Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Molasses Chocolate Chip Bars

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup

unsalted butter (1 stick), melted

large egg

1 cup

light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup

unsulphered light or medium molasses (not blackstrap, it’s too pungent)

1 tbsp

vanilla extract

3 tsp

ground ginger

2 tsp

cinnamon

1 tsp

ground cloves

1 tsp

ground nutmeg

salt, optional to taste

1 1/4 cups

all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups

semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided