If you’re like me and having the most low key Christmas in the history of Christmases (just me and the ‘rents and far too much attention), it’s getting difficult to resist the urge to bake. The baking struggle was particularly aggressive as the push and pull of gingerbread vs sugar cookie is a tough battle.

Gingerbread bars won the fight as this is really the only time of year suitable for the flavor profile. I’ve been making these for years and they really do only take moments to throw together. And being a handy bar cookie, there’s no rolling, cutting, flouring of the counter, and finding flour all over the kitchen…

Spicy, sweet, and chewy. I implore you add a batch of these to your holiday cookie list.

If you like a theme, don’t forget to mix a gin and tonic for your baking beverage. You can (hypothetically) put the gin in gingerbread.

Gingerbread Cookie Bars