Dessert bar

Dessert bars, often called bars or squares, are a popular dessert in American and Canadian cuisine. They feel like a mix between a firm cake and a softer cookie. These treats are made in a pan and baked, then cut into small squares or rectangles, making them easy to share.

Dessert bars are a favorite at bake sales and are often made for birthdays. People especially love them during holidays, but many enjoy them all year long. You can find these treats in coffee shops and bakeries. Some popular kinds include peanut butter bars, lemon bars, chocolate and coconut bars, pineapple bars, apple bars, almond bars, toffee bars, and chocolate cheesecake bars, as well as the classic seven-layer bar.

To make dessert bars, bakers use sugar, eggs, butter, flour, and milk. They also add ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, raspberry jam, coconut, cocoa powder, graham crackers, pudding, mini-marshmallows, and peanut butter. Some recipes might include sour cream, rhubarb, pretzels, candies, vanilla, raisins, or even pumpkin, creating many different flavors and textures to enjoy.

Regional variants

The Nanaimo bar is a special dessert that doesn’t need baking. It is named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia.

In Canada, dessert bars are sometimes called “dainties.” Popular treats include Nanaimo bars, butter tarts, and confetti squares, which are part of Canadian cuisine. Another favorite is the seven-layer bar, also called the “magic bar.” It has layers like graham crackers, coconut, chocolate chips, and nuts.

Commercial variants

Many companies sell mixes for dessert bars that you can bake at home. In 1992, Betty Crocker began selling mixes for different kinds of dessert bars, such as lemon bars and chocolate peanut butter bars. The next year, they added mixes for M&Ms Cookie Bars and Raspberry Bars. Later, in 2004, Krusteaz also started offering dessert bar mixes for people to enjoy.