Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

By debicakes62

Ingredients

• •4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
• •1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pan
• •3/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• •1 teaspoon ground ginger
• •1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
• •1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• •1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• •1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
• •1 large egg
• •1/4 cup sour cream
• •1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• •confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)

Details

Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with a strip of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter paper. Dust paper and sides of pan with cocoa; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, ginger, pumpkin-pie spice, and baking soda; set aside.
2.In a large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, and sour cream until smooth. Add flour mixture; stir just until moistened (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top.
3.Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Using paper overhang, lift gingerbread from pan. Transfer to a cutting board, and cut into 16 squares. Before serving, dust bars with confectioners sugar, if desired. (To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.)