Gingerbread Blondies<br /><br />Ingredients<br />1 cup (250 mL) butter, softened<br />2 cups (500 mL) packed brown sugar<br />4 eggs<br />½ cup (125 mL) fancy molasses<br />1 tbsp (15 mL) vanilla<br />2½ cups (625 mL) all-purpose flour<br />1½ tsp (7 mL) cinnamon<br />1 tsp (5 mL) ground ginger<br />¼ tsp (1 mL) ground cloves<br />¼ tsp (1 mL) salt<br />Cinnamon Icing:<br />1 pkg (250 g) cream cheese, softened<br />2 tbsp (30 mL) butter, softened<br />1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla<br />⅔ cup (150 mL) icing sugar, sifted<br />1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon<br />Preparation<br />In large bowl, cream butter with brown sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in molasses and vanilla. <br /><br />Whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt; stir into butter mixture in 2 additions. Spread in greased or parchment paper–lined 13- x 9-inch (3 L) baking dish; smooth top. <br /><br />Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until cake tester inserted in centre comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging, around 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 weeks.)<br /><br />Cinnamon Icing: In large bowl, cream together cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Beat in icing sugar and cinnamon until fluffy. <br /><br />Transfer blondies to cutting board; spread icing over top. Cut into squares.
