Bar Dessert Recipes
My collection of the very best Bar Dessert Recipes! You’ll find every bar dessert you could dream of from Brownies, to Blondies, to Classic Cheesecake Bars, to Cookie Bars and more. Super delicious, and SO easy to make.
Most Popular
Blondie Recipes
Brownie Recipes
Cheesecake Bars
More Bar Desserts
Bar Dessert Baking Tips
With these helpful how-to articles, you’ll learn how to make perfect bar desserts every time.
Tessa’s Top Baking Tips
1
Measure your flour correctly
It is so important to measure your flour correctly for bar desserts. Too much flour can result in dry, dense, crumbly, tough and even rubbery desserts.
Learn how to accurately measure your flour with a digital scale here.
2
Use a metal baking pan for your bar desserts
To make sure your blondies, brownies, or cookie bars cook completely and hold their shape while remaining soft and a little gooey, I highly recommend a quality metal baking pan, like from Fat Daddio’s or USA Pan. Not glass or ceramic, as those materials take longer to heat up and cook. You also won’t get those ultra chewy edge pieces with glass or ceramic!
If you must use glass, add about 10 to 15 minutes to the baking times.
3
Don’t overbake!
Bar desserts like blondies, cookie bars, and brownies are meant to be a little gooey and soft. You can remove them from the oven just before they look like they’re completely done because the residual heat of the oven and the pan will continue to cook them.
Get Your Ingredient Measuring Guide
Are you measuring your ingredients correctly? Avoid cookies that don’t spread, dense muffins, and other recipe mishaps with my guide!
Bake Brownies With Me!
Step into my kitchen and bake these easy and delicious brownie recipes step-by-step with me.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”hpvaI9ql” upload-date=”2019-01-29T03:23:26.000Z” name=”Gooey Chocolate Chunk Blondies” description=”Ultra flavorful Gooey Chocolate Chunk Blondies are ridiculously chewy, gooey, and absolutely loaded with chunks of chocolate. 35 minutes, no mixer required. Baking tips & tricks listed below!” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
Get Our Make-Ahead Baking Guide!
Download our FREE Make-Ahead Baking Guide to learn how to prepare recipes ahead of time!
All Bar Dessert Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cream cheese should I use for cheesecake bars?
Be sure to use blocks of full-fat, high-quality cream cheese. Do not use reduced fat or your cheesecake bars may be watery, rubbery, or otherwise lackluster. Definitely don’t use whipped cream cheese or cream cheese for spreading on a bagel. Opt for the best brand you can find as some generic brands have too much water content!
How to cut cheesecake bars for clean slices:
Use the parchment overhang to lift the entire tray of cheesecake up and out of the pan and onto a cutting board. A big sharp knife is the best tool, and for ultraclean slices, run the knife under hot water and wipe off between cuts.
How to tell when cookie bars are done baking?
Be sure not to overbake your cookie bars. You want a little gooey softness to remain. Even if bars look slightly underdone around the 25 minute mark, you may still pull them out of the oven and allow the residual heat to finish them. The only exception is if you’re using a glass or ceramic pan, which tend to cook more slowly.
How to store cookie bars:
Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Add a piece of bread or tortilla on top of the cookie bars to keep them softer for longer. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature and refresh in a 300°F oven until warmed through, if desired.
How should I store blondies? Can I freeze blondies?
You can store blondies for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to a week in the fridge. If storing for more than a day, wait to slice blondies into bars until you’re ready to serve to prevent stale edges. You can also freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight at room temperature then refresh in a 325°F oven for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Can you double an 8×8 recipe for a 9×13 pan?
Yes, most bar dessert recipes should double just fine! Just bake in a 9×13-inch baking pan and add a few minutes to the baking time called for in the recipe.
