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Gingerbread Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting

December 18, 2014

 These quick and easy Gingerbread Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting are perfect for your Christmas cookie tray! The bars are moist and full of spices, and topped with a simple and fast maple brown sugar frosting!

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 1

You guys know that I typically blame food disappearances on S.O., but that’s because he is the one to devour large quantities of the food in our house without even blinking. I could go to sleep to a full fridge, and wake up to a lot of things missing and/or half-eaten.

He blames the cat and claims he witnessed her food-snatching with his own eyes, but I’m not buying it. No, I really don’t think it’s her.

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 3

Either way, these bars… they were ALL me. When I bake and dessert-make, I can never predict which one of us will be the guilty party when it comes to can’t.stop.eating.this tendencies. I couldn’t resist the scones. He couldn’t resist the Grinch cookies or the trifle. It sometimes goes back and forth. Whereas we BOTH couldn’t resist the Reese’s cookies.

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 9

But these? I loved! I am the one who did most of the damage. It’s so funny too because I just went on and on about how I’m not a huge gingerbread person. That’s still true. I’m not changing my tune on you. I really don’t consider myself much of ginger person. Yet, I adored these bars. I ate a few nibbles (no calories in little ‘nibbles’!) of a bar every single morning, and 2 bars after every workout for 6 days straight. They are definitely good post-workout fuel.  😉

S.O. really liked them too, btw, he just didn’t start going after these til the pie (coming soon!) was gone.

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 11

The bars were just so spicy and flavorful. Molasses, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon – even pumpkin pie spice. All the best spices in life are in these. They were moist, and even chewy too! The frosting is the real icing on the… bar. Maple and brown sugar are so wonderful all on their own, but put them together in a frosting, and welcome to heaven. And put that frosting on some gingerbread. Closer to heaven.

Call me a broken record, but these are also super easy. The bars are just a quick batter thrown together and baked, and the frosting is ridiculously simple.

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 13

They belong in your post-workout meal, apparently. Or, be a normal person, and make them for a holiday dessert! In either event, enjoy!

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 17

5 from 1 vote
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Gingerbread Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting

A super easy recipe for Gingerbread Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting. They're moist, spicy, and sweet! Perfect for your Christmas cookie tray!
Course Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 30 bars
Author Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl

Ingredients

Gingerbread Bars:

  • 1/2 c. butter softened
  • 2/3 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 c. molasses
  • 1 2/3 c. flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp. clove
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Brown Sugar Maple Frosting:

  • 1/2 c. butter
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 c. milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. maple extract
  • 1/4 c. maple syrup
  • 3 c. powdered sugar approximately

Instructions

For bars:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar. Beat until well-blended.
  2. Beat in egg and molasses, mixing until well-blended.
  3. In another large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix with a whisk until well-blended.
  4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, and beat until blended.
  5. Spread into a lightly greased 9x13 pan.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool completely.

For frosting:

  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
  2. Add in brown sugar and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
  3. Boil for 1 minute, remove from heat, and whisk in milk, vanilla, maple extract, and maple syrup.
  4. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and beat in powdered sugar until it reaches desired consistency.
  5. You can add additional milk or powdered sugar as needed to make the frosting thick, but spreadable.
  6. Spread frosting evenly over cooled gingerbread bars. Enjoy!

gingerbread bars with maple brown sugar frosting 15

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Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, Christmas, Holidays, Recipes 32 Comments

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Lovely comments

  1. Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says

    December 18, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    That maple brown sugar frosting sounds incredible! I’m not a giant gingerbread fan either – I’ll eat it, but I’ll always go for other stuff first! If you are the same and couldn’t stop eating these then I’m obviously going to have to try them! Or, you know, stay far far away from them because I probably don’t need more things I can’t stop eating in my life! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:46 am

      I don’t know what it is, but I just found these pretty addictive! And I’m not a ginger person! I think you’d like them too, for a non-ginger person! Haha! I know what you mean… I really do not need to be hooked on anymore sugary treats, but I just can’t help myself! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    December 19, 2014 at 12:40 am

    These bars are simply perfect!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:47 am

      Thank you so much! I couldn’t stop eating them! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Heather says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:23 am

    Sarah, I’m a huge fan of gingerbread and was thinking about making gingerbread cookies this weekend. I absolutely love the idea of cookie bars because less time in the kitchen as I try to finish Christmas shopping sounds perfect right now! And that thick layer of brown sugar maple frosting… Definitely something I want to eat after a workout;)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:50 am

      You are? My family loves ginger stuff too! I don’t know why it’s not always my first choice, but these bars… they were a different story! Yes – you should totally make a bar cookie instead of drop cookies! That’ll be a life saver in the last 6 days before Christmas while we’re all feeling time-crunched. Omgosh, can’t believe Christmas is 6 days away… gah!

