14 Dessert Bar Recipes That Are Easier Than Cookies (But Just as Delicious)

For potlucks, bake sales, or just because, dessert bars are a cut above the rest.

Cakes can be fussy, and cookies take some work to portion and bake. But dessert bars? Layer everything in a single pan, bake it, and slice into squares for that potluck, bake sale, or lunch box. No matter what you love, this list has what you’re looking for. Bright citrus? Chewy caramel? Deep, dark chocolate? We’ve got you covered with 14 of the best dessert bar recipes.

These fudgy brownies are rich and complex. Brownies are all about brown ingredients—dark chocolate, Dutch cocoa powder, and brown sugar—but this recipe adds one more: brown butter.

Get Recipe: Glossy Fudge Brownies

The Rice Krispie treats of your childhood get a grown-up makeover thanks to crushed potato chips and pretzels bound with homemade chocolate-stout marshmallow.

Get Recipe: Sweet and Salty Stout Marshmallow Bars

Not a salad but definitely a dessert, strawberry pretzel salad is a delightfully salty-sweet, creamy, and crunchy staple at picnics, potlucks, and holiday celebrations.

Get Recipe: Strawberry Pretzel Salad

These rich, super-fudgy brownies are topped with dollops of homemade dulce de leche and a generous sprinkle of sea salt. Consider yourself warned, because you’re going to want to make these every day.

Get Recipe: Salted Dulce de Leche Brownies

These bars are a perfect vehicle for market-fresh blueberries, cherries, and peaches in season, or your favorite jam during those times in between.

Get Recipe: Jammy Fruit Bars

Vegan Brownies

With Dutch cocoa, dark chocolate, and cocoa butter, these vegan brownies are fudgy and flavorful, with beautifully glossy tops.

Get Recipe: Vegan Brownies

A cross between lemon curd and lemon meringue pie, these lemon bars have a tender crust and a generous yellow filling made with whole eggs and yolks.

Get Recipe: Sunny Lemon Bars

These sticky and sweet rice cakes are topped with a gooey caramel glaze and crispy coconut curds.

Get Recipe: Biko (Filipino Rice Cake)

The naturally sweet and earthy flavor of Corn Flakes shines in this riff on classic Rice Krispies treats.

Get Recipe: Cornflake Marshmallow Treats

Pure maple syrup and chopped walnuts add extra flavor and texture to simple blondies.

Get Recipe: Maple Walnut Blondies

Adding ground pistachios to the shortbread here adds flavor and keeps the dough from becoming tough. Fruity, citrusy coriander adds welcome complexity to the whiskey-spiked butterscotch sauce and the acidity of dark chocolate offsets the sweet richness of the butterscotch and shortbread.

Get Recipe: Pistachio Millionaire’s Shortbread with Coriander Butterscotch

Blondies already have a butterscotch-y, caramel-y flavor thanks to ample amounts of brown sugar and some vanilla. Adding browned butter simply takes that same flavor profile up a notch.

Get Recipe: Brown Butter Blondies

These bars are dangerously crave-worthy. The first step is to make a shortbread cookie base that’s buttery and a bit salty. The second is to make a gooey caramel topping and mix it with salted cashews.

Get Recipe: Salted Cashew Caramel Bars

Also known as “seven-layer bars” and “magic cookies,” these gooey treats combine coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, and a graham cracker base.

Get Recipe: Hello Dolly Bars

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