Gingerbread Cookie Bars
These Gingerbread Cookie Bars are an incredibly soft and chewy Christmas dessert. These are a great alternative to making individual gingerbread men. These cookie bars are great by themselves with a little dusting of powdered sugar or with cream cheese frosting on top.
I may earn commissions for purchases made through links on this post.
GINGERBREAD COOKIE BARS
I was so excited when the Six Sisters asked me to share a recipe out of the Six Sisters’ Stuff new cookbook! Their book, 12 Days of Christmas with Six Sisters’ Stuff, is packed full of holiday recipes that are totally doable and incredibly tasty.
I had so much fun going through and bookmarking the things I wanted to make. I’ve already gifted this to some of my friends because if you’re friends with me, you love food.
I immediately was drawn to these gingerbread bars. I don’t think the pictures do them justice. They are so chewy, probably due to the molasses, and full of spices. They tasted just like gingerbread men but WAY better.
I loved that they were soft but still cut really well. Honestly, they didn’t need frosting. All by themselves, they are a treat.
You can definitely add cream cheese frosting to make them super decadent but it does calm down the spice flavor when you do that which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you prefer. 
The batter comes together quickly and is pressed into a 9×13 pan. After only 15 minutes they are done. 
Seriously. I mean seriously. Delish. 
These are my new favorite holiday treat.
OTHER CHRISTMAS RECIPES:
- Grinch Heart Cookies
- Melted Oreo Snowmen Truffles
- Christmas Tree “Cheese” Ball
- Soft Eggnog Cookies
- Peppermint Eggnog Punch
- Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches
- Eggnog Gingerbread Trifle
- Cranberry and Feta Pinwheels
- North Pole Cupcakes
- Eggnog Eclair Cake
- Santa Claus Cookies
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting: (or just dust with powdered sugar)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 lb (3 3/4 cups) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses on medium speed until creamy.
- Add the egg and stir until completely incorporated. Add baking soda, flour, spices, and salt and mix until well combined. Spread dough into prepared pan, using clean hands or a rubber spatula to press the dough to the edges of the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes; do not overbake! Cool in a pan with a wire rack.
- When bars have cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting or dust lightly with powdered sugar. They are delicious with nothing on them! Cut into squares and serve.
- For the frosting: Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Slowly mix on low and then beat it on high until fluffy.
Notes
Oh Sweet Baby Jesus! These are Remarkable! I whipped up in the matter of minutes. Quick , simple and D-Lish. So much easier then rolling cookies. Love it and the chew! Mine did however seem thinner then the picture & I dusted w powder sugar…next time when I have more time I’ll try cc frost… ty so Much..this will be my Holiday cookie this yr. God Bless 💖
Thank you!
Oh. My. Goodness. We are feeling pretty sad tonight because we just finished the last two of these addictive treats. My husband already asked when I was going to make them again! Everyone who tasted these loved them!!! Our friend said he was going to hide the ones we sent home with him. I followed the recipe and was careful not to overbake, finished them with the cream cheese frosting, and then dusted that with a Christmas Sprinkle Mix… so pretty and so delicious… YUM! My new favorite easy and oh so satisfying winter indulgence!
thank you!
These are my favorite holiday treat! I make them every year (a batch for me and another for friends and family). This is always the most loved dessert dish everywhere I bring them. Will continue making these every year!
These are my favorite holiday treat! I make them every year (a batch for me and another for friends and family). This is always the most loved dessert dish everywhere I bring them. Will continue making these every year!
THank you!
I make these every Christmas. They are delicious. I freeze them then defrost to ice them.
They’re so good!
This recipe is simply the best. I have been making it for 4 years now and it never disappoints. It is so simple (melted butter even!) and quick. And it all goes in one bowl. Contrary to what one might think, the spice ratios are PERFECT. I’ve never found a gingerbread recipe that is as balanced. Every time I make them, people are asking for the recipe. Just make it!
Thank you!
These AR SO GOOD! Habit forming. nd easy.
Thanks!
