Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• Cookie Bars
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• Small pinch ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup brown sugar (dark preferred)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
• 1 large egg (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
• 6 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Small pinch each: ginger, cinnamon, allspice

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, pepper, and salt in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and molasses. Add egg and vanilla.
4. Mix wet ingredients into dry until fully combined. Spread evenly in pan.
5. Bake 23–26 minutes until set but soft. Cool in pan for at least 1 hour.
6. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, spices, and vanilla; beat until creamy.
7. Spread frosting over cooled bars. Chill 30 minutes, slice, and serve.