Recipe - Grandma Mary's Gingerbread Bars

The perfect soft, chewy gingerbread recipe.

Grandma Mary's Gingerbread Bars

The spice blend is super unique, and all the credit goes to my sweet Dutch grandmother. The smell of this warm gingerbread baking in the oven will always remind me of her.

I love baking this in the fall and right through the holidays. For a fancy version I like to add a simple glaze or a dusting of icing sugar.

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup golden corn syrup
• 1 cup milk
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 1 heaping tsp cinnamon
• 1 heaping tsp ginger
• 1 heaping tsp cloves
• 1 heaping tsp ground anise

Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer until fully combined. The batter will be thick and sticky.

Spread into a thin baking dish; even a baking sheet will work if it’s got high enough sides. You want the batter to be approx. 1 ½" thick for the best cooking results. It will almost double in height while cooking. Bake at 350 for 20 – 25 minutes.

I’ve had some luck with small silicone baking molds (I've linked a few good options below), but you have to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Use a toothpick to make sure the center is cooked through.

Let cool fully before cutting into squares and serving.

Enjoy!

Kaitlyn