Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

These bars make the sweetest treat for holiday get togethers! It was my first time making anything gingerbread, and I loved the flavor! I had a lot of requests to share this recipe, enjoy!

Ingredients ½ cup butter, melted ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla ⅓ cup molasses 1 egg 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting 8 ounces cream cheese, softened ¼ cup butter, softened 3 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 9×13″ baking pan and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses. Add the egg and stir until completely incorporated. Add baking soda, flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt and mix until well combined. Spread dough evenly into the greased pan, pressing all the way to the edges.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (Do not over cook). Remove & let cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting Mix butter and cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl (I use my stand mixer). Add vanilla. While mixing, gradually add in powdered sugar. Mix until creamy & well-combined.

Once the bars have cooled, frost the gingerbread with icing. Add sprinkles of your choice for a festive touch. Cut into squares and serve!

I hope you enjoy this delicious holiday treat!

-Amelia Wright