These Cottage Cheese Frosted Gingerbread Bars are a delightful twist on traditional gingerbread, making them a perfect high protein dessert for the holiday season. With a rich and spiced flavor, these bars are ideal for festive baking and can be enjoyed as Christmas cookie bars.

The combination of gingerbread and cottage cheese frosting creates a unique and satisfying treat that is both delicious and nutritious.

Festive Gingerbread Bars with Cottage Cheese Frosting

These gingerbread bars are soft and chewy, infused with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Topped with a creamy cottage cheese frosting, they offer a healthier alternative to traditional desserts while still delivering on flavor. This recipe takes about 45 minutes from start to finish and yields 12 bars.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese (for frosting)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and egg, mixing well.
4. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the cottage cheese and vanilla extract.
5. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Prepare Frosting: While the bars are baking, mix together the cottage cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
7. Cool and Frost: Allow the gingerbread bars to cool completely in the pan before spreading the cottage cheese frosting on top. Cut into squares and serve.

Cook and Prep Times

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes

Nutrition Information

• Servings: 12 bars
• Calories: 150kcal
• Fat: 6g
• Protein: 4g
• Carbohydrates: 22g