21 Bar Cookies That Travel Well and Slice Clean
Strawberry Shortcake Bars
These handheld bars capture everything you love about classic strawberry shortcake, minus the plates and forks. A buttery vanilla base stands in for the biscuit, while pockets of fresh strawberry filling provide fruity bursts in each bite. The top is finished with a crumbly streusel that adds nostalgia-worthy crunch. They travel well, slice beautifully, and taste like summertime wrapped in parchment.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Bars
Cherry Pie Bars
If lattice crusts intimidate you, these cherry pie bars are the carefree alternative. A shortbread-style dough is pressed into the pan for both the crust and crumbly topping, so no rolling pin required. Sweet-tart cherries bubble underneath, perfuming the kitchen as the bars bake. A quick vanilla glaze drizzled on top adds that bakery finish and seals in moisture for days of snacking.
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Peanut Butter Blossom Bars
Turn the holiday cookie-tray classic into a weeknight-friendly dessert by baking the dough in one pan. The peanut-butter batter stays wonderfully chewy in the middle while the edges bake up crisp. Instead of pressing chocolate kisses into every cookie, a blanket of chocolate chips melts across the hot bars, giving you that same flavor with a fraction of the effort. They slice into neat squares that pack perfectly in lunch boxes or picnic baskets.
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Cake Batter Bars
Every bite of these funfetti bars tastes like licking the beaters after making birthday cake. They start with a simple dump-and-stir batter that bakes into thick, fudgy squares rather than fluffy layers. A swirl of whipped buttercream on top locks in moisture and gives you the frosting-to-cake ratio of your dreams. Rainbow sprinkles add the final party vibe, making them ideal for celebrations or just a Tuesday pick-me-up.
Get the Recipe: Cake Batter Bars
Orange Creamsicle Bars
Remember chasing the ice-cream truck for those orange-and-vanilla pops? These bars recreate that nostalgic flavor in bakery-style form. Fresh orange zest and juice infuse a tender blondie base with citrusy aroma, while a cloud of tangy cream-cheese frosting delivers the creamy finish. The sunny color makes them as pretty as they are tasty, and they’re sturdy enough for potlucks or lunchbox treats.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
These wholesome bars deliver cozy fall flavor without relying on boxed mixes or excess sugar. Whole-wheat flour and oats provide hearty texture, while pure pumpkin purée keeps everything moist and nutritious. Dark chocolate chips dot the batter for bursts of richness that balance the warm spices. Enjoy them for breakfast with coffee, tuck them into lunch, or serve warm with ice cream for a lighter dessert.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal Bars
Apples and peanut butter are a classic snack; here they get baked into portable fuel for busy mornings. Rolled oats lend chewiness and fiber, while natural peanut butter provides protein and satisfying richness. Diced apples bake down into tender pockets of sweetness that keep the bars moist for days. They freeze like a dream, so you can meal-prep snacks in one easy batch.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal Bars
Rhubarb Custard Oatmeal Bars
Tangy rhubarb meets silky vanilla custard in this twist on classic fruit-oat squares. A sturdy oatmeal crust supports the creamy filling, while a matching crumble topping adds rustic crunch. The sweet-tart balance makes these bars surprisingly refreshing, not cloying. Serve chilled for a picnic-ready dessert or slightly warm with a scoop of ice cream for extra indulgence.
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Sweet and Delicious Graham Cracker Toffee Bars
Often dubbed “Christmas crack,” these addictive bars start with sheets of graham crackers topped with a quick brown-sugar butter toffee. Once baked, they’re showered in chocolate chips that melt into a glossy coating, then sprinkled with nuts for crunch. The result is a brittle-style candy that breaks into shards of sweet, salty, and nutty goodness. No candy thermometer needed—just stupendous flavor with minimal fuss.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Delicious Graham Cracker Toffee Bars
Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Bars
When a single type of chocolate just won’t do, these bars answer the call with cocoa-rich crust, velvety peanut butter filling, and dark chocolate ganache on top. Each layer sets in the fridge, so the oven stays off and the flavors stay pure. A sprinkle of mini chips adds playful texture and signals the triple-chocolate indulgence inside. They slice cleanly and satisfy even the fiercest sweet cravings.
