Since I was still battling a cold (much better now!), my weekend was mellow and relaxing, yet productive. My roommate and I fully welcomed December–we bought and decorated a Christmas tree, listened to Christmas music on repeat and had a holiday dinner with some close friends.
Our dinner party provided the perfect opportunity to start baking with gingerbread, so I made these simple gingerbread ice cream sandwiches. If you’re not an ice cream fan, these bars would also be delicious topped with a ginger cream cheese frosting and candied ginger.
Recipe:
2 cups flour
4 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
10 tbsp. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
7 1/2 tbsp. sugar, divided
2 large eggs
1/4 cup light (unsulfured) molasses
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 9×13-inch baking dish.
Place 2 cups flour in medium bowl; transfer 2 tbsp. flour to small bowl and reserve. Add spices, baking soda, and salt to flour in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and 6 tbsp. sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then molasses. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat to blend. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sift reserved 2 tbsp. flour evenly over batter, then sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 tbsp. sugar.
Bake gingerbread until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes; cool completely in pan on rack. Cut gingerbread into squares of desired size. Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.
I leave you with the almost finished Christmas tree in our apartment. All we need now is a tree topper!
We got our tree this weekend too! Love this time of year!
What a great winter ice cream sandwich, never would have thought of it!
Who’s not a fan of vanilla bean ice cream?! ;)
The bars look fresh and moist, hmmm! Such a great recipe for this time of the year. Thanks.
Wow, these look so good! That melted vanilla ice cream dripping off is making my mouth water…
Glad you’re feeling better. Sounds like such a fun and festive weekend! I love your tree!!!
These look lovely – the ice cream just sets them off! Thanks for a great recipe!
I’m not an ice cream fan, oh wait, yes, yes I am. These look awesome.
Aww…your tree is so festive!! I’m bumming cuz I just didn’t have time this weekend to put mine up and I’m normally always on schedule!! I was excited to see gingerbread in your title and even more so that it has ice cream! A cool dessert is always welcome where I live!! Plus these can be easily made ahead. Love that!!
What a delicious ending to a dinner Caroline and your tree is beautiful! I can see a little angel sitting on top of it.
:-) Mandy
Glad you’re getting over your cold Caroline – omg, did you know, I found out they sold candied ginger in my local supermarket… and I thought it didn’t exist in France. Holy cow was I happy! Love the look of this – the bars looks lovely and moist and the ice-cream in the middle is just mm-mm-mm… great dessert :D
Nothing like a day filled with things of beauty!
1 – scrumptious gingerbread ice cream sandwiches
2 – a glowing Christmas tree
3 – you, of course.
:)
Okay now, this is just ridiculous. My goodness do those look AMAZING! Bookmarking this to make when I get home!
These look fantastic and i have some home made icecream in the freezer! wow, .. you know me, i don’t have a sweet tooth but sweet and cold.. that sounds good.. c
I am an ice cream fan, but that ginger cream cheese frosting with candied ginger sounds to die for on top of these bars. Fabulous dessert! You got way more done than I do when I have a cold! :)
Love the melting vanilla bean ice cream between the gingerbread layers. YUM! If this doesn’t put everyone in the holiday spirit, nothing will!
Dear Santa,
I would like a box of gingerbread bars filled with vanilla bean ice cream. I’ve been a very, very good boy this year so I deserve the biggest box you can fit down the chimney.
Thank you. :D
A perfect holiday treat! And my oldest is obsessed with gingerbread. Wonder if I could shape it into a gingerbread man sandwich?
The gingerbread bars and ice cream look delicious! Your tree is adorable too. :)
They look amazing! And much more complicated than your recipe suggests. Thank you for sharing! The Christmas tree is beautiful even without the top :-)
A beautiful tree and a great dessert. I’d say you’re feeling better. Love the idea of a gingerbread ice cream sandwich, too.
What a great twist on ice cream sandwiches!
I’m glad you’re feeling better! The gingerbread ice-cream sandwiches look amazing and your tree is lovely! *sigh* I love this time of year!
Love, love, love your tree:) Now I have a difficult decision to make.. vanilla bean ice cream of cream cheese frosting… all of the above!
~~~~Caroline,
I can smell the gingerbread. I can taste it. I can feel it inside my fingers.
I love the idea of vanilla ice -cream within.
What a sweet surprise!! Xx
Obsessed. LOVE the tree as well – and I smiled when I realized I made the “close friend” list :) :)
Who doesn’t love vanilla ice! This looks so good and perfect for the holiday.
love the tree! I am glad to hear you are getting better :)
OMG, that looks out-of-this-world!!! A pretty tree.
Cheers,
Rosa
these look like my perfect dessert! i’m feeling a little sicky myself, maybe I can convince my boyfriend to whip these up for me?!
omg.. they look delicious… : )
First off.. your tree looks amazing. And I LOVE this gingerbread bars with vanilla bean ice cream recipe. I am definitely making this
I never had a tree that beautiful in my apartment. I love your festive spirit. I can’t wait for my first taste of gingerbread this season. Those bars look delightful.
Your step-by-step photos are awesome! I’m always scared of dropping the camera in batter. And my fingers are all sticky… maybe I need less “taste tests.” :)
Love the idea of turning gingerbread into an ice cream treat. I bet it would be awesome all mushed together too… like the B&J Red Velvet ice cream!
Caroline – why must you make me SO damn hungry! Obsessed with this!
Aww, what a festive bar this is…the vanila ice cream just reminds me of snow…:D
What an awesome dessert. I really must try this for my next dinner party.
What a fantastic combination – gingerbread and vanilla ice cream! And your tree look gorgeous – we haven´t got ours yet :(
I can almost taste those wonderful flavors through the monitor!
Vanilla bean ice cream is my favourite (don’t you just love the black speckles?) and it finds the perfect home within your ginger bars. Gorgeous recipe Caroline – I must find time for this one! ;0
I love the idea of the ice cream with gingerbread, perfect combination!
These would certainly put me in the holiday spirit! Delicious!
Oh these look amazing! I need to make them asap!
OMG my mouth is watery.
Great post.
Why do you seem like a “Holiday Person” to me? Must be the winning smile!
What an amazing recipe. I am coming back to make it soon. Your tree is so beautiful- it looks like a picture book! -kate
My mouth just watered when I saw the picture! Looks amazing.
These look amazing, better than ice cream sandwhich. Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Well it is the season for sweets. I’d so indulge in this. yum!
The gingerbread bars sound devine! Going to have to give these a go with some cream cheese frosting. The christmas tree looks so pretty!