A tablespoon of cinnamon and only a half teaspoon of ginger? It seems like these are not gingerbread. I’m going to keep looking.
try it!
You’d be surprised. You can always adjust the measurements though if you aren’t happy with it lol
Always my go to. Such a great recipe!
Thank you!
10 stars!! My favorite holiday treat!!
Thank you!
My sister in law has been bringing these to family parties for the last few years and they are a huge hit! I finally asked her for the recipe as they’ve become pretty legendary at our gatherings. I was so excited (but not surprised because they are so amazing!) to see that the recipe was yours!! <3
Ha that’s awesome!!
Have made these the past few years and they’re always a favourite! How long would these last in the fridge after frosting? I wanted to make them a few days ahead of time.
They definitely would be good up to a week.
Oops, forgot to put a 5 star rating 🙂
THank you!
I had to comment on this. I have made these every year for 3 years and my whole family inhales them each time. I always have to make 2 batches. They are SOOO good. Thank you so much for posting this – it brings us all so much joy each year! 🙂
Awww that makes me happy.
Just made these for my colleagues and they are yummy! Not sure how long they stay edible though and how to store them?
I would store them in a resealable bag on the counter.
Just made these for the first time. They have been on my Xmas Pinterest board for a few years now. I ended up halfing the icing recipe which was perfect. Plus, I would say these are more like a chewy brownie. Mine are underbaked liked a brownie. Which is fine but I couldn’t keep them in my oven any longer or they would burn.
I topped them with a gold sugar sprinkle and mini gingerbread men sprinkle too. Thanks for the recipe! I guess I shouldn’t wait so long next time.
So happy you liked them!
Only needed half the recipe for the frosting.. very tasty.. I love gingerbread cookies…
This recipe was amazing. Although, I made a few tweaks with available ingredients (i used 3/4 cup white sugar and 1/3 cup of honey only but I used 1TBSP of fresh grated ginger for that extra gingery flavor) as I didn’t want to run to the store. Lol. But overall, it turned out great. Can’t wait to eat them all…
Awesome! Glad you liked them.
Very good! I want to try candied ginger for the next batch but it doesn’t need anything else.
Whenever I have a recipe where I have the option of using cream cheese frosting, I always make half the frosting recipe, otherwise it’s just too thick and my family doesn’t like it that way. They like it spread onto the bars or cakes or whatever I’m making, while it’s still warmish, so it kind of melts into the cake and what remains is a very thin, almost opaque frosting layer . But we love gingerbread of any kind, and these were delicious and easy and fast. Great item for church potlucks but I have to make 2 pans or else!!
I agree! Love it!
I added…chopped almonds..currents..chopped walnutsand Tbs of ground fresh ginger to squares..also added orange rind to recommended icing….OMG.
Haha seems like a Christmas recipe but I’m glad you are enjoying it now!
Delicious & so easy to make!
Thank you! I agree.
Would love to know how strong of a gingerbread flavor this has. More gingerbread-y, the better for me!
Can you make this in a sheet cake pan 11×17.? Would I double or 1 1/2 times the recipe if so?
They are pretty thin as 9×13 so I would 1 1/2 it.
These Gingerbread Cookie bars are delicious! My husband had a potluck and they requested these. Very easy to make.
So easy and one of my faves!
I halved the recipe (still using 1 egg), put the dough in a 8×5 inch pan, and it turned out so good!
So happy to hear that!
I am excited to make these! Is the butter salted or non salted?
i always use unsalted unless specified.
I don’t see the answer to the question Regarding whether or not the butter that is creamed with the sugars is melted?
Tonya,
In the recipe it states that the butter is melted. Hope that helps.
Do these need to be refrigerated if not served right away?
Nope. They are fine at room temp.
i have made these a few times and the are delicious especially with the cream cheese icing!!!
my family’s new fav dessert!
thanks for sharing
They really are fabulous!
These are awesome!! One of the best gingerbread bar recipes I’ve made!
Glad you agree!