      Reply
  4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:56 am

    That’s so funny that your husband blames the cat for the food being gone! Totally something my husband would do too, if we had a cat! 🙂 These gingerbread bars look incredible, Sarah! I love how soft and moist these are. And that thick layer of frosting looks insanely good. I love your pictures, too!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:49 am

      Lol! Yes, food disappears overnight in the house and he always says he caught the cat red-handed. Uh-huh. 🙂 Thanks, Gayle! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    December 19, 2014 at 9:36 am

    That frosting!! I’d drink it!!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:51 am

      Haha! It was addictive, for sure! Thanks for your kind comment, Dorothy! I *adore* your blog! It’s one of my favorites, and I was so excited to see a comment from you!! Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Courtney at A Life From Scratch says

    December 19, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    These sound AMAZING! Thanks for sharing another delicious recipe on the Weekend Re-Treat link party. If you get a chance to visit my blog sometime, I’d love it. Have a lovely weekend!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 20, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Thanks so much, Courtney!

      Reply
  7. Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says

    December 19, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    These look totally amazing! I wish I could blame the disappearing baking on my husband… but unfortunately I think it’s mostly me!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 20, 2014 at 1:39 pm

      Lol! We are both culprits, and it kind of goes back and forth. I blame him, then he blames the cat. Haha! Thanks, Ashley! I hope you’re doing well with your new little one! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

    December 19, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    These look incredible! That frosting is totally calling my name! They would disappear in no time at my house too!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 20, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Thanks, girl! I couldn’t stop eating them! They were just irresistable to me! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

    December 19, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    gingerbread anything is my absolute fave over the holidays!!! love these bars. . and I would SOOOO have can’t.stop.eating.this tendencies with these gingerbread-bars!!! love the maple brown sugar frosting!!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 20, 2014 at 1:41 pm

      It’s funny because I’m not usually hooked on gingerbread things, but this was definitely a big exception!! Thanks, Alice!

      Reply
  10. Erin @ Simple, Sweet & Savory says

    December 22, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    YUM! Saw these at the link party and had to come check them out. I LOVE gingerbread and this frosting looks amazing! Pinning!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 23, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Thanks so much, Erin! So glad you like them! Thanks for your kind comment. Merry Christmas!! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ginnie says

    December 23, 2014 at 2:39 pm

    These look amazing and I can only imagine how good they smell:)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 23, 2014 at 6:07 pm

      They were divine! I absolutely loved these bars. The gingerbread and maple are so perfect together! Thanks so much, Ginnie. Happy Holidays! 🙂

      Reply
  12. [email protected] says

    December 28, 2014 at 1:24 am

    These bars have got it going on with the glorious frosting!! 😉 Delicious!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 28, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Thanks, Jocelyn! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Lou Lou Girls says

    December 29, 2014 at 10:35 am

    They look so good! Pinned and tweeted. Jessica chose this as her favorite post. We will be featuring it at our party tonight at 7 pm. Woo Hoo! I hope to see you there. Lou Lou Girls

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 1, 2015 at 10:58 am

      Thanks for the party, as always! Happy New Year!

      Reply
  14. Stephanie says

    January 3, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    I love this idea! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday!

    Reply
  15. Terri says

    December 9, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    My frosting looks nothing like this…is there supposed to be cream cheese in there

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      December 10, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      Nope, my version does not contain cream cheese, though you could certainly add it, and it would probably make it very creamy. I’d love to help troubleshoot – what did your frosting turn out like? What is the consistency? Did you make any substitutions?

      Reply

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Hello, It’s Nice to Meet you!

I'm Sarah! A baker and dessert maker, craft addict, beauty product hoarder, and fitness enthusiast. I have a special affinity for shiny gold objects. I get distracted by glitter and sequins. If it's gleaming and lustrous, I need it. Welcome! Please stay awhile! Read More…

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