Get the Recipe: Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Bars
Mars Bars Squares
This vintage Canadian treat melts chopped Mars bars with butter to coat puffed rice cereal, creating a chewy, caramel-laced base. Once pressed into the pan, a simple chocolate glaze blankets the top for extra decadence. The recipe uses just a saucepan and spoon, proving impressive sweets don’t always require fancy equipment. Kids love them, adults get nostalgic, and the pan empties fast.
Get the Recipe: Mars Bars Squares
Peanut Butter Bars - No Bake Recipe
Five pantry ingredients transform into bars that taste like grown-up Reese’s cups. The crust is a blend of crushed grahams, powdered sugar, and creamy peanut butter pressed into a pan. Melted chocolate pours over the top and chills to a firm snap, contrasting the soft, sweet-salty base. Best of all, the whole process takes about 10 minutes of hands-on time—perfect for sudden chocolate emergencies.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Bars - No Bake Recipe
Ginger Bars
Warm spices shine in these buttery brown-sugar bars, each bite perfumed with ground ginger and cinnamon. Once cooled, they’re topped with silky maple-cream-cheese frosting that adds tang and a hint of fall sweetness. The frosting sets enough for clean slicing but stays fluffy on the palate. Serve with tea or coffee for a bakery-style afternoon treat you made at home.
Get the Recipe: ginger bars
Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Raw, vegan, and paleo seldom taste this decadent. A press-in crust of dates and toasted hazelnuts supports a creamy chocolate-avocado filling that rivals cheesecake in richness. The dessert sets in the freezer, then slices into glossy squares sprinkled with more crunchy nuts. It’s elegant enough for dinner parties yet wholesome enough for an everyday chocolate fix.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Strawberry Lemonade Bars - Easy & Tasty Squares
Pucker-up lemon bars meet sweet strawberries in this blushing twist on the classic citrus square. A buttery shortbread crust anchors the tangy, berry-studded custard filling that bakes to a velvety set. Dust with powdered sugar for a patio-perfect dessert that’s as refreshing as a glass of pink lemonade. They keep beautifully in the fridge, making them a make-ahead favorite for warm-weather gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade Bars - Easy & Tasty Squares
Strawberry Custard Pie Bars
These bars marry silky vanilla custard with ribbons of juicy strawberries, all atop a tender pie-crust base. The custard sets sliceably firm yet melts on the tongue, while the berries bring pops of color and freshness. A sprinkle of coarse sugar over the crust before baking adds delicate crunch. They’re elegant enough for brunch yet satisfy the simplest pie craving in bar form.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Custard Pie Bars
Homemade Snickers Bars
Recreate the iconic candy bar in layers: chewy nougat, gooey caramel packed with peanuts, and a cloak of glossy chocolate. Each component comes together on the stovetop or in the microwave—no special candy tools required. Once chilled and sliced, the bars deliver that unmistakable Snickers combo of crunchy nuts, stretchy caramel, and rich chocolate. They’re perfect for gifting, bake-sales, or satisfying your inner chocoholic chef.
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Slab Pecan Pie Bars
All the gooey, toasted-nut decadence of pecan pie, but baked in slab form for effortless slicing and sharing. A buttery shortbread base replaces traditional pastry and stays crisp under the caramel filling. Toasted pecans float on top, ensuring nutty crunch in every bite. These bars feed a crowd and transport easily—perfect for fall gatherings, bake sales, or Thanksgiving dessert tables.
Get the Recipe: Slab Pecan Pie Bars
Blueberry Bars
These bars taste like classic blueberry pie without the fuss of rolling dough. A press-in buttery crust doubles as the crumble topping, sandwiching a thick layer of jammy berries. Fresh or frozen fruit both work, so the recipe adapts to any season. Slightly tart, perfectly sweet, and ready for picnics, they’re a blue-ribbon way to use that berry haul.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Bars
Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Think of these no-bake bars as homemade candy meets cereal treat. Creamy peanut butter binds together crispy rice cereal and crushed pretzels, delivering salty-sweet crunch in every bite. A thick layer of melted chocolate on top hardens into a snappy shell that contrasts the chewy interior. They store well in the fridge and disappear even faster from the dessert tray.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
