Gingerbread Brownies give you a rich, dense, and chewy texture like a brownie with the comforting, spicy, and sweet flavors of gingerbread. They are perfect to add to your desserts for your Christmas menu or whenever you crave a gingerbread treat! I also have a Gingerbread Loaf that you will love and get you in the mood for the holidays!

Pan of Gingerbread Brownies on a piece removed.
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Ingredients & Substitutions

Butter: Unsalted butter is melted before being blended with the brown sugar. This gives the brownies a much denser texture. Plus, you don’t need to get out any mixer, so it’s easier, too! If using salted butter, you may want to lessen the amount of salt in the recipe. It’s the same method used for my Blondie recipe.

Brown Sugar: Only light brown sugar is used in the recipe (no granulated sugar). It contributes a caramel-like sweetness with a subtle molasses flavor. If substituting dark brown sugar, it will result in a different flavor and texture.

Molasses: Molasses is a signature ingredient in gingerbread recipes. Look for unsulphured molasses. Unsulphured molasses (regular molasses) is richer, thicker, and sweeter than sulphured. It is made with fewer preservatives because it is made with more mature sugarcane. Sulphured molasses has added sulfur dioxide to the younger sugarcane, which can alter the flavor of the recipe. There is also a variety of molasses called blackstrap. Do not substitute molasses in a recipe (including this one) for blackstrap unless the recipe is very specific about using it. 

Spices: Ginger and cinnamon are the spices that work together to create a well-balanced and complex flavor profile in gingerbread. Ginger brings the spice, and cinnamon adds a sweet, warm touch (or should I say, taste) to each bite.

Confectioners’ Sugar: Sprinkling confectioners’ sugar over the cooled gingerbread brownies adds a bit of sweetness. It also looks really nice! However, the brownies are really good without the dusting of sugar, too!

Plate of Gingerbread Brownies on a wooden table with milk.

Optional Toppings

We loved these gingerbread brownies with just a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. But, you could certainly experiment with other toppings, too! Here are a few options you could try:

How To Store Gingerbread Brownies

To store gingerbread brownies, first, let them cool completely. Next, cut them into your desired-sized pieces. Then, store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They will last up to 2-3 days. If stored in the refrigerator, the bars will last up to a week.

Stack of Gingerbread Brownies showing texture on a wooden table.

Can I Freeze Gingerbread Brownies?

Yes, you can freeze gingerbread brownies. First, let them cool completely. Next, cut them into the size you prefer. Then, wrap the brownies in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped brownies in a freezer-safe container to freeze for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, let the brownies thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Pan of Gingerbread Brownies on a piece removed.
4.96 from 23 votes

Gingerbread Brownies

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Gingerbread Brownies give you a rich, dense, and chewy texture like a brownie with the comforting, spicy, and sweet flavors of gingerbread. They are perfect to add to your desserts for your Christmas menu or whenever you crave a gingerbread treat!

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐF. Line a 9ร—9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter and brown sugar. Stir well.
  • Mix in eggs, molasses, and vanilla.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
  • Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter and egg mixture until completely combined.
  • Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is no longer jiggly. If you are using a 9ร—13-inch pan, bake for 25-30 minutes.
  • Allow to cool completely before sprinkling with confectioners' sugar. Cut and serve!

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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:

Autumn

This is such a fun spin on Brownies, AND it incorporates my favorite holiday flavor of gingerbread! I had a hard time stopping at one.

Elizabeth

These are my new favorite dessert bars! The texture is so dense and moist with the perfect amount of gingerbread flavor in each bite. YUM!!!!

Bella

Each bite is soft and chewy! The gingerbread flavor is just the right amount. Such a good treat to share during the holidays!

Annabelle

These are going to be absolutely perfect for the holidays! The texture is dense and moist, and they taste exactly like gingerbread cookies!

Selena

These are very reminiscent of gingerbread! Moist, dense, and spiced well. I love it with the dusting of confectioners' sugar!

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion โ€“ With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. Sorry. This is a question as opposed to a comment. Amandaโ€ฆhave you ever used this Gingerbread Brownie recipe as a crust for a cheesecake? I would like to try that but was looking for any input before I do it. As for a commentโ€ฆthis recipe looks delicious. Thank you for sharing it.

    1. I have not personally used the Gingerbread Brownie recipe as a crust for a cheesecake, but it sounds like a delicious and creative idea! Before trying it, consider the texture and flavor profile of the gingerbread brownie to ensure it complements the cheesecake well. The warm spices in gingerbread can add a festive touch to the cheesecake, creating a unique and flavorful dessert. You may want to adjust the baking time and temperature when using the brownie as a crust to ensure it sets properly without burning. Experimenting with small batches first can help you perfect the technique before making a larger cheesecake. Enjoy your baking adventure!

  2. These are so good! Whenever I Am Baker pops up on my Pinterest I know something good is about to come out of my kitchen. These are now going on a recipe card and in my recipe box.

  3. Oh my! These were so delicious. I made them for a fundraiser meal and had many people reach out after to tell me how amazing they were. These will definitely be a Fall staple in our home. Yummy! I made it exactly how it is written.

  4. We just made them, and they have a great flavor! I think next time we will use less flour though, because they were more similar to cake texture than brownie.

    1. I tried this in a 9×13 pan by doing a full recipe + 1/2 of the recipe. The edges were quite high/thick – about 2 inches tall, and the middle sunk quite a bit by the end so they were very uneven – baking time was at least 40 minutes because the center stayed quite wet. They were delicious but because I was taking them to a party I cut in about a 1/2 inch on the edges all the way around so they looked more even in height. The edges of brownies are always my favorite anyway and these were delectably chewy! However, if I make a 9×13 again in the future I think I will stick with the regular recipe and just have a thinner bar.

  5. Amanda, I made these gingerbread brownies. My family loved them but I was disappointed because they were a bit hard. I cooked them for 30 minutes in a 9x 13 glass baking dish. Any thoughts?

    1. Hi Maggie! So sorry to hear that they were hard. That would be because this recipe calls for a 9×9 baking dish. In a 9×13 they would have been thinner and baked faster, potentially getting hard. ๐Ÿ™ Hopefully you’ll be able to try them in the 9×9 and experience just how soft and moist they are! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Hiya I’m in the UK and the UK equivalent of molasses here is Black Treacle. Is that okay to use or dark brown sugar instead maybe? Please let me know ๐Ÿ˜Š

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