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Chewy Gingerbread Bars

Featured in Sweet Treats to Make at Home.

These chewy gingerbread bars pack a punch of warm spices like molasses, ginger, and cinnamon in every tender bite. The buttery texture melts in your mouth, while the tangy cream cheese frosting adds a sweet touch. Garnished with sparkly, spicy crystallized ginger, they're a feel-good treat for the holiday season.
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Updated on Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:30:51 GMT
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Chewy Gingerbread Bars | mecooking.com

These Tender and Melt-in-your-mouth Gingerbread Squares bring together all those cozy holiday flavors with their warming spices and smooth cream cheese topping. They're super easy to whip up and make the perfect treat for family get-togethers or festive celebrations, giving you all that traditional gingerbread taste in a convenient bar format.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • For the Gingerbread Squares:
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
    • 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • For the Cream Cheese Topping:
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

DIRECTIONS

Step 1:
Warm up your oven to 350°F (180°C). Put parchment paper in your 8x8 or 9x13 inch baking dish.
Step 2:
Mix the flour, baking soda, all your spices, and salt in a bowl until well combined.
Step 3:
Cream your butter with both sugars till they're fluffy and pale (about 3-4 minutes). Drop in eggs one by one, then stir in the vanilla and molasses.
Step 4:
Slowly add your dry mix to the wet stuff, stirring just until they come together. Don't mix too much.
Step 5:
Spread your batter evenly in the pan. For an 8x8 pan, bake 15-18 minutes; for 9x13 pan, go for 20-22 minutes.
Step 6:
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before touching them.
Step 7:
For the topping, whip the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until they're nice and creamy. Add powdered sugar bit by bit until it's just how you want it.
Step 8:
Slather the topping on your cooled bars and jazz them up however you want.

How to Serve and Store

  • These taste best when eaten at room temp.
  • You can keep them in a sealed container on your counter for up to 5 days.
  • Pop them in the fridge if you want them firmer.
  • Wrap them tight and freeze for up to 3 months if needed.

Advice from Pro Bakers

  • Always use ingredients straight from the fridge for the creamiest topping.
  • The parchment paper trick makes getting the bars out so much easier.
  • Go easy when mixing your batter to keep the squares soft and chewy.

MIX IT UP

  • Try a basic sugar glaze instead of the cream cheese topping.
  • Add some festive sprinkles or decorations to make them extra special.
  • After they cool, use cookie cutters to make fun shapes.
  • Add food coloring to the topping for red and green holiday vibes.

Chewy Gingerbread Bars

Enjoy the perfect mix of spices with these soft gingerbread bars, topped with a smooth and velvety cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
23 Minutes
Total Time
43 Minutes
By: Mariana

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 bars)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
02 3 cups powdered sugar.
03 8 ounces cream cheese, softened.
04 1 large egg.
05 2 teaspoons baking soda.
06 Optional: Sprinkles or other decorations.
07 ¼ teaspoon salt.
08 ½ teaspoon ground cloves.
09 ½ cup light brown sugar, packed.
10 1 cup white granulated sugar.
11 ½ tablespoon molasses.
12 ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened.
13 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour.
14 ¼ cup molasses.
15 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
16 ½ cup unsalted butter, softened.
17 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Ready a 9x13-inch tray by lining it with parchment or giving it a light coat of grease.

Step 02

In a mixing bowl, stir together the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until they're creamy. Add in the molasses and egg, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the vanilla last.

Step 03

In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and baking soda with a whisk until evenly blended.

Step 04

Gradually stir the dry mixture into the first bowl. Mix until it's just combined; the dough will be quite thick. Press it evenly across the lined pan.

Step 05

Pop it in the oven for about 22 to 23 minutes. It's done when a toothpick comes out clean from the middle. Leave it to cool off completely in the same pan.

Step 06

Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until creamy. Blend in the vanilla extract.

Step 07

After the cookie bars have cooled down fully, cover them with the cream cheese frosting. Decorate with sprinkles or any toppings you like. Cut into pieces—24 smaller squares work great if you want bite-sized bars.

Notes

  1. For easier mixing, let the butter and cream cheese sit at room temp to soften before starting.
  2. Lining your pan with parchment makes removing the bars a breeze, plus cleanup is faster.
  3. Don't frost the bars while they're warm, or the frosting will melt and get messy.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large bowl.
  • Stand mixer.
  • 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Parchment paper.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 200
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~