Description
These Gingerbread Bars are a soft, chewy holiday treat bursting with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Made with simple pantry staples, they offer a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, ideal for cozy gatherings, festive gifting, or indulging anytime the holiday spirit calls. Easy to prepare and quick to bake, these bars deliver classic gingerbread flavor in a convenient, crowd-pleasing form.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (or plant-based butter for vegan option)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg (or flaxseed egg/applesauce for vegan option)
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Your Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it well to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. Then stir in the molasses for that rich, deep sweetness.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and baking soda. Sift these dry ingredients to prevent clumps and ensure even spice distribution.
- Blend Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender and soft.
- Bake Until Set: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares. This helps them hold their shape and enhances the chewy texture.
Notes
- Use fresh spices for maximum flavor.
- Do not skip the molasses as it’s key to authentic gingerbread taste and softness.
- Adjust baking time carefully to avoid overbaking and drying out the bars.
- Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Cool bars completely before cutting to prevent crumbling and to enhance flavor melding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg