A Tasty Recipe: Chai Gingerbread Bars

Posted by in A Tasty Recipe

Chai Tea meets Gingerbread.

These bars, brought to us by Nika (who also shared the utterly delicious Red Curry Coconut Noodles), are the perfect addition to a steaming cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea. Curl up with your toes by the fire and savor a wonderful treat.

What really drew me to these bars was the unique list of ingredients. Real chai tea leaves. Fresh ginger. Whole wheat flour. The result is subtle flavors, a soft, chewy texture, and the perfect amount of sweetness.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

First, gather your ingredients: whole wheat flour, cinnamon, allspice, chai tea, ground ginger, baking soda, butter, dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, and fresh ginger.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease a 13×9-inch pan with butter or cooking spray.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Grate about a tablespoon of ginger.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Cut open a bag a chai tea and pour the contents into a small bowl.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, chai tea leaves, and baking soda.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Place the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Beat until soft.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Add the ginger…

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

…and the vanilla. Mix.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour and mix until blended.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Scoop the batter into your prepared pan.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Lightly grease with butter or spray with cooking spray an offset spatula. Spread the batter out evenly in the pan.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Sprinkle the top with more granulated sugar, if desired.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean with a few moist crumbs clinging. If you can wait (I couldn’t), cool the bars completely before cutting.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

Nika suggests that you chill the bars in the refrigerator. I really couldn’t wait that long. They were scrumptious at room temperature.

I don’t think I would change anything about this recipe. Perhaps I’ll try using more natural sweeteners next time. But the flavor is spot on.

 
 
 
Tasty Kitchen Blog Chai Gingerbread Bars

 
Thank you, Nika, for sharing this lovely recipe with us.

Here’s the link to the printable recipe: Chai Gingerbread Bars

 
 
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Erica Berge shares her wonderful recipes and amazing food photography on her blog, Cooking for Seven. She also writes about crafts and posts more of her beautiful photography in her personal blog, EricaLea.com. There really isn’t much that this amazing young lady can’t do, and we’re thrilled she does some of it here.

 

Comments are closed 45 Comments

Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on Monday, December 13

Really, could there be a better combination?! These sound incredible.

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Estela @ Weekly Bite on Monday, December 13

What a creative idea! These sound amazing!

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Tabitha (FromSingletoMarried) on Monday, December 13

mmm... spicy! Love ginger and mixed with Chai it's got to be fantastic!

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MOV on Monday, December 13

Can't wait to try it! Looks "Gingertastic" or "Chai-licious" (wait--did I just coin TWO new words? that could be a record) * http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com * MOV

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Jodie (allgoodinmommyhood.com) on Monday, December 13

Just posted chocolate chip brownie bars...must be in the air! http://allgoodinmommyhood.blogspot.com/2010/12/chocolate-chip-cookies-chocolate-chip.html These bars look delish! Will be added to my baking line up (which begins today!)

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Michelle GB on Monday, December 13

This looks delicious! I can't wait to make these for the chai-aholics at work!

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plum7 on Monday, December 13

WOW .....this sounds yummy. Needed some fresh ideas for client boxes. I think I found one! Thanks.

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Heather (Heather's Dish) on Monday, December 13

i love that the tea is added to the mix and not just the spices...amazing!

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Tina BoBina on Monday, December 13

I was wondering if I could just use regular flour instead of wheat? I hate to but something for a recipe that I'm only going to use like once.....seriously...

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Tina BoBina on Monday, December 13

...lol...or maybe some molasses??? just a thought...

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Erica Lea on Monday, December 13

<b>Tina:</b> I'm sure you could use regular flour, but the whole wheat is very nice. Using molasses would probably be fine, but you may want to increase the amount of flour a little of compensate for the liquid.

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Ree on Monday, December 13

What a GORGEOUS recipe, Nika. Thank you, Erica, for demonstrating it so scrumptiously. I can't get these out of my head this morning...

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Suzanne @ Window On The Prairie on Monday, December 13

Oh wouldn't that be wonderful with a hot cup of tea after coming in from the cold? Mmmmm..... :) Suzanne

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bakedinmaine on Monday, December 13

Wow! Excellent recipe Erica! I can't wait to make some Chai Gingerbread bars! Happy Holidays! Lisa xo PS. I can't wait to check out your blog!

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Jessica A @ Ashes and Wine on Monday, December 13

These look absolutly wonderful! Nothing like a cup of chai on a cold day and these bars would go perfectly.

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Emily on Monday, December 13

My mother-in-law is coming for dinner tomorrow night and she LOVES chai tea - so this will be the perfect dessert!

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Brook on Monday, December 13

My husband would love these! Any suggestions on using other sweeteners (diabetic husband). I am tired of trying and failing or being sub-par in making him 'sweets'. He really misses them.

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Megan on Monday, December 13

I'm going to make these for a party Friday night! I think I'll substitute one of the sticks of butter for a 1/2 cup of greek yogurt. YUM.

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Micki on Monday, December 13

I'm so glad to see you've highlighted these bars. I found them last year on Tasty Kitchen, and they've been a huge hit at home, work and Christmas parties. I, too, was attracted by the off-beat ingredients. I'll be sending these to my daughter this year. Thanks!

