Bar Cookie

You would never guess that this rich, moist and delicious cake is lighter than its high-fat counterpart.

Grissini, long, thin breadsticks, are found at Italian markets and some supermarkets.

An updated version of Scottish shortbread.

An inspired cherry-chocolate dessert.

With apologies to mom, I've adapted this recipe just slightly.

These bar cookies feature two layers of decadence — chocolate chip cookie and brownie. Additional butter and egg in this cookie dough give the bars a chewier texture.

Biscotti Quadrati al Miele e alle Noci Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Judith W. Harris of San Mateo, California, writes: "I recently made these chocolate almond bars for a tea. They were all consumed with requests for more." Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

These brownies can be fudgy or cakey depending on how long you bake them.

Dark brown sugar gives these buttery treats an extra-rich taste.

These sweet treats can be made two days in advance. Just store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Because these brownies are thinner than most, they bake quickly.

Serve with a watermelon, kiwi fruit and grape salad. You can save any leftovers for an afternoon snack with coffee.

Although they are baked, these intensely chocolaty bar cookies resemble fudge more than brownies. To retain the creamy texture, keep them in an airtight tin at room temperature for up to a week. If the bars are refrigerated, their texture will become more dense.