Have These Sweets Ready for your Next Party!

26 cookies and bars you’ll want to make over and over again

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All of us have fallen prey to our sweet tooth at least once in our lives. And if you’re anything like me and can’t resist stuffing your face with gooey Nutella cookies on any given day, then this collection is for you. From sugary almond cookies to nutty granola bars, we’ve rounded up our favorite cookies and bars, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re a devoted dessert lover, or prefer savory snacks, we’re sure you’ll find a recipe here that suits. As a warning, you may want to double the recipe to ensure you’ll have enough leftovers to nibble on throughout the week—don’t say we didn’t warn you!

1. Double chocolate salted caramel cookies

These decadent cookies are made with two types of chocolate, resulting in an extra chocolatey batter and a gooey caramel center. Skip the caramel and hazelnut spread for a lighter, but no less indulgent batch.

Double chocolate salted caramel cookies

2. 7-layer magic bars

Is there anything more gratifying than a graham cracker and pretzel crust, loaded with layers of chocolate chips, coconut flakes, chopped walnuts, and sweetened condensed milk? An absolute crowd-pleaser, these will not last long!

7-layer magic bars

3. Flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Shout-out to all peanut butter lovers out there—this one’s for you. No need for flour here, these gluten-free cookies are dense and buttery—you’ll want to keep a glass of milk on hand.

Flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

4. 3-ingredient Nutella banana oat cookies

This 3-ingredient recipe is perfect for those of us who work long hours and want to satisfy that sweet tooth as quickly as possible. Throw everything into one bowl for a ridiculously easy and scrumptious cookie, loaded with chocolatey-toasted oats.

3-ingredient Nutella banana oat cookies

5. Tahini cookies with orange zest

Two unlikely ingredients—orange and tahini—compliment each other wonderfully in these slightly nutty cookies with light citrus notes.

Tahini cookies with orange zest

6. Vegan granola bars

This recipe calls for mixed nuts, seeds, almonds, rolled oats, almond butter, coconut oil, dates, and dried cranberries to elevate your basic granola bar to something super nutritious and full of flavor. It can be easily adapted to suit your taste, so feel free to experiment!
In case you need a bit of inspiration, try out our no-bake alternative too.

Vegan granola bars

No-bake quinoa energy bars

7. Chia seed cookies

Soft, chewy, and jam packed with omega-3, fiber, protein, and antioxidants—what’s not to love about these chia seed cookies? Enjoy them for breakfast-on-the-go or as a post-workout treat.

Chia seed cookies

8. Lemon bars

Ah, lemon bars. A classic dessert bar that comes in all different crusts and densities, it can be overwhelming to pick a favorite lemon bar recipe. That’s why we developed the only lemon bar recipe you’ll ever need. The finished product is a brittle, buttery crust with just the right amount of crumble and a fluffy, creamy filling, bursting with lemon.

Lemon bars

9. Gingerbread-spiced crème brûlée cookies

Make use of the gingerbread spice you might have leftover from the holidays for this crème brûlée cookie. Torch the vanilla pudding frosting to create a caramelized sugar that adds another level of depth and fun to this toothsome cookie.

Gingerbread-spiced crème brûlée cookies

10. Rosemary chocolate chip cookies

Nothing sounds more sophisticated than baking with herbs. Upgrade your basic chocolate chip cookie by throwing chopped rosemary into the batter, and let the floral aroma fill up your kitchen as it bakes.

Rosemary chocolate chip cookies

11. Almond Florentines

These delicate and crispy chocolate-coated sweets are the kind you can't leave alone-- the Florentines melt as soon as they enter your mouth!

Almond Florentines

12. Chocolate tahini crunch bars

Think of these chocolate tahini bars as an adult version of the classic Crunch bar. It’s a wonderful blend of dark chocolate and roasted sesame, complete with a sweet crunch in every bite.