The recipe asks for melted butter. Then says to beat the butter with the sugars until creamy….which isn’t happening with melted butter. In addition, with melted butter, it doesn’t press into the pan…it is much softer.
Was it your intention to have the butter melted, or is that a typo?
OH my gosh….These are AMAZING!!!! I have made them three times in the past few weeks for three different occasions. Each time, they disappeared since they were so good! Each time I come home with an empty pan and my 11-year-old son is disappointed. I told him I would make another batch for Christmas just for him. They are so easy to make too!!!! A new favorite recipe for our family!!!
I’m so glad you love them. I was actually thinking about these today.
Can these be frozen with icing on?
Yes!
These are fantastic! Made two batches, with one batch of frosting. Everyone loved them! Thank you! I will make these often, I’m sure. 🙂
Did you use frosting or not?
Hi! What’s the texture of these bars? Is it on the cake or the fudge side? Thank you!
They are chewy.Not cake-like at all.
This icing is to die for, thank you so much for the recipe! I love it so much that I used it as a filling to my beautiful white macarons, you can check it out here (I linked back to you)!!
https://turquoisetoffee.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/white-macarons-with-sweet-cream-filling/
These are delicious! Followed the recipe to a T. Only thing that I wasn’t sure about, was the doneness of the bars. Like others have said above, every oven varies. So with that being said, I treated it like a cookie and think they are done-cooling now. I did however try some of it right out of the oven and already love the chew and flavor! Definitely doesnt need the frosting, but am going to add tomorrow in stripes/swirls rather than a spread (halve it) Thanks for the great recipe! It was very easy too.
I agree a stripe of frosting would be perfect!
Salted or unsalted butter? I’m making these tomorrow and I can’t wait!
I always use unsalted. Sorry I didn’t get to this comment in time.
Ingredients has baking soda listed, but not listed in the directions…just want to make sure if I’m suppose to use it or not…Please advise! Thanks!
Yes, you should add the baking soda with the flour. Not sure why it wasn’t listed in the directions.
Oh good, cause I did! 🙂 Thank you!!!
I just made these tonight. My very first cookie bars.. I have some finicky taste buds and I have to say.. These were the best things I have had since I was a kid some 200 years ago haha. This is definitely on my do again list. Not having to change a thing in a first-time recipe is a rare occasion. Excellent recipe.
I agree! Thanks! Glad you loved them like I do.
These were really good! I had to bake them a little longer, as they were still liquidy at 15 minutes. Mine went about 23 minutes before they were done. I think the frosting is a must! I will definitely be making these again! 🙂
Glad you liked them!
Nice texture and chewyness, but not even close to gingerbread. Barely any ginger flavour or even cinnamon/spice. They taste, as my husband put it, brown. Double the cinnamon, triple, at least, the ginger and you’ll have gingerbread, and gingerbread deserving of frosting.
Aww. Sorry you didn’t approve. It’s definitely for the mild spice lover.
I thought they were perfect.
Where I live, molasses is incredibly difficult to find, which as a gingerbread lover, is more than a little depressing. When I finally got my hands on a jar, I saved it for over a month, unwilling to risk this precious substance on a substandard batch of gingerbread. Finally, I could stand it no longer.
Now, as I sit here, waiting for my gingerbread to bake, a preemptive taste of the dough having left my mouth salivating more than is probably ladylike, I realize that previous thoughts of altruistic sharing have been banished, replaced with more calculated selfish thoughts of “how many more batches of this stuff can I get out of that little jar of brown deliciousness?”
All that to say, thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try it in approximately 30 minutes..I doubt I will manage to hold out until it’s cool!
I’m so glad you trusted me with your precious substance!! Just don’t overbake them. That’s the only thing that can go wrong!
These are really good. Wouldn’t change a thing except maybe only half this amount of icing. The bar can easily stand on its own. Delish.
I agree. The bar can stand on it’s own.
I made two batches of these this morning, and they are my new go-to for the holidays! I added cardamom and used less cloves, and added lemon zest to the frosting. Great recipe, thanks!!
