Chewy Gingerbread Bars

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If you are looking for a

SimpleHolidayRecipeOfWonder,

I would like you to meet these Chewy Gingerbread Bars. 

They taste just like a gingerbread cookie...but thicker and chewier and just so darn delicious, you won't believe it. As an added bonus, they are super quick to put together and only take 12 minutes to bake. Did I say they had a lot going for them, or what!?

When I made them last week my little boys and I could not stop eating them. 
They kept saying things like...

"Mom, these are dayyyyng gooood."

and

"Hey these taste like those little men cookies!"

and

"Why can't I have another one, you ate two!"

and

"What is the meaning of life, would you like me to sweep the floor and don't you look look stunning today in your ponytail and stretch pants, Mom. Wow...you are one classy lady! Is that globby thing stuck on the bum of your pants frosting or crusty bread dough?"

Ok, they didn't really say all that but I'm sure they were thinking it.

This recipe comes from my exceedingly classy, 
kind hearted, beautiful, talented, masters degreed and 

very professional dietitian extraordinaire, 

younger sister

Jen.

She's single.

I just couldn't help but write it.
Know anybody?
Don't tell her I said it, ok?

She is one in a million, that girl.
I bet she's never had crusty bread dough stuck to the bum of her pants. 

Let's make these bars, shall we?

Chewy Gingerbread Bars

Time: 15 minutes hands on + 10-12 minutes baking

Yield: One 9x9 pan full, cut as small or as large as you like

Recipe from the lovely and talented Jen Willahan

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***Note: If you would like to double this recipe, use a large jelly roll pan (I used a 11 1/2 by 16 inch pan while experimenting) and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Allow the bars to cool, then frost and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting.

Gingerbread Bars:

3/4 C butter, melted

1 C sugar

1/4 C molasses

1 egg

2 C flour

2 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/2 t ginger

1/2 t cloves

Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese (half a brick), softened

2 T butter, softened

2 C powdered sugar

1 T milk

1/2 t vanilla

dash salt

1. Pour the melted butter

sugar...

and molasses into your stand mixer, or large mixing bowl. Beat until well combined. 

2. Add the egg and beat until smooth. 

3. In a separate bowl toss together all of the dry ingredients. 

4. Pour the dry ingredients into the mixer and beat, just until combined. 

5. Spray a 9x9 pan with cooking spray and press the dough into it. 

6. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, do not over bake. Stick a knife into the center of the bars. If it comes out clean...remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely. The bars will continue to cook a bit as they cool. Once frosted the bars will be put in the fridge for an hour...this will also help the bars to set up and not be too doughy. 

7. Mix all frosting ingredients together in your stand mixer. Beat until nice and smooth.

8. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Refrigerate for one hour, cut and serve!
Store leftover bars in the fridge, or freezer. 

Enjoy!!!

For a complete list of Holiday Treats

click HERE. 

If you are interested in these
Free Printable Christmas Tags
click 
HERE. 

Have a great day!