Preparing for the holidays is stressful enough without spending days in the kitchen baking your favorite holiday desserts. To help ease some of your worries in the last few days, start baking these bar cookies now so you can serve them later. Even if you're not in the mood to turn on your oven, we have no-bake bars you can make now, freeze for months, and serve as a holiday dessert when you need them most.
Orange Cream Sugar Cookie Bars
If you need a break from cutouts, make sugar cookie bars instead for the holidays. A pinch of orange zest gives the bars their citrus flavor, and fluffy white chocolate frosting makes them scrumptious enough for a holiday treat.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Honey-Roasted Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Ganache
Sandwich creamy honey-roasted peanut butter between two layers of rich chocolate. A smooth, creamy chocolate ganache forms the top layer, while decadent devil's food cake mix makes up the bottom.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Add a burst of bright red to your cookie plate when you serve these festive Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars. A drizzle of melted milk chocolate on top makes each bar look almost like its own individual gift.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars
Crème brulee has never been easier than this. Make classic cheesecake bars, then use a kitchen torch or your broiler to caramelize the sugar on top. The caramelized sugar softens with storing, so for a crisp topper, add the sugar and heat just before serving.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Copycat Musketeer Bars
There's no need to buy your kids' favorite candy bar for their Christmas stockings: You can make a batch at home instead! With no bake time and just 25 minutes of prep, you can whip up enough of these creamy chocolate bars to share with all your holiday guests.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
No-Bake Butterscotch Bars
These bars stack up three layers of deliciousness: Peanut butter and cereal on the bottom, butterscotch pudding in the middle, and luscious chocolate frosting on top. Sprinkle in chopped peanut butter candies to make these holiday treats even more decadent.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
A cinnamon sugar topping is the perfect finish for these shortcut cheesecake bars. Make a batch using refrigerated biscuit dough, cinnamon cream cheese, and orange zest. A drizzle of honey just before serving adds a sweet touch.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Coconut Joy Candy Bars
If you need a little taste of the tropics when snowflakes start falling, try these coconut-filled bars with a rich milk chocolate ganache topping. All your dessert cravings will be satisfied.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Cinnamon Bars
These simple cookie bars can be ready in an hour, but you can store them for up to a month (if they don't disappear when they're fresh out of the oven). A quick sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar is the only topper these bars need.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Chocolate Revel Bars
Sandwich a rich chocolate filling between layers of oat and nut dough to create these freezer bars. As one reviewer raves, "Have made these for years. Most requested recipe by my kids and their friends. Always leave with an empty pan when I bring to the potluck."
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Snickerooni Bars
Don't miss out on holiday baking fun in favor of store-bought treats! These homemade peanut butter, chocolate, and nougat bars taste just like they came from the store, but your guests are sure to be impressed when you reveal they came from your kitchen.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Twixy Shortbread Bars
They don't come in twos, but these bars might remind you of a candy bar that does. Start with a cookie crust, then layer on dulce de leche and a chocolate topping. When your guests taste these bars, they won't be able to stop at just one.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Holiday 7-Layer Bars
Seven layers might seem overly decadent, but the holidays are worthy of each and every one. Our favorite addition? The candied orange peel sprinkled on top.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Greek Baklava Bars
Go Greek this holiday season and serve classic baklava bars once the dishes are cleared away. Don't let the long ingredient list intimidate you: These bars are worth every extra sprinkle of spice.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
White Chocolate and Nutmeg Bars
We couldn't make this Christmas dessert more festive if we tried. Cranberries and white chocolate make a stunning presentation, while a few pinches of nutmeg add holiday flavor.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Cherry-Crumble Pie Bars
We don't know about you, but our holiday isn't complete without a slice of cherry pie. Get the same flavor with this bar recipe, which makes a big batch so everyone can have a taste.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Chocolaty Caramel-Nut S'more Bars
You'll need just seven ingredients to whip up these freezer-friendly bar cookies. Start with a base made with crushed chocolate wafer cookies and top it with creamy caramel. Finish the bars with crushed nuts, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Fruitcake Cookie Bars
These moist fruitcake bars are loaded with the traditional dried fruit, chopped nuts, and seasonal spices. We've dressed them up with bittersweet chocolate chunks and freshly grated nutmeg.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Pistachio Gelato Brownie Bars
Bake up a pan of brownies and use them to make these creamy pistachio ice cream bars. To create the crunchy top, brush the brownies with chocolate syrup and roll them in salted pistachios. We find these are easiest to cut with a serrated knife.
Freeze: Up to 2 weeks
Gooey Chocolate-Caramel Bars
The secret to these gooey make ahead dessert bars? Squares of milk chocolate covered caramel. Our Test Kitchen recommends using Ghirardelli brand.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Marcona Almond-Toffee Bars
This make ahead Christmas dessert idea tops our list of bar cookies that freeze well. Rolled oats and crushed graham crackers form the base. As one BHG reviewer raves, "Everyone asked for this recipe. I think I will be enjoying these again next month."
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
You're just six ingredients away from whipping up these creamy chocolate chip cheesecake bars. Start with chocolate chip cookie dough and top it with a homemade cheesecake batter. Stash them in the freezer and they're ready when you are.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Chewy Cherry Almond Bars
This Christmas bar cookie recipe is easy to customize. As one BHG home cook shares, "Gooey cherries, crunchy almonds and tasty oats combine to make these bars a sweet treat any time of year. I substituted thawed frozen blueberries mixed with some blueberry jam and the result was terrific!"
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Maple-Bourbon Cheesecake Bars
Fall flavors, like maple and bourbon, shine in this make-ahead bar recipe. This freezer cheesecake recipe makes 32 bars—perfect for holiday hosting.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
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