Caramel Gingerbread Cookie Bars – Get into the holiday mood, with these delicious Gingerbread Cookie Bars. They blend a mix of flavors and textures making this recipe a must-try for gingerbread lovers. With sugar, fragrant spices, and indulgent caramel, these bars are sure to be a hit at any festive gathering.
I can still vividly recall the first time I baked these Gingerbread Cookie Bars. It was a chilly evening in December when I decided to surprise my family with something. As the bars baked the scent of ginger and cinnamon filled the kitchen creating a festive ambiance. Even my husband, who isn’t usually fond of desserts couldn’t resist their allure. Seeing the joy in my child’s eyes after taking that bite was truly magical. It reminded us of how treats can bring delight to our lives.
What makes this Gingerbread Cookie Bars truly special?
These Gingerbread Cookie Bars go further being another holiday charm; they are a sensation worth applauding. Their unique appeal lies in the mixture of spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg that captures the spirit of holiday customs. The gooey layer of caramel adds a twist by providing a contrast, to the flavorful and aromatic cookie base. Moreover, these bars offer versatility. They make for an indulgence, on chilly evenings, a delightful addition, to your festive gathering, or a considerate homemade present. Their distinct blend of gingerbread flavors coupled with the caramel twist makes them stand out from your typical holiday cookies.
What You Need To Make This Gingerbread Cookie Bars Recipe?
Unsalted Butter: The unsalted butter serves as the base, for your cookie bars giving them a creamy foundation without overpowering the spices. It creates a blend of flavors. Ensures that the gingerbread notes truly shine.
Dark Brown Soft Sugar: This ingredient is essential for achieving a molasses-like sweetness that beautifully complements the gingerbread spices. Its moisture content also contributes to the chewiness of the bars.
Medium Egg: Acting as a binder the medium egg brings all the flavors together while adding a light and tender crumb to the bars.
Vanilla Extract: Just a dash of vanilla extract adds a sweetness that elevates the overall flavor profile. It’s like having a chorus in the background of a melody.
Plain Flour: Serving as the backbone of these cookie bars plain flour provides them with texture and firmness while still maintaining a delightful tenderness.
Bicarbonate of Soda: This small leavening agent plays a role in achieving that rise for your gingerbread cookie bars lending them desirable lightness.
Sea Salt: A pinch of salt acts as our ingredient for balancing out sweetness and bringing out each flavor in these bars – from spices to chocolate to caramel. Additionally sprinkling some sea salt, on top adds a twist to their gingerbread taste.
Cornstarch: Adding a bit of cornstarch is the secret, to achieving thick cookie bars. It’s like a sprinkle of magic that completely transforms the texture.
Ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg: These three spices are the trio when it comes to creating that heartwarming gingerbread flavor. Each spice contributes its warmth and richness blending together harmoniously.
White chocolate chips: These delightful morsels bring pockets of sweetness to the mix offering a contrast, against the spiciness of the gingerbread and the gooey caramel.
Caramel: The star of this show. It introduces a lusciously gooey element to the bars elevating them to levels of decadence that simply make them impossible to resist.
Steps To Make Gingerbread Cookie Bars:
Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to a temperature of 190ºC. Prepare a square baking tin by lining it with parchment paper envisioning the enchanting creation you’re about to embark on. Melt the butter allowing its delightful fragrance to permeate your kitchen then combine it with the sugar, in a union. Add the egg and vanilla into the mixture blending them harmoniously and creating a tantalizing promise of delights.
Step 2: Next, introduce the ingredients – flour, baking soda, and spices – each contributing their unique essence to this festive symphony. As you stir everything together imagine the joy these bars will bring when enjoyed. Gently fold in the chocolate chips each one embodying a burst of happiness.
Step 3: Now take half of this dough that has become your masterpiece and spread it evenly in the tin. Now for the pièce de résistance. Caramel! Oh, how exquisite it is! Drizzle it gently over the dough. Sprinkle a touch of sea salt for that balance between sweetness and saltiness. Finally cover everything, with the remaining dough as if tenderly tucking in a child on a winter night.
Step 4: Allow these bars to bake for 19 minutes. Time to retain their wonderfully gooey texture. Now comes the challenging part; exercise patience as they cool down while filling your home with anticipation. When they are ready to be enjoyed share them generously. Observe as each bite brings forth moments of sweet bliss.
Tip:
For a texture and improved taste, you might want to consider placing the cookie dough in the refrigerator, for approximately 30 minutes before baking. By doing this the butter, in the dough becomes more solid which helps prevent the bars from spreading during baking. Additionally, it allows the flavors to mingle and develop intensifying the flavorful notes of gingerbread. Just a little bit of patience can bring about a difference resulting in Gingerbread Cookie Bars that’s wonderfully dense, chewy, and filled with a delightful combination of spices and sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use different types of chocolate chips?
Of course! You have the freedom to try out chocolate chip options, like milk or dark chocolate for a different flavor.
How long can I store these bars?
If stored in an airtight container these bars can remain fresh for up, to a week. Although it might be challenging to resist them for that long!
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Certainly! You can easily make these bars gluten-free by swapping the all-purpose flour with your gluten-free flour blend.
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 115 grams of unsalted butter
- 190 grams of dark brown soft sugar
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 275 grams of plain flour
- 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt plus extra for the caramel
- 1 tablespoon of cornflour
- 1.5 teaspoons of ground ginger
- 0.5 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 300 grams of white chocolate chips
- 200 grams of caramel
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190ºC (170ºC if using a fan oven). Take a 9x9 inch baking tin and line it with parchment paper.
- Gently melt the butter. Pour it into a mixing bowl.
- Add the soft sugar to the melted butter and whisk for two minutes. Then combine in the egg and vanilla extract until mixed.
- In that bowl add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, sea salt, cornflour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg. Thoroughly mix everything together until you have a thick cookie dough.
- Stir in the chocolate chips into the dough.
- Evenly press half of the cookie dough, onto the bottom of your prepared tin. Spread caramel over this layer while leaving a border around the edges. If desired, sprinkle some sea salt on top of the caramel. Afterward dollop remaining cookie dough, over the caramel to fully cover it.
- Place your tin in the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. For gooier bars aim for around 19 minutes.
- Once baked allow your bars to cool inside their tin before cutting them into pieces and serving.
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
