Bar Cookie

Everyone's favorite bake sale treat goes gluten-free—with ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Salted caramel and rich fudgy chocolate is truly a match made in heaven. I can't stop baking this tempting brownie—it's just the thing for an afternoon treat or to take to a friend's house (they'll love you forever!).

An addition of cornmeal gives these bars a sandy, crunchy, slightly savory crust that’s perfectly complemented by tart lime curd and sweet blueberry glaze.

Fresh berries—combined with a jar of preserves—give these bar cookies a jammy center with ruby-red, candy-like edges.

Imagine what would happen if gooey butterscotch cookies and crunchy Cracker Jack had a love child. Caramel corn blondies are born! These are best served the day they are made for the crunchiest texture, but they are still yummy as the popcorn softens. It shouldn't be a problem though, since they take just minutes to throw together.

How do you make lemon bars even better? Turn them pink. Add bright color and tangy flavor with a splash of fresh raspberry purée.

These vegan brownies took at least thirty rounds of serious test-kitchen madness (not kidding!). When we finally said, okay, okay, moist and crumbly and chocolatey and delicious, we gave in. I used flaxseed meal and warm water to create a binder that replaces the need for egg. These egg-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, guilt-free brownies are some of the best you will ever taste! They will crumble a bit more than regular brownies, so beware of crumbs!

Upgrade your campfire treats with soft honey-cinnamon cookies slicked with melted chocolate and two toasted, charred marshmallows.

These deep, dark brownies, a Lauren family favorite, are from Ricky Lauren's The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History.

These dream bars have made the rounds. My mother's friend Phyllis Grossman passed the recipe to my mother when I was growing up. My mother passed the recipe to me, and I have since passed it along to friends. We all make it. I have baked versions with milk chocolate and hot fudge, but the best filling by far is bittersweet chocolate. I melt the chocolate, spread it on a sheet pan and chill it, break it into shards, and press it into the dough. Then I spread a brown sugar meringue on top. I warn you—as I warn every new employee at Hot Chocolate—proceed with caution. You have to either never eat these or succumb to the fact that you will be addicted forever to Dream Bars.

Brownies can go two ways—fudgy or cakey—and these rich, decadent squares decidedly fall into the fudgy category.

The ribbon of brown butter plays a raw cookie dough role in the center of these pecan blondies.

Low-acid Meyer lemons make the citrus flavor of these bars especially vibrant.

Indulgent raspberry cream cheese makes homemade brownies even better.