Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars (Barrinhas de Pão de Mel)

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Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars (barrinhas de pão de mel) are cookie-based gingerbread bars filled with a thin layer of dulce de leche and topped with chocolate ganache. They are perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot chocolate… a holiday treat that mixes tradition with new flavors! 

Finally, the jolly season is here!  And along with it comes food, family, and holiday traditions — some old and some new.  Our Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars deliver a lovely blend of both…

They bring back cherished memories of the holidays from my native country, Brazil, all while going hand in hand with new traditions from my current home, the United States– allowing me to pass on both to my children.

Our cookie bars are made with homemade cookie dough, filled with dulce de leche, and then topped with chocolate ganache.

For the cookie dough we used butter, two types of sugar, molasses, spices, eggs, flour, vanilla, and baking soda.

The great thing about this dough, besides its rich flavor, is that it doesn’t require any chilling in the refrigerator or a resting period. 

The filling consists of a mixture of chewy caramel and NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk, which we also used, along with chocolate chips, to make the velvety chocolate ganache topping.

I grew up enjoying treats made with La Lechera, and now it’s what I use to prepare both everyday and holiday treats for my family.

Our Gingerbread Cookie Bars, a twist on a Brazilian classic, come served with a cup of NESTLÉ® ABUELITA Mexican Hot Chocolate…

… my “new” tradition, acquired in my 16 years of living in America.   

After all, what would the winter season be without hot chocolate, right? My children and I have lots of fond memories of steaming mugs of rich, sweet hot chocolate… and I bet you do, too.  

All ingredients are conveniently available at your nearest Walmart, saving you time. 

Interested in trying these out for yourself? You can simply click on the items below to shop online as well!

If you enjoy our Brazilian-Style Gingerbread cookie bars (also known as barrinhas de pão de mel) , visit elmejornido.com for more recipe inspiration.

HOW TO MAKE BRAZILIAN-STYLE GINGERBREAD COOKIE BARS  

Start by preheating oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with no-stick spray, line with parchment paper, and set aside.

Prepare the cookie dough: using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine butter and sugars, mixing just until creamy.

Add molasses, egg, flour, spices, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat the mixture on medium speed until homogeneous.

Spread half of the batter in an even layer in the prepared pan, using your hands if necessary; reserve. 

Meanwhile prepare the dulce de leche filling.  In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt caramel until mostly smooth.

Stir in 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk until obtaining a homogeneous mixture.

Pour dulce de leche filling on top of the cookie batter, spreading gently in an even layer. 

Then, drop flattened pieces of the remaining cookie batter on top of the filling until they mostly cover the dulce de leche filling. 

Bake for about 20-23 minutes, transfer pan to a rack, and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before topping with chocolate ganache.

While cooling, make the ganache. Mix the remaining sweetened condensed milk with chocolate chips in another microwave safe bowl and heat for about 90 seconds.

Stir in until chocolate fully melts and ganache is smooth and has thickened. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and spread over the baked cookie batter. 

Let set in the refrigerator for at least 30-50 minutes, cut into squares, and then decorate as desired. Enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate!

What’s pão de mel? 

The classic recipe, of European origin, consists of a sandwiched cake that is made mostly from honey, chocolate, and a lot of spices,  including ground ginger.

It is coated in chocolate to prolong its flavor and moist texture, and can be filled with dulce de leche.

It usually has either a square or round shape (resembling a cookie sandwich or alfajor). 

But on this occasion I adapted the recipe to make cookie bars, and so have substituted a few ingredients. 

Well, what are your holiday traditions? I would love to hear all about them, including your favorite food recipes at this time of the year. 

Happy Holidays!

PIN & ENJOY!

5 from 1 vote

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Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars (barrinhas de pão de mel) are gooey cookie-based gingerbread bars filled with a thin layer of dulce de leche topped with chocolate ganache. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine Brazilian

Keyword chocolate ganache, cookie bars, cookie sandwich, dulce de leche, gingerbread

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 12

Calories 491 kcal

Author Denise Browning

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (or 1 stick)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract, divided
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 20 chewy/soft caramels
• 1 can NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Start by preheating oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with no-stick spray, line with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Prepare the cookie dough: using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine butter and sugars, mixing just until creamy.

3. Add molasses, egg, flour, spices, 1 tsp vanilla, and baking soda. Beat the mixture on medium speed until homogeneous.

4. Spread half of the batter in an even layer in the prepared pan, using your hands if necessary; reserve. 

5. Meanwhile prepare the dulce de leche filling. In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt caramel until mostly smooth.

6. Stir in 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk until obtaining a homogeneous mixture. Pour dulce de leche filling on top of the cookie batter, spreading gently in an even layer. 

7. Then, drop flattened pieces of the remaining cookie batter on top of the filling until they mostly cover the dulce de leche filling.

8. Bake for about 20-23 minutes, transfer pan to a rack, and let cool for 10-15 minutes before topping with chocolate ganache.

9. While cooling, make the ganache. Mix remaining sweetened condensed milk with chocolate chips in another microwave safe bowl and heat for about 90 seconds. 

10. Stir in until chocolate is melted and ganache is smooth and has thickened. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and spread over the baked cookie batter.

11. Let set in the refrigerator for at least 30-50 minutes, cut into squares, and decorate as desired. Enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate!

Recipe Notes

• Store these Gingerbread Cookie Bars in a clean airtight container for up to 3-4 days, either at room temp or in the refrigerator.
• Love Gingerbread? Try its cousin, pao de mel .

Nutrition Facts

Brazilian-Style Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 491 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 18g 28%

Saturated Fat 10g 50%

Cholesterol 47mg 16%

Sodium 306mg 13%

Potassium 415mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 76g 25%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 55g

Protein 7g 14%

Vitamin A 7.2%

Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 16.2%

Iron 14.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.