9 cookie bars to make right now

last updated 10 January 2015

We love a good cookie. What's even better? When said cookie comes in the shape of a bar and takes half the time and effort — no scrambling to transfer hot cookies to a cooling rack, no messy partitioning of subsequent batches, no devastating cookie pangea. It's a one-and-done, no-fuss crowd-pleaser; the low-maintenance, reliable alternative to its more demanding, self-involved, singular counterparts.

A team player at heart, the bar cookie doesn't allow for stragglers, or runts, or misfires. Ultimately, each bar is only as good as its batch. Moreover, bar cookies are fun to bite into — they're soft and gooey, and on occasion surprise us with a pleasing crunch or hidden layer. They're dense and easy to eat, easy to share. Plus, everyone has a favorite: the middles, the two-edged corner, the one-edged side. So we urge you: on your next baking bender, consider the bar. Here are 9 recipes to get you started.