These Gingerbread Squares with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting are a warm, slightly-sweet gingerbread cookie base that is topped with a melt-in-your-mouth eggnog cream cheese frosting. These bars deserve to be wrapped up and given as gifts this holiday season.
The Christmas season is right around the corner and you know what that mean.. holiday baking season!
And honestly, there is nothing better than baking over the Christmas season. From cookies, to pies, to quick breads, Christmas is the season for all things baked! And this simple Gingerbread Square with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting is one of my absolutely favorite holiday desserts. Ready in under an hour, it tastes like all the joys of this magical season. These bars are perfect to make for your family, holiday get-togethers, or to give away to neighbors and friends over the season.
These bars are slightly-sweet and perfectly spiced with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and molasses. These homemade gingerbread squares are everything you love about Christmas, plus they make your house smell absolutely wonderful!
My favorite way to enjoy these gingerbread squares is with a cup of piping hot coffee after Christmas dinner. It’s the best way to end a perfect meal with the ones I love.
gingerbread squares ingredients
- unsalted butter
- brown sugar
- egg
- pure vanilla extract
- molasses
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- salt
- gingerbread spice
Unsalted Butter: Salt content in butters varies from brand-to-brand. Salt in a recipe either enhances or masks flavors. Overly salty baked goods will result in a poor flavored product.
Brown Sugar: I prefer using dark brown sugar as it provides extra moisture and a rich flavor with subtle caramel undertones that compliments the gingerbread spices perfectly.
Molasses: Be sure to use dark molasses as it will give these squares the distinct gingerbread flavor most people are accustomed to.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Using a high quality pure vanilla extract gives a subtle rich sweet flavor. It also brings out the flavors of the other ingredients in the mix.
Gingerbread Spice: Feel free to use store bought gingerbread spice or make your own by combining ** of ground ginger, ** of ground cinnamon, ** of ground cloves, and **of ground nutmeg.
how to make gingerbread squares
STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Spray a 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, sugar, egg, molasses and vanilla.
STEP THREE: In a separate bowl, whisk to combine the flour, baking soda, gingerbread spice, and salt. In batches, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until completely combined. Do not over mix.
STEP FOUR: Transfer to prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Bake for 22-25 minutes. Remove from oven to wire rack and allow to cool completely.
Once they are cooled, it’s time to break out that eggnog cream cheese frosting!
eggnog cream cheese frosting ingredients
- cream cheese
- unsated butter
- confectioner’s sugar
- eggnog (see recipe)
- sprinkles
Cream Cheese: Be sure to use full fat cream cheese, not low fat cream cheese and not cream cheese spread sold in a tub. Using anything other than full fat will result in a thin and runny frosting.
Sprinkles: These are optional but they do add a festive feel to these holiday bars!
how to make eggnog cream cheese frosting
STEP ONE: Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth.
STEP TWO: Gradually add the powdered sugar and eggnog. Frost over cooled bars. Decorate with sprinkles. Store leftovers in the fridge.
how to store
Store in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days. If they last that long!
can these gingerbread bars be frozen?
Sure can! Place bars in a single layer on a sheet pan and place in freezer. Allow bars to completely freeze. Once frozen, place in a freezer safe container and store for up to 1 month in the freezer.
When ready to enjoy, allow bars to come to room temperature prior to eating.
how do you know when gingerbread bars are done?
Gingerbread bars are done when their edges just start to turn golden brown. However; due to the natural brown color of brown sugar and molasses, it can be difficult to tell when the edges reach this point. I recommend turning on the oven light or even briefly removing from the oven to get a quick close look.
bbq bakers tips and tricks
- Bring all cold ingredients to room temperature prior to making. Room temperature ingredients combine quickly and evenly, so you won’t risk over-mixing.
- Feel free to use alcoholic or non-alcoholic eggnog in your frosting
- Place frosted bars in the fridge for about an hour to allow frosting to set prior to cutting into bars
For a step by step process click here
other easy holiday desserts to try
Eggnog donuts with Candy Cane Frosting
Gingerbread Squares with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Gingerbread Squares
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon gingerbread spice see notes for recipe
Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 8oz package cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoon unsated butter room temperature
- 1¼ cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoon eggnog see notes for recipe
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
Gingerbread Squares
- In the bowl of stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, cream together ½ cup butter and ½ cup sugars.
- Add in 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, and ⅓ cup molasses and beat until creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp gingerbread spices, and ½ tsp salt for 20 seconds. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat until combined. Fold batter with a spatula as needed until batter appears to be evenly incorporated.
- Spread batter into prepared baking dish and press into an even layer using your hands or a the back of a spatula. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden brown.
- Transfer baking dish to a wire rack and let bars cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together 2 tbsp of butter and 8oz of cream cheese until smooth.
- Add in ¼ cup confectioner's sugar and 2 tbsp egg nog and mix until light and fluffy. Spread frosting over cooled squares.
- Cut into squares. Cover with lid or plastic wrap (or environmentally alternative) and store in refrigerator.
Notes
- Try this eggnog recipe
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