Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Step aside gingerbread cookies, gingerbread bars are now in town. Indulge in these perfectly balanced gingerbread bars. With their molasses and ginger base offset with cream cheese frosting, you're looking at a bar that is sure to disappear from your kitchen counter in seconds. By the way, these bars are incredibly easy to make, so if you're in a hurry or have a last minute holiday event, this dessert has your back.

Bar Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup molasses

1 egg

2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

1 tbs. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/3. tsp nutmeg

Pinch of salt

Frosting Ingredients:

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8x8 dish.

For the bars, cream together the butter and sugars until they are light and fluffy. Add the egg and molasses and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix the baking soda, flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two parts and mix completely.

Transfer the mixture to your 9x9 pan and cook for 15-20 minutes.

While your bars are cooking, beat the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments. Once mixed completely, add the vanilla. If your frosting is a little too stiff, add a tbs. of milk until you reach the proper consistency.

Once your bars have cooled, frost them beautifully and serve.