Description
A spicy, molasses-y cookie crust and topping with a creamy cheesecake filling makes for a lovely treat! I enjoy the orange-gingerbread flavor combination–but if you’re not a fan, just leave out the orange zest.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with enough parchment paper to have overhang on all sides. Lightly grease parchment.
- Whisk together flour
- ginger
- cinnamon
- baking soda
- cloves
- nutmeg
- allspice
- and salt for the gingerbread in a large bowl until combined.
- Cream brown sugar and butter in a separate bowl with an electric mixed until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in molasses.
- Add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 separate additions
- mixing only until just combined; dough will be fairly thick. Press 2/3 of the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan
- using floured hands to prevent sticking.
- Beat cream cheese
- sugar
- and salt for the filling in a large bowl until completely smooth and fluffy. Add eggs
- 1 at a time
- mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and orange zest. Pour filling evenly over gingerbread crust and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle remaining gingerbread dough over the filling and gently press down.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges are set and the center of the cheesecake only slightly jiggles
- 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Once cooled
- remove from pan using parchment “handles” and slice into bars.
Prep Time: 40 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 20