We Cook: Emily's Gingersnap Bars

So, one of the perks of being an adult has to be the ability to operate an oven by ourselves. That means, come holiday time, we get to bake cookies! I am instituting a new category at Welcome to Adulthood with a recipes section. (Since, after all, this blog is in the business of sharing all the secrets to adulthood. Baking and cooking secrets count just like any other...) Send me your favorite recipes! Whether they be easy recipes to make for your family, fun recipes for a dinner party, or even your favorite cocktail recipe.

Our first recipe comes to me from Emily. She made these gingersnap bars last year, and I have not been able to get them off my mind ever since! I didn't even know I liked gingersnaps! These bars are so soft, and chewy and cinnomony/clovey/sugary they make my mouth water even thinking of them. (Some people think gingersnaps are spicy - I am not sure if they usually are, but these bars are not spicy at all. They are sweet and delicious.) In fact, I am going to make them tomorrow so I can take a batch to Arizona this weekend when we go visit my boyfriend's family.

Seriously, you WANT to make these. ASAP. They are super easy too. A 10 minute bake time! You will be the envy of all of your ugly Christmas sweater parties this season.

Emily's Gingersnap Bars

Ingredients:
¾ C butter (melted)
2 C flour
1 C + 2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. cloves (ground. I accidentally bought clove sticks the first time I tried to make this. Oops.)
½ tsp. ginger
½ tsp. salt
¼ C molasses
1 egg

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter in medium saucepan and set aside. Add molasses to butter and let cool. In mixing bowl, stir together all dry ingredients. Add a couple scoops of the dry mixture to the butter and molasses and mix in. Add the egg and stir in well. Continue adding the dry mixture until it is all blended.

Lightly grease a 10x15 jelly roll pan with butter. Put the dough in the pan, press it flat using your hands with a little butter on them until it is evenly spread. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. sugar over the top and place in oven for 10 minutes. Don’t over bake! Let cool on rack for 5 minutes. Cut into bars or use cookie cutters to cut shapes.

Enjoy! Send us comments with your reviews!