I’m not sure how this recipe is not 5 stars. I made them last night and I’m planning on icing them tonight but my boyfriend and I could not wait until tonight so we tried them without the icing and they’re amazing, not to mention they also smell heavenly. I doubled the recipe for my coworkers and I know they will love them. I’m also now going to make an extra batch for Christmas next week. Thank you for the recipe, this one is a keeper for the holidays.
I agree. I love it!
I just wanted to point out a major issue with your instructions. If over-baking is something to be concerned about you should describe some visual indication that the bars are done. A five minute window is very unhelpful as ovens tend to vary.
I just made these…and I followed the recipe EXACTLY as written, the taste is there, but they were not even remotely like a bar other than I cut them square ! They were extremely flat…not even remotely cake-like in the picture ! Would love to make these again, but something is awry…not enough flour? no baking powder to help it rise? Im not sure ! Any input would be great…like I said, the taste is spot on ! Even my cookies rise better than these did ! I will re-rate once I find a solution !!!
These are a Cookie bar so they are not supposed to be fluffy. They are supposed to be flatter like a cookie. The picture might look thick because of the frosting.
I do a new recipe each year and this ones a keeper for sure!
Truly decadent alone but I Just finished the icing on them…
Texture taste, OMG Devine!!!!!
A must try, super easy, no fail!!!!
No fail is right. Glad you agree!
Oh my goodness, do these sound AMAZING. Gingerbread has grown on me during the last few years, and I love how easily these bars come together. WAY easier than gingerbread men/women, and I’m just just as scrumptious!
For interest sake, this is a recipe my great grandma made and passed down to us. She lived to be 109 years old, which means it was tested and tried many, many times. It is a favorite. She would press the dough out onto a cookie sheet with sides until it was about 1/3 inch thick or thin, as it may be. Always seemed like it was too thin. It works everytime. Makes for a great treat to take for a crowd. “Spread” the love.
Hello. These look delicious! Could they be frozen, with the icing!?
I have GOT to make these – they look amazing!!
Mmm… soft and chewy sounds really good 🙂
Christy – these turned out awesome and have ended my years-long quest for great gingerbread. Hands down even beats Martha Stewart’s. With far less fuss. 🙂 I didn’t put anything on the top of mine and my kids have been eating them for breakfast. 😉 Thank you!
I know, right? I like them plain which is odd for me.
Christy – these turned out awesome and have ended my years-long quest for great gingerbread. Hands down even beats Martha Stewart’s. With far less fuss. 🙂 I didn’t put anything on the top of mine and my kids have been eating them for breakfast. 😉 Thank you!
Wow, what I wouldn’t do to pop one of these delicious looking cookies in my mouth right now! 🙂
Very nice cake
Excited to try these! I’m not a fan of nutmeg or cloves (too spicy?), so I almost always omit those from recipes. Bet they will still turn out great!! They look delicious 🙂
Gingerbread bars are the best!! So much better than regular gingerbread in my opinion…
Love this idea SO much more than doing “regular” gingerbread men!
I love these. Thanks so much.
Hi Christy,
Just looking through this recipe, I’d really like to make it.
I have all the ingredients in my pantry/fridge except the molasses.
Would it be okay to substitute treacle for the molasses?
Yes, as far as I know they are equals so you could substitute it!
I do not really like a ginger.. but I should give it a try.. because your bars look so yummy:)
These are perfect! Love how easy they are in bar form.
Yes – love these! Everything good about a gingerbread cookie, but without all the work of making and decorating cutouts. That’s a total WIN in my book!
An absolute family favourite. I like to use fresh ginger to give it some extra flavour but powder ginger also tastes amazing if I don’t have fresh ginger on hand.
Can this recipe also be used to make cookies? I have been searching for soft chewy gingerbread cookies.
Oh wow. These sound delicious! I love gingerbread cookies, but I’ve never had them with cream cheese frosting. I bet it’s divine. And I love that there’s no rolling and cutting! 🙂
They’re awesome. You will love them.