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A gray plate with a gingerbread cookie bar on it.

These frosted gingerbread bars are soft and chewy and packed with warm spices. Each bite is infused with the comforting flavors of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a touch of black pepper, making these the perfect treat for cozy season. A luscious, velvety layer of cream cheese frosting lends sweetness and complements the spices. Perfect for sharing or savoring solo, these bars are bound to become a seasonal favorite!

Hey there, and welcome back, friends.

You are in for a holiday treat!

A gingerbread cookie bar.

There’s something special about biting into your first gingerbread man of the season. That’s how you know you have officially entered the holiday season!

I can’t help but get excited during this time of year because I’m a baker and I get to bake all of the things I love for the people I love.

A stack of gingerbread bars on a gray plate.

This season, I’m baking these gingerbread bars to bring to holiday get-togethers. I know they’ll be a hit with their dense, chewy centers and delicious layer of cream cheese frosting. I might even include them in my Holiday Cookie Box that I send out to my cherished friends and family.

A stack of gingerbread bars on a gray plate.

Anything inspired by gingerbread needs a good dose of warm spices. These bars do not disappoint. Ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves give them the perfect gingerbread flavor.

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger cut into squares and one has a bite taken out of it.

Plus, I add my secret dash of black pepper. Trust me, this brings all the warm flavors together and makes it over-the-top amazing!

A frosted gingerbread bar with a bite taken out of it.

If you need more gingerbread-inspired treats try out my Gingerbread Bundt Cake, Gingerbread Dutch Baby Pancake, Gingerbread Chai Cookies, and Gingerbread Latte Cake. You can enjoy it while sipping some Gingerbread Hot Chocolate.

A stack of gingerbread bars on a gray plate.

I gave these bars a special touch of ginger flavor by sprinkling chopped candied ginger over the cream cheese frosting. It makes every bite burst with ginger flavor!

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make frosted gingerbread bars in bowls.
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • warm spices like ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, & nutmeg
  • a pinch of black pepper
  • unsalted butter
  • unsulphured molasses
  • a large egg
  • granulated sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • full-fat cream cheese
  • confectioner’s sugar
  • some candied ginger

How to Make Gingerbread Bars

Preheat the oven and lightly grease a square baking pan with butter or cooking spray then line it with parchment paper leaving an overhang.

A glass bowl with a whisk and the dry ingredients for making gingerbread bars.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl and set aside. 

A glass bowl with a whisk and the dry ingredients mixed with melted butter, spices, and molasses.

In a larger bowl, whisk together the melted butter, molasses, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.

A glass bowl with the gingerbread batter in it with a spatula.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. The dough will be thick and somewhat stiff, almost like cookie dough.

A baking tray with the raw gingerbread batter and parchment paper overhanging it.

Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and spread it out into an even layer.

Bake the bars until the top is set and a tester comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Baked gingerbread bars without the frosting. The baking pan is cooling on a cooling rake.

Once the bars are cool, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. This takes a few minutes.

A glass mixing bowl with frosting.

Add the sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat for an additional few minutes, starting on low and gradually moving to medium-high.

Baked gingerbread bars with frosting being frosted over them.

Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars then sprinkle the minced candied ginger over the top.

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger.

Cut into squares before serving.

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger cut into squares.

How to Store

Once they’re frosted, leftover bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to enjoy them within 5 days.

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger cut into squares and one square is turned over.

More Holiday Dessert Recipes

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger cut into squares.

What do you think of these amazing gingerbread bars with cream cheese frosting? What would you serve with these bars? Let me know in the comment section below. 

If you share across social media, make sure to tag #aclassictwist, so I can see your beautiful creation come to life!

Happy holiday baking, friends!

A gray plate with a gingerbread cookie bar on it with a fork nearby.

Gingerbread Bar Recipe

The gingerbread bars with frosting and candied ginger cut into squares.
Yield: 9 bars

Frosted Gingerbread Bars

These frosted gingerbread bars are soft and chewy and packed with warm spices. Each bite is infused with the comforting flavors of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a touch of black pepper. A luscious, velvety layer of cream cheese frosting lends sweetness and complements the spices.

Ingredients

For the bars

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 ounces full fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • Small pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 3 tablespoons minced candied ginger

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter or cooking spray then line it with parchment paper leaving an overhang. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper in a medium sized bowl and set aside. 
  2. In a larger bowl, whisk together the melted butter, molasses, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. The dough will be thick and somewhat stiff, almost like cookie dough. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and spread it out into an even layer. Bake the bars for 20-23 minutes or until the top is set and a tester comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  3. Once the bars are cool, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat for an additional 3-4 minutes, starting on low and gradually moving to medium-high. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars then sprinkle the minced candied ginger over the top. Cut into 9 equal squares before serving.

Notes

  • You’ll need 1 standard stick (½ cup) of unsalted butter for this recipe. You’ll melt 6 tablespoons for the bars and the remaining 2 tablespoons will be left to soften for the frosting. 
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • The dough does not need to be chilled prior to baking. Simply smooth it into the pan then bake it. 
  • You can easily double this recipe and bake it in a 9x13-inch pan. You’ll need to increase the baking time slightly to 23-26 minutes total. 
  • To make it easier to slice the bars, pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes or the freezer for 5-10 minutes. This will firm up the frosting and yield cleaner, tidier slices. 
  • To ensure a nice and smooth frosting, make sure to sift your confectioner’s sugar before using it in the recipe. 
  • Make sure the bars are completely cool before spreading the frosting on top. This will ensure the frosting doesn’t melt. 

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    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    9

    Serving Size:

    1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 381Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 1gSugar: 38gProtein: 4g

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    © A Classic Twist
    Cuisine: American / Category: Brownies & Bars