9 cookie bars to make right now

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.

Banana Coconut, Chocolate Chip Snack Cake by ATG117

Alice Medrich's Best Cocoa Brownies by Genius Recipes

Rhubarb Curd Shortbread by Rivka

Fig Keplers by petitbleu

Lemon-Ricotta Bars by Kukla

Millionaire's Shortbread by Merrill Stubbs

Sara's "Granola Bars" by Merrill Stubbs

Hippie Crispy Treats by Alanna

Blondies — Gluten-Free and Completely Delicious by nishis

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This article was originally published on Food52.com: 9 bar cookie recipes.