Description
Warm, spicy Gingerbread Bars are soft, molasses-rich bars with a cracked, slightly chewy top, perfect for chilly afternoons or holiday baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
- 1/2 cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) molasses (light or dark)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup hot water
- For the glaze (optional):
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan and line it with parchment for easy removal.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a bowl until even.
- In a larger bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Stir the dry mix into the wet mixture until mostly combined. Pour hot water over the batter and fold gently until smooth.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Tap the pan to remove big air bubbles.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Watch closely after 20 minutes.
- Let the bars cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out with the parchment and cool completely on a rack.
- To make the glaze, whisk powdered sugar with milk and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle or spread over cooled bars and sprinkle orange zest if using. Chill briefly to set the glaze.
Notes
Molasses gives the deep gingerbread flavor — use what you like. Softened butter creams easier; don’t melt it.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg