Gingerbread Bars

If you haven't yet discovered Pinterest, run in the opposite direction, QUICKLY!! If you think Facebook is a big time-suck, Pinterest eclipses it by a factor of a hundred! Anyway, I found this recipe for Gingerbread Bars on a blog I saw on Pinterest called Jamie Cooks It Up, and they are exceptionally delicious. In fact, I don't think my family even knew about the first batch I made! I also made a recipe for Christmas using a boxed gingerbread cake mix, and this homemade version is significantly more delicious. I hope you will enjoy these as much as we have - my family DID get to eat some of the second batch!

Gingerbread Bars:
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese (half a brick), softened
2 T. butter, softened
2 cup powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
dash salt

1. Pour the melted butter, sugar and molasses into your stand mixer, or large mixing bowl. Beat until well combined.
2. Add the egg and beat until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl toss together all of the dry ingredients.
4. Pour the dry ingredients into the mixer and beat, just until combined.
5. Spray a 9x9 pan with cooking spray and press the dough into it.
6. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, do not over bake. Stick a knife into the center of the bars. If it comes out clean, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely. The bars will continue to cook a bit as they cool. Once frosted the bars will be put in the fridge for an hour - this will also help the bars to set up and not be too doughy.
7. Mix all frosting ingredients together in your stand mixer. Beat until nice and smooth.
8. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Refrigerate for one hour, cut and serve! Store leftover bars (if there are any!) in the fridge or freezer.