31 Bar Cookie Recipes for Snacking, Gifting, and Eating Straight From the Pan
![31 Bar Cookie Recipes for Snacking Gifting and Eating Straight From the Pan](https://assets.epicurious.com/photos/650b53836d534b023ea5fe2d/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/Chocolate-Chip-Cookie-Bar_HERO-3.jpg)
Bar cookie recipes skip the fuss of rolling or scooping cookie dough, opting instead for a cozy baking dish and the option to enjoy sliver by sliver. Some offer contrasting layers of creamy custard and crunchy shortbread or dark chocolate and crispy meringue; others give you a range of textures from edge to center. (If you’re really into chewy-crisp corners, you may want to look into acquiring a specializedbrownie pan.) Scroll down to find a few of our favorite bar cookie recipes, including brownies, blondies, lemon bars, and dream bars. Slice up a few squares to bring to a neighbor, wrap up a platter for the bake sale, or just revel in having the whole pan to yourself.
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Photo by Max Milla1/31
Butter Toffee Bars
Bar cookie recipes are always a hit among our readers, but this one from Nick DiGiovanni's cookbook,Knife Drop, was a blockbuster. If you like blondies, put these ooey-gooey bars on your must-bake list.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne and Jason Schreiber2/31
Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars)
Aging the dough for these German cookie bars makes the spices taste full flavored but less harsh, and more evenly spread throughout each bite.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones3/31
Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
These pie bars are one of our favoritefall desserts—they deserve a spot next to the apple pie at yourThanksgivingtable.
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Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine4/31
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These nostalgic dessert bars have the perfect sweet-and-salty balance. A low oven temperature keeps them soft and chewy from edge to edge.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell5/31
Fudgy Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Brownies
Everyone’s favorite bake sale treat goes gluten-free—with ingredients you already have in your pantry.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/31
Lemon Bars
With a delicate shortbread crust and a luscious, tart filling, this is one of those dessert recipes that's equally fitting for a casual picnic or an elegant dinner party. Just wait on the powdered sugar topping until just before you're ready to serve.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht7/31
Peanut Butter Brownies
We lovebrownie recipesof all stripes—but nothing quite beats the bold look of this chocolate peanut butter combo. These’ll go quick at a potluck. The key to the defined peanut butter swirl is popping the whole baking pan into your freezer to chill for ten minutes before their quick cook time.
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Photo by Beatriz da Costa8/31
Coconut Tahini Crispy Rice Treats
The classic after-school bite, but wonderfully savory and nutty, and made without any marshmallows. This is one of those delightful cookie bar recipes that doesn't require any baking time—just a quick simmer of the tahini mixture on your stovetop.
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Photo by Tara Donne, prop and food styling by Ali Nardi9/31
Strawberry Buckwheat Bars
The combination of fresh berries and a jar of preserves creates beautiful, ruby red, candy-like edges, with a bit of ooze in the center of these bar cookies. You'll split the dough (made with a mix of all-purpose flour and buckwheat flour) in half to make the buttery crust and crunchy crumb topping.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton10/31
White Chocolate Fruitcake Bars
Already planning someChristmas cookie boxes to shipto friends and loved ones?Sugar cookiesare great and all, but don't skip these ginger-scented bars, drizzled with white chocolate.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Katherine Sacks11/31
Pink Lemonade Bars
How do you make lemon bars even more of a crowd-pleaser? Turn them pink. Add bright color and tangy flavor with a splash of fresh raspberry purée.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen12/31
Giant Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
Buttery pat-in-pan shortbread gets smothered with silken chocolate and from-scratch caramel in this giant-sized copycat of a favorite American candy bar.
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Photo by Angie Mosier13/31
Drunk Blondies
These golden brown loaded blondies get rich flavor from a bit of bourbon, which pairs nicely with thebrown sugar、核桃、精疲力竭的椰子和半甜的巧克力chips.
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Photo by Louise Hagger14/31
Tamarind Millionaire’s Shortbread
If you tend to find caramel-layered cookies too sweet, you'll adore this version, which gets a touch of tangytamarind in the caramel.
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Photo by David Japy15/31
Ginger and Almond Bars
Fresh and candied ginger team up to make these zesty, nutty bars, which can be kept at room temperature for up to a week.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle16/31
Dream Bars
Filled with bittersweet chocolate and topped with brown sugar meringue, these bars layer in deep flavor and fabulous crunchy texture.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell17/31
"Brown on Blonde" Blondies
Walnuts, pecans, and almond butter all team up with vanilla extract for toasty flavor in this Alton Brown blondie recipe.
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Joy Wilson18/31
Raspberry Cream Cheese Brownies
Fresh raspberries and swirls of raspberry cream cheese dress up these chocolaty brownies.
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Photograph by Gentl + Hyers19/31
Whole Grain Shortbread With Einkorn and Rye Flour
Rye flourand einkorn add nutty flavor to these tender, sandy-crumbed shortbread bars. Serve with a cup of coffee or tea.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Katherine Sacks20/31
Fudgy Double-Chocolate Brownies
If you prefer your brownies extra fudgy, this recipe is the way to go. You’ll get the texture you’re looking for thanks to six whole eggs in the batter.
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Jennifer May21/31
Peanut Maple Fudge Bars
These bars need time to set, so be sure to chill them in the refrigerator for about 4 hours before serving.
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Photo by Patricia Niven22/31
Sourdough Rye Brownies
These brownies impressed us so much that they made ourbest recipes of the year list. Sourdough starter lends a whisper of tangy flavor that offsets the sweetness and complements the chocolate.
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Leela Cyd23/31
Meyer Lemon Bars
Meyer lemons are less acidic than regular lemons, which makes these bars fragrant and delightful.
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photo by Quentin Bacon24/31
Chocolate Dulce de Leche Bars
A sliver of one of these dulce de leche bars is the perfect finish for a holiday meal.
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Photo by Yossy Arefi25/31
Potato Chip–Crusted Magic Bars
Whether you call them magic bars or seven-layer cookies, you probably know these treats. Chunky bits—like chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut—get layered over sticky condensed milk and a crisp cookie crust.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle26/31
3-Ingredient Nutella Brownies
It’s so, so easy to turn your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread into a pan of brownies.
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Photograph by William Meppem inThe New Easyby Donna Hay27/31
Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie
Caramel and fudgy chocolate both love a sprinkle of sea salt. These bars make greatedible giftsfor your neighbors and friends.
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Lucy Schaeffer28/31
Five-Layer Bars
These classic graham cracker-based bar cookies are a nostalgic favorite. Feel free to substitute milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, or bittersweet chocolate chips for the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell29/31
Double-Decker Peanut Butter Brownies
Calling all fans of sweet + salty! Top these bar cookies with chocolate chips, chopped pretzels, or any crunchy snack you have in the pantry.
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Photo by Sarah Kieffer30/31
White Chocolate Brownies With Toasted Sesame Caramel
烤芝麻油帮助这些布朗尼感觉巴兰ced and just slightly savory.
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Photo by William Meppem31/31
Molten Chocolate Chunk Brownies
If you’re looking for bar cookie recipes that scream to be eaten hot out of the oven with a spoon, you’ve arrived at a great starting point. Just throw a scoop ofvanilla ice creamon top and dive in.
ByKendra Vaculin
ByDavid Tamarkin
ByTara O'Brady
ByJoe SevierandThe Editors of Epicurious
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ByAnna Hezel