Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

These gingerbread bars, topped with a sweet cream cheese icing, will be a dessert or tea-time favorite during the holidays.

Makes 27 (1 bar) servings.

1 1/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon McCormick Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
3 tablespoons water
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil. Spray foil with no stick cooking spray. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Beat butter and 3/4 cup of the sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture until well mixed. Stir in molasses and water just until blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in remaining 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup of the icing; refrigerate remaining icing. Spoon dollops (about 1 teaspoon each) of the reserved icing over batter in pan. With knife or spatula, swirl icing through batter to marbleize.

Bake 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Lift out of pan using foil. Cool completely on wire rack. Invert and peel off foil. Spread refrigerated icing over bars. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Source: Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of 2008 McCormick & Co., Inc. - used with permission