16 Delectable Dessert Bars for a Handheld Treat
It's the answer to your big-batch dessert prayers.
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Pies, cakes, and cookies may be mainstays in your post-dinner diet, but don't forget about one of the most underrated and tasty treats: dessert bars! The flavor and texture possibilities for these versatile confections are endless, whether you're craving a jammy fruit dessert with a crumble topping or a chocolate chip-studded cookie bar to devour with a glass of milk. Plus, they're so simple to make: all you have to do is layer the ingredients in a pan, bake, slice, and enjoy! Best of all, the dessert bar recipes you'll find ahead are perfect for sharing with a crowd at your next potluck as they're easy to cut into squares and transport to any event.
Speaking of events, whether you're hosting a gathering, participating in a bake sale, or simply craving a homemade treat, there's a dessert bar recipe on this list for every occasion! Looking for something to bring to your next cookout? S'mores bars topped with toasted marshmallows will do the trick! Or perhaps you want something refreshing yet indulgent enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. In that case, Ree Drummond's lemon bars are calling your name. There are even plenty of no-bake desserts, like the orange creamsicle bar and key lime cheesecake bar, that are just as satisfying as a traditional baked good! Regardless of what you choose to make, these irresistible dessert bars are sure to become new favorites in your recipe repertoire.
Fig Bars
This simple fruit bar is an elevated version of nostalgic Fig Newtons! With a tender wheat-blend dough and dried fig filling, they make the perfect post-lunch treat.
Get the Fig Bars recipe.
Lemon Bars
Zippy, melt-in-your-mouth lemon bars are so good they'll please chocolate lovers, too! Plus, they only take 15 minutes of prep.
Get Ree's Lemon Bars recipe.
S'mores Bars
If you can't get to the campfire anytime soon, don't worry! You can still enjoy the summer chocolate marshmallow treat in bar form thanks to this recipe. They feature a graham cracker crust, fudgy chocolate filling, and a toasted marshmallow topping.
Get the S'mores Bars recipe.
Carmelitas
Chock full of gooey chocolate and caramel, these dessert bars are the ultimate comfort food. The sweet flavors pair perfectly with the chopped pecans mixed into the batter for extra texture.
Get the Carmelitas recipe.
Blueberry Bars
Take a break from your typical blueberry cobbler and blueberry pie and make these easy bars instead! They're buttery, crumbly, and full of fresh blueberries.
Get the Blueberry Bars recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
You don't need an oven to make a crowd-pleasing dessert! These dessert bars are so easy to make and even easier to eat, featuring a chewy peanut butter and vanilla wafer base and a decadent chocolate topping.
Get Ree's No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars recipe.
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
These pretty pink bars are everything you love about classic cheesecake in half the time! They're complete with a fresh berry swirl that pairs perfectly with the tangy cheesecake filling.
Get the Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Butterscotch-Pretzel Bars
These simple dessert bars are full of texture and flavor thanks to all the mix-ins, like mini pretzel twists, peanuts, butterscotch chips, and chocolate chips. Just layer the ingredients in a pan, bake, and enjoy!
Get Ree's Butterscotch-Pretzel Bars recipe.
Brookies
Can't decide between a brownie or a cookie? Thanks to this inventive treat, you can have both! This recipe combines both handheld desserts into one chocolatey masterpiece.
Get the Brookies recipe.
Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars
Calling all toffee lovers! These decadent brown sugar cookie bars are made with homemade toffee for extra buttery, caramelized flavor.
Get the Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars recipe.
Pumpkin Bars
These moist, pumpkin-flavored treats are tasty enough to be enjoyed year-round! They're complete with a pumpkin-spiced cream cheese frosting that's utterly irresistible.
Get the Pumpkin Bars recipe.
No-Bake Orange-Vanilla Cheesecake Bars
Creamsicle lovers will go crazy for these nostalgic orange vanilla cheesecake bars! The recipe calls for two types of cheesecake filling—orange and vanilla—which are layered atop a sweet graham cracker crust.
Cherry-Almond Bars
These fruit and nut bars are salty, sweet, and so easy to make! They're chock full of toasted sliced almonds, chopped dried cherries, and white chocolate chips.
Get Ree's Cherry-Almond Bars recipe.
Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars
These tangy bars are everything you love about zesty key lime pie and cheesecake in one handheld package! They're made with a chocolate cookie crust for a tasty contrast with the bright lime flavor.
Get Ree's Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Snickerdoodle Bars
Soft, chewy snickerdoodle cookies get a bite-sized makeover in this recipe! They look extra adorable when sliced into diamonds and topped with sparkling cinnamon sugar.
Get Ree's Snickerdoodle Bars recipe.
Chocolate-Marshmallow Bars
These bars are studded with sweetened shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. Prep time is only 10 minutes, so you'll be on your way to your new favorite sweet snack in no time!
Get Ree's Chocolate-Marshmallow Bars recipe.
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