Gingerbread Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
• room temperature
• 3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 7 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup light (unsulfured) molasses

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. 2

   Butter and flour 15x10x1-inch baking sheet.

3. 3

   Place 2 cups flour in medium bowl; transfer 2 tablespoons flour to small bowl and reserve.

4. 4

   Add spices, baking soda, and salt to flour in medium bowl; whisk to blend.

5. 5

   Using electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and 6 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until fluffy.

6. 6

   Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then molasses.

7. 7

   Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat to blend.

8. 8

   Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

9. 9

   Sift reserved 2 tablespoons flour evenly over batter, then sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar.

10. 10

    Bake gingerbread until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 22 minutes; cool completely in pan on rack.

11. 11

    Cut gingerbread crosswise into 4 strips, then cut each strip into 6 pieces, forming 24 bars, each about 31/2x13/4 inches.

12. 12

    DO AHEAD: _Can be made 2 days ahead._Store airtight at room temperature.