What you need,
½ cup butter, at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. good molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground all spice
½ tsp. salt
For the frosting,
4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
1¼ cups icing sugar
1 tbsp. full fat Egg Nog
Christmas sprinkles for topping
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment
paper and spray it liberally with non-stick spray.
With an electric hand mixer in a large bowl cream butter and
both sugars together. Add in the egg and
beat until fully incorporated. Next add the vanilla and molasses, mix to
combine.
In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda,
cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all spice and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just
combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake the bars for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and a
tooth pick comes out clean.
Let the bars cool completely on a wire rack.
Meanwhile mix up the icing. In a bowl beat together the
cream cheese, butter and icing sugar and egg nog until smooth.
When the bars are cooled completely spread the icing over
the top of the bars and sprinkle on the decorations of your choice.
I put my bars into the fridge for about an hour to let the
icing set up before I cut the bars.
Slice the bars into whatever sized pieces you like. I cut
mine pretty little, just a little tasty treat.
Freeze on a sheet pan in a single layer before placing the
frozen bars into an airtight container. You can store them in the freezer for
up to a month.
Take the bars out of the freezer for a few minutes before
serving.
Jen of My Tiny Oven