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Brynna on Monday, December 13

I found this recipe here last year. I tried them and ended up making them a couple more times before Christmas because they are soooooooo good. I brought one pan to work. They loved them. I made one pan for my parents. They loved them too. I made it for my family. They were gone in a minute!

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ericalea on Monday, December 13

<b>Brook:</b> What kind of sweeteners can your husband have?

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lisaskitchen on Monday, December 13

I will adopt any recipe submitted by the author of the Red Curry Noodles. They are an absolute staple in my house--and no matter how many times I make them, my husband tells me how incredibly yummy they are.

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flip on Monday, December 13

Licking my fingers now - yum! The first tasty kitchen recipe I've cooked and an absolute winner. Thought I'd cook 'em up for my colleges for work Christmas do. Am planning to package them in clear cellophane bags with cute ribbon and tags. Great pressie using cupboard ingredients making for economical and convenient deliciousness. I managed to damage a chunk trying to get it out of the tin before it cooled. No point crying over crumbled chai bars, more for me to taste and luckily I have another batch in the oven. I've played with the spice quantities, I prefer more fresh ginger and allspice and not so much cinnamon, half a teaspoon max as it's a bit dominant for me. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

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Serve at Once on Tuesday, December 14

Mmm these would be wonderful with a book and a cup of tea on a snowy night. Thanks, Erica; these look lovely. :)

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Kristi Kirschner on Tuesday, December 14

Making these immediately! Chai is my favorite and now I can have it in more than just tea!

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Ruthanna P on Tuesday, December 14

Made these last night. Really yummy!

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Jan on Tuesday, December 14

All I have to say is wow! and lovely!

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Ashley C on Tuesday, December 14

Made these yesterday afternoon...they are SO worth it!

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tinafromtexas on Tuesday, December 14

This is such an Erika recipe! Whole wheat flour + tea + yummy! :)

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Amber on Tuesday, December 14

Made these last night - heavenly!

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Corrie on Tuesday, December 14

I made these for my coffee break Bible study last week. They were a hit, with several people asking for the recipe. Thankfully there were enough left for me to enjoy them again the next day.

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laura @ alittlebarefoot on Tuesday, December 14

i love the look of this recipe! definitely need to add this to the holiday baking list, which is ever-growing....

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Kasey on Tuesday, December 14

Anybody know how/if these would work out with gluten free flour, i.e. rice flour? My sister LOVES chai but recently found out she can't have gluten. I'd love to be able to make these for her for Christmas.

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Angela (Oh She Glows) on Tuesday, December 14

Your photography is stunning! :) The bread looks so incredible and includes some of my fav flavours. I cant wait to try and make this (in a vegan version)...hope it works!

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Sara Reyes on Tuesday, December 14

Mmmmm... you had me at Chai! Will definitely have to try these soon!

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Crystin Niscavits on Wednesday, December 15

made these last night. I always know something is delicious when my husbands second bite produces a louder, "MMmmm"...than the first. He loved them. The texture and flavor is so nice. they are not overpoweringly gingery or at all dry using the WW flour- which I love the flavor of. Plus, they look beautiful as well. Can't wait to package some up for gifts. Thanks :)

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Brenda on Wednesday, December 15

I just made them! They are delicious! I ground up a tsp. of loose masala chai. I left out fresh ginger because I didn't have any. Love them! Thank you!

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Brook on Thursday, December 16

I made them using the Splenda granulated sugar and Splenda brown sugar. They were really good flavor-wise but a little dry. Was that the Splenda? What should I have added? Yogurt? Something else?

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amanda on Thursday, December 16

Just so so - not sure what I did wrong. They were a little dry and not full of flavor. Bummer -

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Caroline on Thursday, December 16

Made these with white flour since I didn't have whole wheat...the flavour is fantastic, but I ended up with more of a light cake than bars, not sure if it was because of the flour? (also only needed to cook 20 minutes, so could be that as well) Anyways, going to put a glaze on them I think, will definitely have to give the recipe another try because the bars look awesome

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Erica Lea {Cooking for Seven} on Thursday, December 16

<b>Brook:</b> I have never cooked with Splenda, so I'm not sure about the dryness. You could try using more butter or add some sour cream or yogurt. Experiment! <b>amanda:</b> What kind of wheat flour did you use? It is best to use hard white or whole wheat pastry flour. "Regular" whole wheat flour is not the best for cakes, cookies, and bars. <b>Caroline:</b> Mine turned out very soft as well. Perhaps if you chilled the bars as Nika suggested they would be firmer.

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Sarah P on Friday, December 17

We loved them. I used white flour, because that is what I had. Couldn't keep my kids out of them.

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vegqueen on Tuesday, December 21

Love these! Just made a first batch as gifts this weekend. They are a fresh new recipe I'd been looking for. The taste and texture are sublime. Thank you.

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Marcio on Wednesday, December 22

Sounds delicious... But how many cups of flour we need for this recipe? Thank you.

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Lemon Chiffon Cake on Friday, January 7

Instead of using chai tea bags, I just added the chai spices: 1 tsp. ground cardamon and 1/4 tsp. cloves. I omitted the 1 tsp. ground ginger since there is already 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger. I also added 1/4 tsp. salt. To make it more gingerbread light, use 3/4 cup light brown sugar and 2 tablespoons light molasses.

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