The other night we watched our friend’s kids while they went on a date, and ALL 3 of them had been injured within the first 20 minutes of being in our house. THIS is the way to make friends, in case you are having trouble.
In my defense, their 4-year-old is in the baby-obsessed stage, and cannot leave her 6-month-old brother alone. Cooing, waving toys, rolling him over and over and over across the floor–wait, STOP! No, put him down! GET BACK HERE–! Head smash. Cerebellum’d. Poor baby. It wasn’t me, okay?
Sibling relationships are complex sometimes, I get it. My sister was working in her garden one day, with her new baby asleep in a carseat, which was in the shade by the house. She looked back to find her 2-year-old standing over the baby, both hands raised high above her head, clutching a jagged rock. Like a sacrificial knife.
Well. That’s one way to make sure you stay the baby of the family. Get all crazy eyes.
Speaking of crazy eyes, who’s ready for holiday baking?? Guys. These Frosted Peppermint Gingerbread Bars are legit. They might just be my new favorite Christmas treat, ever. They beat Buried Cherry Cookies (barely). They are on par, if not surpassing, the Butterscotch Pumpkin Cake. I made 3 batches in one week.
Don’t be a ginger + peppermint hater. I was dubious too, back when my best friend made these Candy Lasses for me the first time in college. A molasses-y gingery cookie…with candy canes? Uhhh… But I was immediately converted. This year I wanted to try a bar version, because the only thing better than a cookie is a bar. #preach
I used Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Ginger in the bars. It’s ginger that has been kind of half-dried, so it tastes like fresh but lasts a full 4 weeks. Such a good idea, right? I’m always throwing away half of my fresh herbs. Both my mom and my sister-in-law Sandi have been using Gourmet Garden Stir-In Paste for years. Same idea, but in a tube. I just used an Italian Herb blend in the impromptu soup I made for dinner. If you can’t find the Lightly Dried products, never fear, this recipe still tastes fabulous with regular ol’ powdered ginger. I tested it both ways.
Add these to your cookie plates this year. YES IT’S FINALLY TIME FOR COOKIE PLATES. Hallelujah.
P.S. More gingery sweets from friends!
Gingerbread Cookie Dough Cups from The Domestic Rebel
Peppermint Ginger Bars with Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup butter, 1 stick plus 2 and 2/3 tablespoons
- 1 & 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons Lightly Dried Ginger, or powdered ginger--see note
- 2/3 cup crushed candy canes, about 8
Frosting:
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3-4 crushed candy canes, to stir into frosting or sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch glass pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray with nonstick spray if you use foil.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter for 1-3 minutes, scraping sides, until light and fluffy.
- Add the brown sugar and beat again.
- Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well, scraping sides.
- In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Crush 8 candy canes in a food processor. (I like to add the Lightly Dried Ginger to let it get a little more chopped up, but you don't have to.) If you don't have a food processor put them in a ziplock and use a rolling pin. Add the candy cane and the Lightly Dried Ginger to the flour mixture and whisk in.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 27-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Err on the side of under baking, just as you would with brownies.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely. When cool, lift the bars from the pan.
- Meanwhile make the frosting. Beat 3/4 cup butter until smooth, 1-3 minutes (depending on how cold your butter is).
- Add 1 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat well. Add more milk or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency. Beat well, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Spread the frosting over the bars. Sprinkle with 3-4 crushed candy canes right away. You could also stir them straight into the frosting. Then stuff your face.
Notes
Nutrition
I like the peppermint that goes in the bars to be pretty finely crushed. I crush the sprinkle-on-top candy canes with a rolling pin so they are more even and coarse.
This post was sponsored by Gourmet Garden. All opinions are my own. Duh! Thanks for supporting the brands I love, so that I can keep handing out free recipes like it’s Christmas or something.
Here are the original Candy Lasses Cookies! Soooo good:
Other stuff you should definitely like:
These bars are the best gingerbread I have ever had. So much flavor and so fun with the crushed candy cane in the batter! Thank you for sharing!
I’m so happy you tried these out Cindy! I never knew peppermint and ginger could be paired together until I was an adult and now I’m obsessed! I’m glad you enjoyed them, thanks so much for taking the time to review and comment!
 This recipe sounds so good, but what size glass pan does the recipe use?
Good point Noel I didn’t specify! Sorry about that, I’ve updated the recipe. Make these bars in a 9×13 inch glass pan! or halve the recipe and make in an 8×8 or 9×9 inch pan. Enjoy!
Made these in 2017 for a Christmas dessert – the outcome? ADDICTION GALORE!
I love gingerbread and peppermint, but never thought they would be cohesive together. Boy was I wrong!
For bars I would say this is one of the BEST recipes I have tried hands down – not joke.
I experimented with the candy cane/peppermints – I put them into the batter once, mixed it into the frosting once and then left them plain once and just put them on top of the frosting.
Each time it was still the same outcome – PURE DELICIOUSNESS!
Tamara, I’m so happy you took and chance on this and loved it!! I used to think the same thing about gingerbread and peppermint, and thought my roommate was a total freak when she made these Candy Lasses the first time. But I loved them sooooo much. You have to try those cookies out, they are amazing. Also, I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking about Christmas in July! Yay! :)
Hey Karen! I’m making these for a Christmas Party/Brunch tomorrow morning – nothing like sugar for breakfast, right? I’ll keep you posted!
Gingerbread + candy canes?? After tasting your cranberry + dulce de leche pies, I’m NEVER doubting you and your flavor combos ever again. Those were the BOMB (and I totally wish I had stolen your husband’s one too… no shame), and I bet these were just as incredible. Since you made 3 batches of each. ;) P.S. You need to move over to this side of town so we can trade baked goodies all the time. (And so I can steal your dinner leftovers so I don’t have to cook.) That’s all.