Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Soft, chewy bar cookies infused with warming ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, then crowned with silky cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 0.25 cup molasses
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 0.25 cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- salt pinch
Instructions
Cookie Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil and coat with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until glossed and slightly warm.
- Beat in egg, egg yolk, and molasses until smooth and fragrant.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until dough comes together.
- Press dough evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 20–22 minutes until set and tiny cracks appear.
- Cool completely in pan, about 1 hour.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars and chill for at least 2 hours before slicing.
Notes
After chilling, the bars slice cleanly and hold their shape.
Be sure to fully soften the cream cheese to avoid lumps in the frosting.