Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Add a few sprinkles to your day with Gingerbread Cookie Bars. 

 Cook's Notes Love the taste of gingerbread cookies but looking for a recipe that's easier than rolling out dough and using a cookie cutter? Look no more as this recipe gives you same great gingerbread flavors but less work. Recipe makes one 13 x 9 pan, about 24 bars. If you don't have pumpkin pie spice mix make your own. Recipe included at end of blog . 
And don't forget to add the sprinkles. 
Recipe adapted from thegirlwhoateeverything.com
Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup butter , melted
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice mix (available in most larger grocery stores) 
• 2 tsp. Saigon cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt

Cream Cheese Frosting: (or just dust with powdered sugar)

• 4 TB. butter , softened
• 4 oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring or 1 TB. real maple syrup
• Milk as needed for spreading consistency 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses on medium speed until creamy.
• Add the egg and stir until completely incorporated. Add baking soda, flour, spices, and salt and mix until well combined. Spread dough into prepared pan, using clean floured hands or a rubber spatula to press the dough to the edges of the pan. Bake for 15 minutes; do not overbake! Cool in a pan with a wire rack.
• When bars have cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting or dust lightly with powdered sugar. They are delicious with nothing on them! Cut into squares and serve.
• For the frosting: Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar, maple flavoring and vanilla. Slowly mix on low adding milk as needed on high until fluffy. 
• Refrigerate bars. 

NEED ANYMORE HALLOWEEN IDEAS?

Check out this link of 50 Fun Food Ideas

https://www.geniuskitchen.com/ideas/50-fun-halloween-recipes-and-halloween-food-ideas-6396?c=38147

Monster Toast

Butterfinger Eyes

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

Ingredients:

• 4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp.ground nutmeg

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients. 
• Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place up to 6 months.