3-ingredient chocolate tahini crunch bars

13. Half and half cookies with peanut butter

Can’t decide between chocolate and peanut butter? Why not combine the two for a half-and-half cookie that goes above and beyond our wildest cookie dreams?

Half-and-half cookies with peanut butter

14. Snickerdoodles

I have a soft spot for snickerdoodles, but can you blame me? What makes these plushy mounds of cinnamon-sugar so unique is that they contain cream of tartar—the secret to their iconic tanginess and tender interior.

Snickerdoodles

15. Classic blondies

A hallmark of blondies is the use of butterscotch to enhance both flavor and color. This recipe relies on brown Muscovado sugar instead of butterscotch to give these confections caramel notes that are so tasty– try not to finish them all in one sitting!

Classic blondies

16. Maple pecan shortbread

A delicious spin on classic shortbread cookies, this maple-pecan recipe is a bit nutty, a bit sweet, and a whole lot of melt-in-your-mouth buttery.

Maple-pecan shortbread

17. Thin mint cookies

There’s nothing more tantalizing to my taste buds than a wafer cookie doused in my favorite combo: dark chocolate and peppermint. What I love most about making these at home is how cool and refreshing they taste straight out of the fridge. I also love crushing them and sprinkling them over everything. From ice cream bowls to parfaits, you can never go wrong with extra minty chocolate cookie crumbs.

Thin mint cookies

18. Chocolate crinkle cookies

This one’s another recipe for our chocolate fans. Save for their crackled exterior, rolled in powdered sugar, these crinkle cookies are so irresistibly rich, they could almost be mistaken for brownies.

Chocolate crinkle cookies

19. Millionaire bar cookies

Part-cookie, part-chocolate bar, these British confections require a bit of patience to allow each layer of the bar to cool, but the wait is totally worth it. Imagine a layer of shortbread, dappled in salted caramel, and topped with spoonfuls of dark chocolate ganache—you won’t be able to resist these!

Millionaire bar cookies

20. DIY chewy M&M cookies

Thes cookies hark back to my elementary school bake sale days, and even now, as an adult, it’s still absurdly fun to dot cookies with multicolored chocolate candies.

DIY chewy M&M cookies

21. DIY butter cookies

Never underestimate the simplicity of butter cookies. These velvety squares taste great on their own or adorned with a sugary frosting of your choice.

DIY butter cookies

22. Honey caramel and salted peanut cookies

We spiked this recipe with a tablespoon of rum to make a honey-peanut butter cookie that tastes slightly of molasses and vanilla. Dollop the cookies with sticky caramel and pinches of fleur de sel for a perfect harmony of sweet and salty.

Honey caramel and salted peanut cookies

23. No-bake chocolate peanut butter oat bars

If you’re a fan of peanut butter cups, then this recipe is for you. These no-bake bars sit on a layer of dark chocolate, and the addition of oats gives them a nutritional boost that’ll have you grabbing them, bar after bar, from the fridge.

No-bake chocolate peanut butter oat bars

24. Iced oatmeal cookies

Most oatmeal cookie recipes call for raisins, this one calls for toasted coconut and dates, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. Skip the icing for a more savory cookie that lets the earthy traces of cinnamon, nutmeg, and coconut really shine.

Iced oatmeal cookies

25. Skillet cookie

We know how it sounds—a cookie in a skillet? But trust us, this recipe makes baking look like a breeze, and the best part is that everything gets baked at once, so there’s no need for multiple batches and all that waiting. It’s perfect as a single serving for yourself (go big or go home, right?), or shared with friends. Top the skillet cookie with a scoop of ice cream and dig in!

Skillet Cookie

26. Almond crescents

Okay, these Austrian biscuits are usually reserved for the holidays, but honestly, they taste great any day of the year. Dusted with powdered sugar and rolled into an adorable crescent, these delicate cookies pair so well with a warm cup of tea.

Almond crescents

Published on May 11, 2019

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