Peppermint Ginger Bars with Buttercream Frosting
Inspired by Candy Lasses, these gingerbread bars are full of peppermint flavor and frosted with vanilla buttercream. Gingerbread and candy cane. It's a thing. An amazing thing. Don't knock it til you try it.
Foto: The Food Charlatan — The Food Charlatan
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)
- 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)
Steps
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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.
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In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter for 1-3 minutes, scraping sides, until light and fluffy.
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Add the brown sugar and beat again.
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Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well, scraping sides.
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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.
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Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.
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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.
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Remove from the oven and let cool completely. When cool, lift the bars from the pan.
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Meanwhile make the frosting. Beat 3/4 cup butter until smooth, 1-3 minutes (depending on how cold your butter is).
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Add 1 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla.
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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.
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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.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Macronutrients
*DV = Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet
💰 Cost Estimate
📋 Price Breakdown (16% ingredients detected)
| Ingredient | Amount | Unit Price | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| butter | 0.6666666666666666 cup | - | - |
| & 3/4 cup brown sugar | 1 | - | - |
| molasses | 0.25 cup | - | - |
| eggs | 2 | - | - |
| vanilla extract | 2 teaspoons | - | - |
| all-purpose flour | 2 cups | - | - |
| baking powder | 1 teaspoon | $0.50/100g | $0.03 |
| baking soda | 0.25 teaspoon | $0.50/100g | $0.01 |
| salt | 1 teaspoon | - | - |
| nutmeg | 1 teaspoon | - | - |
| cinnamon | 1 teaspoon | - | - |
| Lightly Dried Ginger | 4 teaspoons | - | - |
| crushed candy canes | 0.6666666666666666 cup | - | - |
| butter | 0.75 cup | - | - |
| & 1/2 cups powdered sugar | 2 | $0.50/100g | $1.00 |
| & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla | 1 | - | - |
| -3 tablespoons milk | 2 | - | - |
| salt | 0.25 teaspoon | - | - |
| -4 crushed candy canes | 3 | - | - |
*Estimated market prices, may vary by region
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