I was just sooo not in the mood to take pictures the other day. The lighting was horrible no matter where I was, as the sky was super Seattle gray. I wasn’t actually even going to put these up, but the truth of the matter is that they are far to tasty for me not to share the recipe with you.
As many of you know, I often bake for referees on nights that I score keep on. Makes them happy to work with and IF they happened to end up refereeing my game, then perhaps they will look the other way when I elbow some guy. 😛 I kid…sort of. So my poor refs have pretty much been neglected lately. What I have been making in the kitchen were not all that portable friendly and they had been missing out. One of my “regulars” let me know it too and let me know that he would enjoy something with gingerbread the next time he saw me….then he told me when the next time he would see me would be. 🙂
So off I went find something with gingerbread. I wanted something simple for as much as I would like to be done getting the house together, there always seems to be something. Tomorrow I am off for a rake and a recycling trash can for our pop cans. These bars I found on the McCormick spices website. Their recipe called for using their spices, but I was a rebel and did not. A couple things about the bars: 1. I will add a little more ginger next time for a tad more kick, though the ref thought they had enough kick. 2. When I made the cream cheese mixture I did it in the bowl with the gingerbread batter, without cleaning it, so that the gingerbread flavor would come through a little in the frosting…I’m glad I did. These are quick and easy and most definitely keeps.
P.S. Don’t forget I am hosting a virtual Housewarming Party on Saturday, December 8th. For more information about it go here.
Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon ground Ginger
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
3 tablespoons water
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil. Spray foil with no stick cooking spray. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. Beat butter and 3/4 cup of the sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture until well mixed. Stir in molasses and water just until blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
3. Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in remaining 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup of the icing; refrigerate remaining icing. Spoon dollops (about 1 teaspoon each) of the reserved icing over batter in pan. With knife or spatula, swirl icing through batter to marbleize.
4. Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Lift out of pan using foil. Cool completely on wire rack. Invert and peel off foil. Spread refrigerated icing over bars. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.
Source: McCormick.com
Rosa says
I nonetheless find that those bars look very enticing! I wonderful recipe!
Cheers,
Rosa
Lydia says
To me these look wonderful. I’m going to pass the recipe along to my resident Canadiens fan — who also happens to be our resident baker!
Hannah says
Mmm, gingerbread is always a welcome treat in these colder months… And clearly, even you “bad” pictures are pretty damn good! 😉
katie102006 says
Gingerbread is one of my favorite desserts. Even though it’s gray out it looks great. I want toreach in and grab one to eat right now! Yum!
Jenny says
Hehe did he tell you you would get a pass on your next penalty after tasting the cake? 🙂
breadchick says
I think these look great! I love old fashioned gingerbread and do I have to tell anyone how much I love cream cheese frosting
Dana says
Mmmm, these have *me* excited to make some gingerbread! Yummm…
Cheryl says
Love the idea of leaving some of the gingerbread batter in there while mixing the frosting. Those are some lucky referees.
Deborah says
Since it is practically dark when I leave for work in the morning and dark when I get home, I have been having a really horrible time with photos lately. But yours really don’t look bad!! And these gingerbread bars look delicious!!
carole says
I guess exciting is where your taste buds lay. I find these very exciting and yummy. I will make them at least once, probably more, over the holiday season.
May, however, flavor the cream cheese icing with something.
MrsPresley says
yum! i don’t have any molasses in my pantry… i think i need to go and get some now 😉
Claire says
These still look great. I know what you mean about not feeling like taking pictures. I even have some recipes that I’ve done that didn’t get pictures taken AT ALL…partly because I was busy, partly b/c I was lazy, and partly b/c they were gone quickly! 🙂
VeggieGirl says
wow, those refs don’t realize how lucky they are to have an avid baker among them!! these Gingerbread Bars look great (and I hope that the ref who requested a gingerbread-type baked good fancied them!)
yeah, the weather has been terrible here (dark, gloomy, thundering, lightning, hailing – can it GET any worse??), so taking pictures of food has been less-than-desirable; but your pictures STILL turn out exceptionally beautiful, so no worries!!
Nabeela says
Good idea baout making the frosting in the same bowl. I’ll try that next time too. Thanks!
JEP says
Now I can make my own instead of buying the ones at the coffee shop—yum!
Elle says
Lucky refs! Imagine a plate of these and some hot apple cider….mmmm. Clever to use the uncleaned batter bowl to mix the frosting…ties in the flavor and color.
Mallow says
I love gingerbread in any form, but those look great with the cream cheese frosting.
Kristen says
Anything with cream cheese frosting is high on my list. This looks great! I’m sure the refs appreciated it.
Francesco says
Buono … ops wrong language. Tasty. I love gingerbread and thi looks like almost like a thin gingerbread ceesecake. Mmmmmmm 🙂
Laura says
Sticky and gorgeous Grace I’ve tucked this away for the not too distant future. BTW I got my copy of “I’m Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas” yesterday so thanks again for the recommend!
Jen Yu says
Cream cheese frosting does it for me as it is, but with those bars, it must be awesome. I like how folks who love baked goods will inform you of their coordinates and time of day to maximize chances of co-existing with delicious food!
Kelly-Jane says
I think they look so good too, they are the kind of bar I would choose if given a choice!
Lisa says
Bad lighting or not.. they look heavenly to me! I love gingerbread. 😀
xoxo
lynn says
Yumm! I love using the same bowl for the gingerbread and the frosting. Less to wash is always a good thing!
Maria says
I am going out to buy the cream cheese right now! These bars look irresistible to me!
Kayte says
i just bought some molasses in the hopes of finding a good gingerbread recipe. and here it is! i can’t wait to make this.
and honestly, i think the pictures look great. i have a bad camera and even worse lighting. so my pictures always turn out pretty yucky. i’m so jealous of yours!
Maryann@FindingLaDolceVita says
Gingerbread with cream cheese frosting is fine by me 🙂
jackie says
omgosh i can imagine sinking my teeth into these right out of the oven…they look so good!!
Jann says
This looks as though it would melt in your mouth right away! How delicious!
Angela says
Mmmmm, these look seriously yummy. I’ve never had cream cheese frosting on gingerbread, but I shall give it a whirl!
Kevin says
Gingerbread with cream cheese frosting sounds really good.
the caked crusader says
I’ve never made cream cheese frosting before – this may well sway me!
Melamalie says
Because you’ve been getting some negative comments lately (about what, I can’t possibly imagine!), I thought I should de-lurk and post something positive.
My mom and I made these bars for our family potluck dinner over Christmas. It was so popular I printed copies for several family members who just “couldn’t go home without it!” It is a new staple in our holiday diet, along with your Orange-Cranberry Pound Cake. Yum yum yum. Thanks so much.
Happy New Year!
Anna says
These didn’t make enough for a 9″x13″ pan for me…they fit nicely into a 9″ cake pan…did I do something wrong? Thanks!
Joni says
Made these last night and they’re fabulous! I love gingerbread and these are better than what I get at Starbucks. Don’t bother with the dollop/marble “thing” though…unnecessary step and changes nothing.