cookie Bars are a fabulous way to say ‘I love you’ not just during the holidays, but anytime of the year!  All the flavors of a gingerbread cookie in the convenience of a bar cookie!  They are sweet, spicy and gooey and just what a serious dessert lover ordered, I can’t get enough of these Gingerbread Cookie Bars!

close up of gingerbread bars

Gingerbread Cookie Bar Recipe

This recipe is an oldie, but a goodie. We have had this recipe on the blog since 2015! It’s got all of the flavor of gingerbread, but in a handheld bar. I love the texture of gingerbread bars. It’s like a brownie, but gingerbread flavor. These are one of my favorite treats during the holidays. I like to pile them high with frosting, but if you want a less sweet version, drizzling the icing works just as good. 

These gingerbread bars smell like Christmas, and I love how easy they are to make. A quick press of the crumbly dough on a pan and then bake. 

frosting gingerbread bars

Making Gingerbread Bars

These are so easy to make and I love that they come together faster than a cookie! Make the dough, spread it on a pan, and bake. That’s it! The end result is a gooey, sweet and spicy bar that tastes just like the holidays should. 

Step by Step Instructions

  • Line a 9×13 inch sheet pan, or low casserole dish with parchment paper. Preheat the oven. 
    • Parchment paper works best, you can pull the bars right out of the pan to frost, cut and serve them and it leaves very little mess. 
  • Mix together the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then, mix together the wet ingredients in another bowl.
  • Combine the wet and dry ingredients, and mix with a spatula, or in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
    • I don’t recommend using a hand mixer. It will result in a crumbly sand like texture, and we’re looking for a buttery, gooey dough. 
  • Spread the gooey dough on the parchment lined pan, and bake. 
  • Once the bars are fully cooked, remove from the oven and allow them to fully cool before icing and garnishing. If you don’t, the icing will run and spread. 
  • Cut and serve! Pretty easy, huh?

frosting gingerbread bars with sprinkles

Icing, Garnishing, Serving & Storing

  • Included in this recipe is a cream cheese based icing, which I love!
    • Something about the combination of the tangy cream cheese frosting, plus the spicy and tangy gingerbread is such a good match. 
  • If you don’t want to make your own icing, you can use store-bought. Here’s a guide to the best store bought icings.
  • You can also drizzle melted white chocolate for the same effect. 
  • Decorating these is the fun part, especially if you plan to give them away!
    • Sprinkles are so fun. I love these gingerbread sprinkles! 
    • You can go a more natural route and garnish with crystallized ginger, dried cranberries, or even just some cinnamon sugar on top if you prefer.
    • Of course, these don’t have to be decorated, and you can just let the flavor shine if you prefer! 
  • I like to store these gingerbread bars in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. They’ll last for up to 5 days. 
  • If you are giving these away to friends, these cookie boxes work great. I actually just keep them around my house!

overhead view of gingerbread bars

Christmas Treat Recipes

I actually love making Christmas treat boxes every year for friends and family. These are some of the recipes I use every year. It’s so fun to make a different variety of treats. I had a grandma who would make treat boxes every year, but she always used the same recipes, and it was so fun to have these consistent, once a year treats to look forward to every year! 

overhead view of gingerbread bars

Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Easy to make Gingerbread Bars that feed a crowd!  These are great for bake sales or parties or just your family who loves dessert!  
4.20 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch pan
  • parchment paper

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter melted
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Line a 9x13inch pan with parchment paper & set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses.
  • Add egg and stir until completely incorporated.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt and mix until well combined, and a gooey dough forms. Press dough evenly into the parchment lined sheet pan.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, or until fully baked through. Allow to cool completely before icing.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Cream butter and cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth and cream.
  • Frost the bars and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 452mg | Potassium: 196mg | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1.7mg

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    5 stars
    I didn’t have the correct pan size so used what I had which was a 7.5 x 11. I had to bake them for 35 mins because they were thicker. When they cooled the top was fine but deeper down was wetter than I was expecting since the toothpick came out clean.. However the next day they were better and each consecutive day they were even better. They now look like a brownie and are really wonderful and I take them for lunch….definitely a keeper recipe. I did increase the ginger and cloves a bit and my daughter loved them also.

    Reply

  3. Jessie says

    5 stars
    Okay, stop reading now–pull the flour and grab your mixer! These cookie bars are chewy, spiced heaven! This recipe will definitely be on repeat in my home at the first sign of Autumn through Christmas! I gave my mom the recipe for a Christmas party she was having, and she told me people were calling her for the recipe. These should be called “Vanishing Gingerbread Cookie Bars”! Absolute YUM!

    Reply

    • Kathi Kirk says

      I am so glad you like them! I really want you to try the chocolate cake with chocolate ganache! A sprinkle of salt and a glass of JM Longevity and everything is fabbbuuulllousss! Love your notes…keep them coming!

      Reply

      • Jessie says

        5 stars
        I can’t wait to try it! Sounds like it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day–or any day for that matter! I know I can go for chocolate cake and wine any day of the year!!

  6. Susan says

    I love the excuse to have a much bigger piece during this time of year and call it a bar. Thanks for that tip! These look so scrumptious, and I bet they smell amazing while they are baking. Can hardly wait to try them. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
4.20 from 15 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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