Pin It Rich, spiced gingerbread bars layered with a buttery crumble and finished with a tangy lemon glaze—a festive treat perfect for any season.
I love baking these gingerbread crumble bars through the chilly months. The scent of spices fills the kitchen and the lemon glaze elevates every bite. They're the treat I always share when friends drop by for coffee.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: 2 cups (250 g)
- Light brown sugar, packed: 1 cup (200 g)
- Ground ginger: 2 tsp
- Ground cinnamon: 1 tsp
- Ground cloves: 1/4 tsp
- Ground nutmeg: 1/4 tsp
- Baking soda: 1/2 tsp
- Salt: 1/2 tsp
- Unsalted butter, melted: 3/4 cup (170 g)
- Unsulphured molasses: 1/3 cup (80 ml)
- Egg: 1 large
- Powdered sugar, sifted: 1 cup (120 g)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice: 2 tbsp
- Finely grated lemon zest: 1 tsp
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- Form the Dough:
- Add the melted butter, molasses, and egg. Stir until a thick, crumbly dough forms.
- Create Crumble Topping:
- Reserve 3/4 cup of the dough for the crumble topping.
- Press the Base:
- Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base.
- Add Crumble:
- Sprinkle the reserved dough over the base in small chunks to create a crumble effect.
- Bake:
- Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until the top is set and lightly golden.
- Cool:
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
- Make the Glaze:
- For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest until smooth.
- Finish:
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars. Let set for at least 20 minutes before slicing into squares.
Pin It This is a favorite for family gatherings—everyone cheers when the first batch comes out of the oven, and the lemon glaze always earns extra smiles.
Required Tools
To make these bars, you'll need an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan, mixing bowls, a whisk, a rubber spatula, and parchment paper.
Allergen Information
The recipe contains wheat (gluten), eggs, and dairy (butter). Always confirm ingredient labels if allergies are a concern.
Nutritional Information
Each bar has about 220 calories, 8 g total fat, 36 g carbohydrates, and 2 g protein.
Pin It Serve these gingerbread bars with lemon glaze for a spiced, seasonal bake that leaves everyone wanting another square.
Recipe FAQs
- → What spices are used in the gingerbread base?
The base features ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and a hint of baking soda to create a warm, spiced flavor.
- → Can the crumble topping be customized?
Yes, adding chopped crystallized ginger or toasted pecans enhances flavor and adds extra texture.
- → Is this suitable for a dairy-free diet?
Substitute vegan butter to make the bars dairy-free without sacrificing buttery richness.
- → How is the lemon glaze made?
The glaze combines powdered sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and lemon zest whisked to a smooth consistency and drizzled over cooled bars.
- → What baking tools are needed?
An 8-inch square baking pan, mixing bowls, whisk, spatula, and parchment paper are recommended for best results.