Top 10 Dessert Bar Recipes

Updated on Jan. 05, 2022

A surefire hit at potlucks and parties, these top-rated recipes for dessert bars are an easy and fun way to feed a crowd.

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Bake-Sale Lemon Bars

The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin Bernice, a farmer’s wife famous for cooking up feasts. — Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois

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1/10
2/10

Chocolate Chip Blondies

Total Time 30 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Folks who adore the classic cookies will enjoy that same beloved flavor in these chocolate chip bars. This blondie recipe can be mixed up in a jiffy, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for occasions when company drops by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois
3/10

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Total Time 40 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A fruity filling and fluffy coconut topping truly make these strawberry oatmeal bars one of a kind. They really dress up my trays of Christmas goodies. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma
4/10

Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars

Total Time 55 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: What did I do when I couldn’t decide between two of my favorite desserts? I combined them! This snickerdoodle-blondie hybrid proved even better with caramel, always a favorite ingredient. —Niki Plourde, Gardner, Massachusetts
5/10

Rustic Nut Bars

Total Time 55 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My friends love crunching into the crust—so much like shortbread—and the wildly nutty topping of these chewy, gooey bars. —Barbara Driscoll, West Allis, Wisconsin
6/10

Cherry Pie Bars

Total Time 55 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7/10

Frosted Pumpkin Cranberry Bars

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: With tangy dried cranberries tucked inside and a creamy brown butter frosting, these mildly spiced pumpkin bars are doubly delightful. It's a good thing the recipe makes lots, because once you taste one, you won't be able to resist going back for more! -Barbara Nowakowski, Mesa, Arizona
8/10

Caramel Bars

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: After over 20 years of making this shortbread, I’ve finally found the perfect pairing—salted caramel and dark chocolate. So I layered them with my favorite shortbread crust. —Lisa Glenn, Sarasota, Florida
9/10

Banana Bars

Total Time 35 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
10/10

Pecan Pie Bars

Total Time 45 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These bars are decadently rich—just like pecan pie! They’re sure to disappear from the dessert table at your next gathering, so you might want to save one for later before putting them out. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York