Frosted Molasses Bars

Ingredients and Weight:

• All-purpose flour: 1 1/2 cups (180g)
• Baking soda: 1 teaspoon (5g)
• Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (2g)
• Salt: 1/4 teaspoon (1g)
• Unsalted butter, softened: 1/2 cup (113g)
• Granulated sugar: 1/2 cup (100g)
• Large egg: 1 (50g)
• Unsulphured molasses: 1/2 cup (120g)
• Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml)

For the Frosting:

• Cream cheese, softened: 1/2 cup (113g)
• Unsalted butter, softened: 1/4 cup (57g)
• Vanilla extract: 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml)
• Powdered sugar: 1 cup (120g)

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes

Difficulty Level: 2 (Simple)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8x8-inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg, molasses, and vanilla until combined.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool completely in pan.

For the Frosting:

1. In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese and butter.
2. Add vanilla and gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
3. Spread frosting over cooled bars.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 250 per bar
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Sugar: 20g
• Protein: 2g

Dish Characteristics:

• Chewy and moist
• Rich molasses flavor
• Sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting

User Comments:

• "These bars are absolutely delicious! The molasses flavor is perfect and the frosting is the perfect complement."
• "I loved that these bars were so easy to make. They turned out perfect!"
• "My family loved these bars. They're a great treat for any occasion."
• "These bars are a great way to use up leftover molasses. They're so flavorful and addictive!"
• "I love the combination of molasses and cream cheese in these bars. They're a perfect balance of sweet and tangy."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing will result in tough bars.
• Be sure to measure the molasses accurately. Too much molasses will make the bars too soft.
• If you don't have unsulphured molasses, you can use regular molasses. However, unsulphured molasses has a less bitter flavor.
• These bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.