Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

While Christmas and the holiday season may seem like a lifetime ago, what hasn’t changed, even in California, is how cold it’s been. So while gingerbread recipes, especially Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies are most common around the holidays, I’m ready to make a change and keep them around through the entirety of winter. Or at least until the I no longer have to sleep in a sweatshirt.

So I present to you, my favorite warming (ginger) recipe on the planet. These spicy cookie bars are most similar to brownies in texture and chew, and to ginger molasses cookies in flavor. They are packed with spices (cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin pie spice or allspice, and nutmeg) and of course, molasses. This combination of spice is not for the weak. :-p But fear not, that’s where the cream cheese frosting comes in. The creamy frosting cuts through all those powerful warming flavors and adds a sweet counter-balance. However, if you want to omit the cream cheese frosting (are you crazy?), that’s totally fine and they’re delicious on their own as well.

If you’re also into spicy desserts check out some other recipes that are similar: Triple Ginger Snaps, Iced Gingerbread Molasses Bars, and Spicy Ginger Molasses Bars.

P.s. They make a lot (9×13-inch pan) so this is recipe is great for potlucks or office parties.