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.
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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
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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.
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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.
