This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
All the flavor of classic gingerbread cookies in a chewy Gingerbread Cookie Bar generously topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting.
I’ve had “make gingerbread cookies” on my holiday baking list for several years now and I never seem to get around to it.
Most of the time, just thinking about rolling out cookies is enough to make me get out a bar pan and throw together a batch of brownies instead. Does that make me lazy? or just impatient?
Well, I’m happy to tell you that these cookie bars trump every gingerbread cookie I’ve ever tasted in the past. So, not only do they win points for being so very easy, they win for being truly fantastic as well.
And while these bars are absolutely delicious topped with the cream cheese frosting, they’re also terrific without the frosting.
These bars are one of the greatest holiday baking ideas ever. (Thanks to 12 Days of Christmas with Six Sisters’ Stuff for the inspiration!)
I officially (and likely forever) crossed “make gingerbread cookies” off my list six years ago, when I tasted these bars.
Gingerbread Cookie Bars Recipe
- TO MAKE THE COOKIE BARS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan or line with parchment paper. Combine the butter, sugar, molasses, and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until creamy.
- Add the egg and stir again. Add the flours, baking soda, spices, and salt. Mix until well combined.
- Press the dough into the prepared pan, using either a spatula or your hands to smooth it to the edges of the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes. A toothpick inserted should come out mostly clean, with wet crumbs. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
- TO MAKE THE FROSTING: When the bars have completely cooled, beat together the butter and cream cheese for the frosting. Add the powdered sugar and beat again until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract or vanilla bean and stir to mix throughout the frosting. Frost the bars, slice, and serve. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Optional Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 vanilla bean scraped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan or line with parchment paper. Combine the butter, sugar, molasses, and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the egg and stir again. Add the flours, baking soda, spices, and salt. Mix until well combined.
- Press the dough into the prepared pan, using either a spatula or your hands to smooth it to the edges of the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes. A toothpick inserted should come out mostly clean, with wet crumbs. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
- When cooled, beat together the butter and cream cheese for the frosting. Add the powdered sugar and beat again until smooth and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract or vanilla bean and stir to mix throughout the frosting. Frost the bars, slice and serve. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
{originally published 10/2/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/11/20}
I love thanksgiving leftovers and the special cookies that my mother and I only make once a year.
I'm not sure if my comment went through so I'll try again.
That is a hard question. I enjoy the different smells that go with the different holidays and depending on which holiday I might answer the question differently but the first thing that came into my mind was all the little special dessert goodies you can make and sample at Christmas! 🙂
Our favorite is the cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning!
It's all about the stuffing for me! Yum!
Amazing recipe!!!
Pumpkin rolls are my favorite holiday food.
It's a tie between fudge and chocolate pie.
Christmas fruit pudding with warm custard and/or ice cream~
Pumpkin Pie and Cranberry Sauce
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Love the leftovers!
Hmmm….only one favorite?? I guess my favorite is the homemade Beef Wellington that we have every year for Christmas dinner. Perfection on a plate!
These bars look incredible, putting them on our to-bake holiday list! 🙂 I love making my mother's 24-Hour Cranberry Salad, my grandmother's Cowboy Cookies, and my 12-Layered Creamy Jello Salad. 🙂
ohhhh this is a good question 🙂 I LOVE me some pumpkin pie
My favorite holiday food is the turkey and dressing. Then the leftover sandwiches. Can't wait!!
I love meat n taters so for me I love ham and mashed taters or tater salad. But to be completely honest, as long as I am with my family it doesn't matter what I eat…it could be a dry egg salad sandwich and I would be happy. =)
This is a very good question as well as a hard question. Soooo many favorites it is hard to choose. But I think my favorite would have to be the leftovers the next day because all I have to do is heat them up!!!!
Just made these for our band competition – they are fantastic and easy. Like eating a gingerbread cookie with lots of icing (I had leftover icing). Ya gotta store them in the fridge. And you can substitute honey for the molasses .
I love pumpkin rolls!
I love thankgiving stuffing the best!
I love Thanksgiving, everything about it, but our family tradition is to watch a Disney movie and eat a turkey sandwich that night no matter how stuffed we are