I hope you all had a wonderful, filling Thanksgiving holiday!!
As you may have noticed, I was a bit MIA on the blog and my social media outlets for the past couple days. Blame it on the tryptophan, or the fact that my blood type is now cornbread stuffing, but honestly, I couldn’t even pull myself away from food or libations long enough to even check my personal Facebook, much less blog.
I know. Priorities.
Maaaybe it was because ’tis the season of eating. Or because I mentally claimed like, 1035964785 things on the dinner table that I HADTOEATRIGHTTHISSECOND for like, the past 5 days. Either way, I haven’t been doing much except for eating, online shopping, eating some more, and drinking.
But don’t you worry. I’ve been exercising. I discovered this revolutionary concept, almost like reverse exercise osmosis. If you eat enough, your stomach will puff out naturally from being so full. And the next day, your abs will be sore because you were working your abs out from eating so much. Or maybe it’s just me this happens to.
Either way, I totally have the sore abs to prove it and I didn’t even get in the crunch-position. Booyah. I’m waiting by the phone so when the Nobel Peace Prize people call me for my innovative technology in the eating/exercising equation, I’ll be prepared with my interview speech. I fully intend on responding to their questions by stuffing my face with burgers, seasoned fries, and spumoni sundaes.
Or, these bars which are basically my new BFF. Holy heck they’re yummy.
Ever since I posted my Chocolate Peanut Butter 7-Layer Bars, they’ve exploded my stats here on the site. They’re so popular! And for good reason, too; they’re rich and delicious, and such a no-brainer dessert to make. Sprinkle a bunch of yummy junk on top of a crust, pour on some sweetened condensed milk (aka nectar of the gods) and you’re dunzo. So, allow me to introduce you to the holiday version: gingerbread.
You’ll be happy to get to know each other. In fact, I think you’ll be BFFs, too. You guys are so lucky to have a delicious bar and a genius sciencey friend as a BFF.
Gingerbread 7-Layer Bars *adapted from my Chocolate Peanut Butter 7-Layer Bars recipe HERE
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 pkt Duncan Hines Gingerbread Flavor Creations
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 cup crushed white chocolate pretzels
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup cinnamon chips
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup miniature Rolos, unwrapped
- 1 cup toffee bits
- ¾ can sweetened condensed milk
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line the pan with foil; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the spice cake mix, the gingerbread flavor packet, egg and melted butter with a rubber spatula until combined. Stir in the crushed white chocolate pretzels to blend. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and top evenly with the white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, pecans, Rolos and toffee bits. Drizzle evenly with the can of condensed milk.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until center is set and lightly golden + bubbly. Allow the bars to cool in the pan before cutting into squares. Store airtight at room temperature, up to 3 days.
These bars are SOSOSO good! I love gingerbread, and if you do, too, you’ll flip for these. The flavors + textures are out of this world and work so harmoniously with the traditional spicy flavors of the gingerbread. First, the bars are soft but have that salty crunch from the white chocolate pretzels. Next, the toppings: what can I say but YUM!? Everything is so crunchy and buttery and gooey.. totally perfect. I stuck with mostly a white chocolate/cinnamon scheme here, but if you’d prefer, you could certainly sprinkle on some semi-sweet chocolate chips as well; however, I thought the chocolate from the Rolos was just right 🙂
Have a fantabulous Monday!!
xo, Hayley
Omg! YUM!
“Food or libations” you actually crack me up! Awesome recipe, one I’ll have to tackle this payday 😉
I’m with you on the eating. Like, it’s ALL I DID all weekend. And then I baked more on Sunday. Wish it had been these bars. OMG so good girl!
Um hi– freaky telepathic connection going on! We both did gingerbread 7 layer bars!! But they’re WAY different from each other, which is so cool! White chocolate pretzels and rolos? Omg….
You just made my Monday with these!
Those look amazing!! Pinned and can’t wait to make 🙂
Not fair with those close up shots! Tempting us so 🙂 YUMMMMMMY!
Love love love 7 layer bars and this is a GREAT spin on them! Love gingerbread, molasses and all the flavors of the holidays!
That’s one way to get an ab workout – just stuff yourself to the max haha. These look so good! Such a great combo of flavors going on here…
yup, those look divine. Utterly, completely wonderful
You are killing me with the Goodness of the yummies you keep making!! I love it! Bring on the Fat Pants I’m gonna need them! = )
OMG, I’ve been working out like a fiend and I didn’t even know it!! I love this concept of reverse exercise osmosis. I also love the concept of these gingerbread 7-layer bars happening to my mouth–devine!
These look wonderful in EVERY way. I see a lot of gingerbread in my future!
You are making my fat pants dance in excitement!
hahaha i love that you said your blood type is now cornbread – i feel the same way!! i ate way too much stuffing! and now you’re trying to fatten me up more with 7 LAYER BARS — curses!! but they definitely look worth it 😉
Holy heck is right!!!! I could stuff my face withe these, my new BFF’s. Nevermind that I’ve gone up a pant size!!! Doesn’t matter, I got all January to work out! I’ll be trying your new an workout!
These look so over the top good and I cannot believe all of the fantastic ingredients you packed into one bar!
7 layers of heaven!! Please send me a whole pan!
Woah! 7 layers – each layer more decadent than the other. Think I’ll give your recipe a try over the weekend 🙂
Ok. These bars? Best.Idea.Evah. They’ve got it all. Salty, sweet, crunch, goo….must have one (or the whole pan) ASAP!!
Yes! I love this, yet another great flavor change for 7 layer bars
I’ve tried all the stores around me and I cannot find the D.H. Gingerbread Flavor Creations packet. All my stores carry the regular packets but not this one. Do you think it can be left out or can you suggest a substitute?
Hi Patty! Sorry you’re having trouble finding the Gingerbread flavor–it was pretty elusive here, too. You can definitely leave it out–the other flavors from the candies should give you that gingerbread flavor. However, if you want a stronger gingerbread base, feel free to add cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or ginger spice to the batter. You should be able to recreate that flavor through that 🙂
Hi Hayley. I decided to add 1 Tablespoon of molasses instead of the gingerbread packet which I never found. The bars turned out really well and I think the molasses gave it a great depth of flavor. Thanks!!
Patty, what an excellent move!! I bet that made these bars SO rich and delicious–that molasses was a genius addition! Thanks for letting me know, and happy holidays!
WOAAHHHHHH WOAHHHHH WOAHHHH! AMAZING! Sounds like a foodgasm to me!
Dang gurl! These look outrageous! Keep up the good work and by work I mean Nobel Peace Prize winning work.