Spiced Apple Gingerbread Cookie Bars

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Soft and warmly spiced gingerbread bars studded with tender apple chunks, perfect for cozy dessert moments. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 200 calories and feeds 9, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 35 min Serves 9 American cuisine 200 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp salt.
  3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter with 3/4 cup light brown sugar until creamy and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Beat in 1 large egg, then mix in 1/4 cup molasses and 1 tsp vanilla extract until well combined.
  5. Step 5: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, then gently fold in 1 cup grated apple.
  6. Step 6: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula.
  7. Step 7: Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Step 8: Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then lift out using the parchment overhang and cut into bars.

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