These Bar Cookie Recipes Are Perfect for Bake Sales, Potlucks—or Just Because (2024)

23 Types of Cookies You Should Know How to Make

Chocolate-Coconut Bars

Few people can say no to one of these coconut chocolate bars. They’re inspired by a popular Southern dessert known as Hello Dolly bars. They’re egg-free but packed with sweet ingredients. A graham cracker crust holds a layer of pecans and chocolate chips, then comes sweetened condensed milk and sweetened shredded coconut.

Lemon-Date Bars

These treats take the classic lemon bar to a new level of deliciousness. Adding a layer of homemade date paste between the rich crust and the luscious lemony topping is a stroke of sheer genius.

Chocolate-Cherry Granola Bars

Nut-free and gluten-free, these bars are made with store-bought granola and puffed rice cereal and packed with chocolate chips and dried cherries. They’re easy to make and easy to eat.

Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Caramel Cereal Bars

There are three layers of deliciousness here: crispy, marshmallow-laden rice cereal as the base, a layer of peanut butter caramel, and a bittersweet chocolate topping.

Date Bars

Chewy and irresistible, these classic bar cookies have a simple filling that shows off the sweet flavor of dates, a rich buttery base, and a wholesome oat topping.

Coconut Cream Bars

Their name says it all, these rich, creamy bar cookies are packed with coconut. It’s in the shortbread crumb crust and the custard filling, plus toasted coconut is used to garnish the whipped cream topping.

Snickerdoodle Crumb Bars

Everything you love about old-fashioned snickerdoodles, but better! A ribbon of cinnamon sugar runs through the middle of these chewy cookie bars and there's a crunchy cinnamon topping, too.

Chewy Brownies

Are you forever in pursuit of the ultimate brownie recipe? We think this recipe strikes the perfect balance between cakey and fudgy.

Pumpkin Bars

A cross between a bar cookie and a sheet cake, a generous layer of cream cheese frosting takes these pumpkin spice cake bars to greatness.

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

The ultra-easy press-in crust and rich, chewy-crunchy chocolate and pecan filling will guarantee this recipe's place in your permanent collection.

Peach-Pie Crumble Bars

Sometimes simplicity really does equal perfection. The sweet and buttery press-in crust that serves as the base of these luscious peach pie bars doubles as the crumble topping. Don't limit yourself to peaches, either: You can use any stone fruit in this recipe!

Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Get nostalgic and whip up a sweet-salty batch of PB&J bars using your favorite flavor of jam.

No-Bake Chocolate-Almond Oat Bars

In addition to being egg- and gluten-free, these decadent-tasting treats are also free of refined sugars. They're rich with almond butter and dark chocolate, chopped almonds provide crunch, and honey and raisins bring sweetness. It's hard to have just one.

Key Lime Bars

Just like the pie, but portable! These tart bars are based on the famous Key lime pie recipe from Joe's Stone Crab in Miami.

Big Almond-Orange-Ginger Cookie

Ginger and cardamom add a lively lift to the toasted almond cookie base of these glistening marmalade-topped bar cookies. We cut it into pie-like wedges, but you can certainly go with the more traditional bar shape if you like.

Elizabeth's Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

Eggnog, freshly grated nutmeg, and a splash of brandy give warm holiday flavor to these cheesecake bars. This recipe uses a traditional graham cracker crust, but feel free to substitute gingersnaps for extra pep.

Chocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Bars

A pretzel crust, a layer of condensed milk, and a topping of co*cktail peanuts plus dark chocolate and pretzel pieces give these cookie bars a decadent sweet yet satisfyingly salty dimension.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Turn everyone's favorite cookie into a bar! It's a revolutionary action but it works.

Crispy Cereal Treats

These bars are just right for lunchboxes or an after-school snack. Our recipe has four variations that use the same marshmallow base, so you can decide if you want to take the treats in a chocolatey, tropical, or fruity direction.

Big-Batch Triple-Chocolate Brownie Bars

Who doesn't want to make a big batch of brownie bars? This recipe is made in a sheet pan and yields 54 deeply chocolatey treats.

Zesty Lemon Bars

At once rich and tart, these lemon bars are one of Martha's favorite treats.

Spiced Fruitcake Bars

Forget everything you think you know about fruitcake. These buttery beauties are packed with cherries, cranberries, apricots, currants, and walnuts and will never be regifted.

Blackberry Crumb Bars

These cake-like bar cookies are a portable version of berry crumble. Use any kind of fresh or frozen berries you fancy.

Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Bars

Rich and gooey chocolate caramel tops a buttery brown-sugar crust. A dusting of crunchy sea salt on top provides the perfect counterpoint.

Hermit Bars

Some things never go out of style, like these old-fashioned chewy molasses bars full of ginger, cinnamon, and raisins. Another reason they're a classic is that they keep well—that is, if everyone doesn't eat them up the moment they're cool enough to try!