20 5-star bar cookie recipes for your next potluck

They’re worth every star.

If you’re looking for the kind of dessert that disappears first from the potluck table, bar cookies are always a safe bet. This collection rounds up our 5-star favorites—each one tested, loved, and rated tops by our readers, which is pretty solid proof they deliver.

From fruity options like Blueberry Crumb Bars and Peach Pie Bars to nostalgic, over-the-top treats like Monster Cookie Bars and Homemade Cosmic Brownies, these recipes are easy to transport, simple to serve, and pretty much guaranteed to have everyone asking, “Who made this?”

01 of 20

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Get Recipe: Blueberry Crumb Bars

“Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s amazing!! Just baked this last night for my coworkers and they all loved it too. So simple, and all the ingredients are things that everyone normally has in their pantry. I feel like you could substitute it with any fruit too. Will try it with mixed berries next time. Yum!” —NimbleBeet, Reader

02 of 20

Scotcheroos

Get Recipe: Scotcheroos

“Gahhhh, so good! These were the perfect mix of sweet and salty, peanut-buttery and chocolate-y, chewy, and crispy.” —Emma, Reader

03 of 20

Cowboy Blondies

Get Recipe: Cowboy Blondies

“Studded with coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and oats, they taste like a lovely mix-up of magic bars, chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal cookies.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

04 of 20

Marble Blondies

Get Recipe: Marble Blondies

“These blondies were incredible. The chocolate and plain batter were distinct, and the chocolate was very chocolatey. I shared them with friends and after devouring them, they told me they were one of the best things I ever made.” —Mark, Reader

05 of 20

Peach Pie Bars

Get Recipe: Peach Pie Bars

“Absolutely delicious! I bought some beautiful but unripe peaches last week. I put them in a brown bag for a few days. This recipe is a perfect showcase for my favorite summer fruit. My only substitution was to use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream because that’s what I had on hand.” —Phinn, Reader

06 of 20

Hazel’s Oreo Bars

Get Recipe: Hazel’s Oreo Bars

“We’ve been friends for more than a decade, and of all the treats Hazel has made, one lives rent-free in my mind: her Oreo slab bar. Picture a crushed Oreo base, a thick layer of creamy icing, and another layer of Oreos pressed on top. It’s essentially one enormous Oreo.” —Alexandra Emanuelli, Recipe Developer

07 of 20

Magic Bars

Get Recipe: Magic Bars

“Delicious and easy! I used to pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top as a previous reviewer stated she does, but to be honest, this method of pouring the SCM on the crust and then pressing the toppings in produced a much better result. Bars stay together better when you cut them. Lots of combinations of toppings work with these bars; let your imagination go wild! Coconut is a must, however, IMO.” —Laura, Reader

08 of 20

Mud Hen Bars

Get Recipe: Mud Hen Bars

“While there’s no settled explanation for the unique name, ‘uglier than a mud hen’ (a marsh bird with a mottled appearance) was a popular expression in the South in the early 20th century, and might relate to the brown, cracked appearance on the top of the bars. A chocolate chip cookie base is topped with marshmallows, pecans, and a chewy brown sugar meringue for the perfect sliceable cookie bar.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

09 of 20

Monster Cookie Bars

Get Recipe: Monster Cookie Bars

“Not only is this recipe a breeze for the baker, but it is a dream for whoever gets to eat them. These cookies are soft, chocolatey, and nutty! The oats add a great chewiness, the chocolate chips add to the melty gooey texture, and the M&Ms maintain their shape and crunch.” —Kalisa Marie Levette, Recipe Developer

10 of 20

Raspberry Lime Rickey Bars

Get Recipe: Raspberry Lime Rickey Bars

“The bars are loaded with lime juice and zest for a lip-smacking tart flavor. The sugar in the lime curd sweetens the bars, but not enough to fully tame the lime. I mix some raspberry jam right into the lime curd for a beautiful pink hue. A crisp and crumbly lime-scented shortbread crust provides the perfect base.” —Mark Beahm, Recipe Developer

11 of 20

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Get Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Bars

“I make these bars every year for Christmas and it always turns out so well and gets so many compliments.This year I tried a new technique for the lemon curd: I spooned some curd into a sandwich bag, made a tiny snip in the corner, and piped nine parallel lines along the batter. Then I proceeded with swirling with a knife. Comes out very neat and elegant.” —LoftyPoke, Reader

12 of 20

Butterscotch Squares

Get Recipe: Butterscotch Squares

“They’re not fancy by any means, but they’re wonderfully chewy with a slight crispiness on the outer crust. The flavor of brown sugar is more pronounced than a typical blondie recipe, making them the tastiest simple-to-make treat.” —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer

13 of 20

Oh Henry Bars

Get Recipe: Oh Henry Bars

“These delectable bar cookies were inspired by a storied candy bar called Oh Henry! (You gotta love a candy bar with an exclamation point in its name). They’ve been around for over a century and are currently more popular in Canada than America. An Oh Henry! candy bar features a fudgy base topped with a matrix of peanuts suspended in caramel, all covered in chocolate.” —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

14 of 20

Key Lime Bars

Get Recipe: Key Lime Bars

“This was amazing. The flavor and texture is identical to that of a store bought pie. So creamy and tart! I served mine with fresh raspberry sauce. Absolutely delightful dessert. Key lime pie fans will be pleased!” —Lindsay, Reader

15 of 20

Easy Caramel Apple Bars

Get Recipe: Easy Caramel Apple Bars

“Love the textures and flavors of this, it’s a really well-balanced bar and perfect for autumn. The apples and warming spices are reminiscent of apple pie but without the hassle.” —Stephanie, Reader

16 of 20

Malted Chocolate Brownies

Get Recipe: Malted Chocolate Brownies

“These brownies checked all the boxes! They are fudgy with a bit of a chew around the edges, a beautifully crackled meringue, slightly salty (which made us want to keep eating them), and a malty, umami punch.” —Amanda, Reader

17 of 20

Sugar Cookie Bars

Get Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars

“These bars provide the nostalgic taste and chewy texture of the sugar cookies I grew up with, but without the work. There’s no chilling or scooping, and they’re baked in one batch. American buttercream and rainbow sprinkles make them sweet and vibrant, but I don’t have to decorate them one by one like I would with a batch of cookies.” —Mark Beahm, Recipe Developer

18 of 20

Homemade Cosmic Brownies

Get Recipe: Homemade Cosmic Brownies

“The iconic Cosmic Brownie gets a grown-up upgrade with this from-scratch version of the classic lunchroom treat. Complete with ganache frosting and festive sprinkles, they’re so much better than store-bought!” —Kayla Hoang, Recipe Developer

19 of 20

Peanut Butter Pretzel Magic Bars

Get Recipe: Peanut Butter Pretzel Magic Bars

“This was my first foray into magic bars and they were absolutely delicious l! Very balanced flavors and super easy to make. We all loved them and will definitely make again soon.” —Rachel, Reader

20 of 20

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

Get Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

“The result is a toffee-like chocolate chip cookie base that absolutely makes these bars stand out. The filling is smooth and dense like a classic cheesecake, fortified with a little bit of tangy sour cream plus even more mini chocolate chips sprinkled throughout.” —Cindy Rahe, Recipe Developer

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