Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting

This post has been compensated by Acorn Influence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BestOfBaking

Not all holiday desserts have to be cookies, but don’t make just any old brownie either. Spice things up with these gingerbread brownies and eggnog cream cheese frosting. 

Alrighty folks, I know you just spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing for Thanksgiving (or you were lucky like me and just got to enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor) but it’s time to prepare ourselves for the peak of baking season. During non-holidays I probably bake more than the average person (what gave it away? the blog?) so it’s about to get intense. As such, while I normally have back up supplies of all of my regularly used ingredients, I’ve amped it up quite a bit and it’s starting to look like a mini grocery store in my basement. Sale on butter? Yea I’ll take 20 of those. Chest freezer for the win!

But seriously, entertaining during the holidays can feel like a second job and if I’m prepared then I’m more likely to retain what sanity I have left and still have fun in the kitchen. Having staples, such as Arm & Hammer baking soda and Gold Medal flour, stocked and ready for all of the holiday goodies eliminates going to the grocery store twice in one day and keeps the holiday spirit cheerful instead of dreadful. Your kitchen should be the center of the holiday fun not where it goes to die. So yes on my last trip to Walmart, I spent some time in the baking aisle and stocked up on multiple boxes and bags without breaking the bank.

With my work holiday party this coming Friday it couldn’t have been better timing as I am one of the people in charge of bringing dessert. So let’s crack open a few shall we? Of course I couldn’t help but get creative to ensure that there will be a diverse and festive variety of treats to go around. The first thing that I decided upon was to make brownies that have been spiced to taste like gingerbread. And then I added some eggnog and pinch more of spice to the frosting to give it a nice eggnog flavor as well. Betcha won’t see that treat coming out of anyone else’s kitchen! Well, that is until now as I’ve shared the recipe and surely you are all going to run out and make this too. Right?!

Ever since I first discovered the magic that is chocolate and gingerbread combined, this combo has become more and more common in my holiday baking. And thenI learned that while a glass of eggnog may not be my first choice of beverage, it’s pretty damn amazing in baked goods. Put those two factoids together and what is the result? The best holiday brownies you ever did see. I even added little gingerbread man sprinkles on top just to make sure there was no confusion about what these were all about.

Two years ago: Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Candied Walnuts and Sage Vinaigrette

Three years ago: Quick Turkey Noodle Soup

Four years ago: Gluten-Free Ooey Gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Five years ago: Pecan Chocolate Chip Gooey Butter Cake

Six years ago: Matzo Ball Soup

GINGERBREAD BROWNIES WITH EGGNOG FROSTING

Makes 24 brownies

Ingredients:

BROWNIES

1-3/4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/4 cups cocoa powder

2 tsp ground ginger

1-1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

12 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup whole milk

1 large egg plus one yolk

1/4 cup boiling water

1-1/2 tsp Arm & Hammer baking soda

FROSTING

6 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

3 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar

2 Tbsp eggnog

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Sprinkles, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish (or line with parchment paper) and set aside.
2. Sift together all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
3. Combine the butter, molasses, milk, egg, and yolk in a medium bowl. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
4. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup boiling water with the baking soda. Add the water to the batter and stir to combine.
5. Pour the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30-40 minutes. Transfer brownies to a rack to cool.
6. While bars are cooling, prepare frosting. Cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in powder sugar and eggnog. Beat until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled bars. Top with sprinkles.

Source: Brownies adapted from my Pumpkin Kissed Gingerbread Brownies. frosting adapted from A Kitchen Addiction.