This is the second year that I have participated in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. The swap works like this: I mail homemade cookies (a dozen each) to three other food bloggers, and I receive three dozen cookies made from three different bloggers. The cookie swap is a fun way to get to know other bloggers, share sweet treats, and also (most importantly!) raise money for the Cookies For Kids’ Cancer organization. A fundraiser with cookies! Mmmmmmm!
The tricky thing about making cookies that have to be mailed is that the recipe needs to be one that will hold up well and still taste delicious several days after it’s made. I’ll be honest, I’m usually all about freshly made baked goods. If I’m baking something to share, I typically make it the day that I’m serving it, because that’s when most baked goods taste best. After seeing a recipe for Iced Hermits that said “these bars are best a day or two after they are baked so the flavors have a chance to deepen,” I knew these bars would be perfect for the cookie swap.
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I made several changes to the original recipe, and I am so happy with the way they came out. I’ve made this recipe several times over the last few weeks, and everyone I have shared them with has enjoyed them. The bars are the perfect balance of sweet and spice. They’re super chewy and closely resemble a ginger-molasses cookie. The bars get even better with a generous drizzle of brown sugar icing. They are really, really, tasty.
Iced Ginger Molasses Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Cookie bars:
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- cloves pinch ground
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¼ cups brown sugar, packed
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup unsulphured molasses
- ¾ cup raisins
Icing:
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 10x15 inch rimmed baking sheet/jelly roll pan with parchment paper, and grease the pan and parchment. Alternately, you can line the pan with foil, leaving a couple inches overhang on two sides (this will allow you to lift the whole tray of bars from the pan). Grease the foil and pan, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt until combined.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Beat on medium speed for several minutes, until smooth and creamy. Add egg, egg yolk, and molasses, and beat to combine, scraping the sides of the bowl if necessary. With the mixer on low, gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing just until combined. Fold in the raisins.
- Spread the dough evenly onto prepared baking sheet. The dough will be thick. Lightly dampen your fingers with water, if needed, to help press the dough evenly into the pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through the cooking time. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing:
- Place brown sugar, milk, and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved (several minutes). Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar. If the icing is too thin, whisk in a little more powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add a little more milk.
- Drizzle the bars with icing. Allow the icing to set (at least 15 minutes), then cut.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Wendy
I was lucky enough to receive a box of these delicious bars! With the chewy ginger bar and the brown sugar icing, these treats disappeared quickly at our house! I am glad to have the recipe so that I can enjoy them again! Thanks, Allison!
Celebrating Sweets
You’re so very welcome. Glad you enjoyed them! Happy Holidays!
Teri
I made these bars and they are delicious. They taste like “Christmas”! They are really yummy with a gingerbread latte! I highly recommend this recipe for the holidays!
Ellen
Is the amount of ginger correct? 1 1/2 Tablespoons seems like a lot!
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Ellen. Yes, it is tablespoons. We did not find the ginger flavor overwhelming but if you’d like to reduce it you can cut it down to 1 tablespoon.
Connie Peters
theses look really good. Can I skip the raisins?
Celebrating Sweets
Sure!
Maudie
These are delicious and I did not even put on the icing as I wanted to freeze them. They are spicy, chewy and absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
carol a palombo
meh….something’s just not right with the spice blend. The icing, while a nice touch, really doesn’t ‘go’ and is an unnecessary addition. Also, personally, it needs more raisins. Will move on and try other, similar recipes.
Jami
Why? Re: “Meh”. Why the need to even leave a nasty comment? Moving on? Then MOVE ON!! Why tear someone down for no reason?? Just move on. Does it make you feel good to be a nasty person?? It should not. Seek therapy. I added more raisins and it was soooo good!! My plan this year is to give baked goods as Christmas gifts. People love it!! Your cookie bars made the list!!! Thanks!! 😘
Gia
Can I use unsulfured molasses? Is there a big taste difference with this recipe?
Allison
Hi, Gia! Yes, it actually should be unsulphured, there was a typo in the recipe. Enjoy!
Desert Deb
OMG, these are fantastic: soft, molassesy fudgy. My flour was 1c. 1:1 gluten free + 3/4c. buckwheat flour, was generous with spices and I used coconut oil for batter. Love the raisins. I baked @20 mins and took them from oven when slightly soft. Icing is wonderful.