Ginger Squares

Photo: flickr user Ed Yourdon

Ingredients

Squares

1 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground allspice

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup diced crystallized ginger

1/4 cup molasses

2 eggs

cups dark brown sugar firmly packed

1/4 cup butter (½ stick) melted

Streusel Topping

cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 pch salt

3/4 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed

1/2 cup diced crystallized ginger

Preparation

Squares: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, allspice, salt, baking soda and crystallized ginger.

In a separate bowl, stir together the molasses, eggs, brown sugar and butter. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, beating till smooth. Spread the batter in a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch pan.

Streusel Topping: Using a pastry blender, electric mixer or your fingers, mix together the flour, butter, salt and brown sugar till it's fairly well-blended; some chunks of butter can remain. Mix in the crystallized ginger.

Bake the squares in a preheated 350F oven for 20 minutes. Sprinkle on the streusel, and bake an additional 25 minutes, till the streusel is a deep, golden brown. Remove the squares from the oven, and run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen them. Allow them to cool, then cut into 1 1/2-inch squares.

Yield: About 54 squares

NOTES : We know you'll love these squares that boast a thin, chewy gingerbread with crystallized ginger and streusel on top. They got an extremely high rating from both the crew of taste-testers in our customer service department, and the customers at our store. One woman commented that these were "the perfect, perfect holiday treat. And they'd be great with vanilla ice cream, too.