Description
These soft and spiced Ginger-Cream Bars combine a chewy gingerbread base with a rich, smooth cream cheese topping for the ultimate cozy dessert square.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease it.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet mixture until combined.
- Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream together until smooth and creamy.
- Spread cream topping evenly over the cooled base.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes, then cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- Don’t overbake the base — it should stay soft and moist.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for a silky topping.
- Chill before slicing for cleaner cuts.
- Add orange zest to the topping for a citrus twist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg