Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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These Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are ultra simple and easy. They check every box for what you’d want from a Christmas-time recipe!

Is there anything better than the aroma of sweet warm spices coming from your kitchen when it’s a chilly winter day? Baking during the holiday season is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.

There’s something so comforting about it. This time of year is usually busy with events, shopping, family, and work. But when you take a couple of hours away from the craziness to just unwind in the kitchen, all of that stress seems to just melt away.

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I love the tangy flavor cream cheese brings to these gingerbread bars, but feel free to leave it off if you prefer. The bars are delicious all on their own!

Enjoy these easy homemade gingerbread cookie bars with a mug of something warm and near the twinkling lights of your Christmas tree.

Sprinkle of Science

How to Make Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Tips for Soft, Chewy Gingerbread Cookie Bars

• Be sure to measure your flour correctly by weighing it with a digital scale. If you don’t have one, use the spoon and level method to avoid creating cakey, dense, or tough cookie bars.
• Measuring your dry ingredients accurately is one of the best ways to improve your baking.
• Additionally, make sure your oven temperature is accurate – if not, shave a few minutes off baking time, to avoid overbaking your bars.

What Can I Use Instead of Molasses?

If you cannot get molasses where you live, you can try substituting honey or dark corn syrup – but the flavor and texture of your Gingerbread Cookie Bars will change.

Be sure to use regular unsulphured molasses (like Grandma’s or Brer Rabbit brands). Don’t use blackstrap molasses, as it has a harsh and bitter flavor.

The Spices in Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Check your spices to ensure they’re not expired. Even if they’re not expired, give them a sniff and make sure they’re still very aromatic. Older spices carry less flavor; fresh spices will carry a LOT more flavor. So, just be aware of that and feel free to adjust accordingly, to avoid bland, flavorless Cookie Bars.

The Best Baking Pan for Cookie Bars

This recipe was written to use a 9 by 13-inch baking pan. This is my favorite pan for cookie bars. I prefer to use light-colored metal pans, for even baking.

I don’t recommend using glass or ceramic pans. Learn more about that in my Glass vs. Metal Baking Pans post here. Avoid using dark-colored pans to bake Cookie Bars, as they tend to dry out or even burn the cookie bar edges. 

Gingerbread Cookie Bar Frosting Options

If you’re not a fan of cream cheese frosting, top these cookie bars with simple Buttercream Frosting or Brown Sugar Frosting.

Topping any frosting with Christmas sprinkles would be adorable on these Gingerbread Cookie Bars!

How to Store Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Store Gingerbread Cookie Bars inside an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you opt to leave off the cream cheese frosting, these bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

How to Make

Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

By: Tessa Arias

4.70 from 13 votes

Yield: 12 large or 24 small bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cooling Time: 1 hour hr

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Review Print SaveSaved!

Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are ultra thick, soft, and chewy with tons of warm, cozy spices, topped with a generous layer of tangy frosting!

Ingredients 

For the cookies:

• ▢ 3 cups (380 grams) all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ 1 1/2 sticks (170 grams) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
• ▢ 1/2 cup (100 grams) packed light brown sugar
• ▢ 1/2 cup (170 grams) unsulphured molasses*
• ▢ 1 large egg

For the frosting:

• ▢ 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
• ▢ 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or extract)
• ▢ 2 cups (250 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

Make the cookie bars:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to combine.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and molasses and beat until combined. On low speed, slowly add the flour mixture and beat until incorporated.
• Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked through but still moist and soft. Cookie bars can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Make the frosting:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on medium-high speed until very light, creamy, and smooth. On low speed, gradually add in the sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Spread the frosting all over the cooled cookie. Cut into squares and serve. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

Recipe Notes

*Be sure to use regular unsulphured molasses (like Grandma’s or Brer Rabbit brands). Don’t use blackstrap molasses, as it has a harsh and bitter flavor. 

Check your spices to make sure they’re still very aromatic. Older spices carry less flavor; fresh spices will carry a LOT more flavor. So, just be aware of that and feel free to adjust accordingly.

This post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated with additional baking tips. Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.