Gingerbread Cookie Bars

All the classic gingerbread flavors you love, baked into soft and chewy bars with a light vanilla icing on top. Easy to make, easy to cut, and perfect for parties, gifting, or enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa at home.

Gingerbread is one of the classic flavors of the holiday season. These bars bring the same warm spices and cozy flavor you expect from traditional gingerbread cookies, but in a simple one pan recipe. They bake evenly, slice cleanly, and stay soft for days. Because of that, they make a great dessert to share with friends, family, or coworkers.

The recipe uses simple pantry staples. It has molasses for rich flavor, brown sugar for moisture, and a mix of spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. After the bars cool, a light vanilla icing adds a touch of sweetness. You can drizzle it on top or spread it in a thin layer. Both options work well.

These bars are great for holiday gatherings. They pack well, travel well, and taste even better the next day. They also freeze nicely if you want to prep ahead. No cookie cutters or rolling needed, so cleanup stays simple.

Ingredients

Gingerbread Bars

• 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make the Bars

1. Prep the pan

Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Mix the dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

3. Mix the wet ingredients

In a large bowl, stir the melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

4. Combine the batter

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until the batter is just combined. Do not overmix.

5. Bake

Spread the batter evenly into the pan. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 22 minutes. The bars should be set in the center but still soft.

6. Cool

Let the bars cool completely in the pan. This makes slicing easier and keeps the bars soft.

How to Make the Icing

1. Whisk the ingredients

Mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Add a little more milk if you want a thinner icing.

2. Add the icing

Drizzle it over the cooled bars or spread it in a thin layer. Let it set before slicing.

Tips for Best Results

• Use dark molasses for the best gingerbread flavor.
• Line the pan with parchment so the bars lift out easily.
• Add sprinkles after icing for a holiday look.
• For thicker bars, bake in a 9 inch square pan and increase the bake time slightly.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Why These Bars Are Great for December

This dessert brings all the warm and cozy flavors that people expect during the holiday season, but the recipe stays quick and simple. The bars bake in one pan, cut cleanly, and taste great warm or chilled. As a result, they are perfect for gifting, parties, school events, work treats, or quiet nights at home with hot cocoa.