Strawberry Gingerbread Bars

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar and gingerbread spice. Add cold butter in pieces. Mix in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture is all crumbly. Press half of the crumbles into the prepared baking pan and form an even bottom. Set the remaining crumbles aside.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl mix together cream cheese, eggs, vanilla and strawberry jam with an electric mixer until smooth. Add red food coloring until you reach the desired color intensity. The food coloring is optional.

When the crust is done remove it from the oven. Pour cream cheese mixture over the baked crust. Sprinkle remaining crumbles on top. Bake for another 40 minutes. Then remove the pan from the oven and let bars cool on the counter for a bit. Then put them into the fridge and allow them to cool completely before cutting and serving.