Dessert bar

Dessert bars, often called simply bars or squares, are a popular type of dessert enjoyed in American and Canadian cuisine. They have a texture somewhere between a firm cake and a softer cookie. These treats are made in a pan and baked in the oven, then cut into small squares or rectangles, making them easy to share and serve.

Dessert bars are a favorite at bake sales and are often made specially for birthdays. They are especially loved during holiday seasons, but many people enjoy them all year long. You can find these delicious treats in many coffee shops and bakeries. Some of the most 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 usually use sugar, eggs, butter, flour, and milk. But they also add many other ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, raspberry jam, coconut, cocoa powder, graham crackers, pudding, mini-marshmallows, and peanut butter. Some more unusual recipes might include sour cream, rhubarb, pretzels, candies, vanilla, raisins, or even pumpkin, creating a wide variety of flavors and textures to enjoy.

Regional variants

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

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

Commercial variants

Several companies make mixes for dessert bars that you can bake at home. In 1992, Betty Crocker started selling mixes for different kinds of dessert bars, like 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 began offering dessert bar mixes for people to enjoy.