Silly Cake Gingerbread Collapse Bars (Print)

Chewy gingerbread-spiced bars with marshmallow, chocolate, and candy accents for whimsical holiday enjoyment.

# Components:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 tsp baking soda
04 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1 tbsp ground ginger
07 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cloves
09 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
13 - 1/4 cup whole milk
14 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Add-ins & Toppings

15 - 1 cup mini marshmallows
16 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
17 - 1/2 cup crushed gingerbread cookies or graham crackers
18 - 1/2 cup assorted candy pieces (gumdrops, candy-coated chocolates, etc.)

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, molasses, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined—do not overmix.
05 - Fold in half of the mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and crushed cookies.
06 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
07 - Sprinkle remaining marshmallows, chocolate chips, cookie crumbs, and assorted candies on top, pressing them lightly into the batter.
08 - Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
09 - Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses common baking ingredients you likely have on hand
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish
  • Kid friendly and perfect for holiday parties
  • No precise decorating skills required
  • Combines the best of cake and cookie textures
  • Endless customization with your favorite candies
02 -
  • These bars freeze beautifully for up to three months wrapped tightly
  • The texture improves after the first day as flavors meld together
  • Each bar contains about 245 calories making them a reasonable treat
  • The combination of spices provides antioxidants and digestive benefits
  • They stay fresh at room temperature for four full days
03 -
  • Always measure your molasses by spraying your measuring cup with cooking spray first so it slides right out without waste
  • Press your brown sugar firmly into the measuring cup to ensure you get the full amount needed for proper sweetness and moisture
  • If your marshmallows start browning too quickly during baking, tent the pan loosely with foil for the last few minutes
  • The key to perfect bars is patience during cooling, as cutting them too early will result in crumbly edges instead of clean slices

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