If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a fudgy brownie or a buttery bar fresh from the oven. Whether you need a crowd-pleasing dessert, a lunchbox treat, or just something sweet to nibble while watching your favorite show, these brownie and bar recipes deliver.
This collection features my all-time favorite brownies and dessert bars—some rich and chocolatey, other fruity or tangy, and all of them irresistibly easy to love. From classics to unexpected twists, these are the bars I return to again and again.
My Favorite Brownie and Bar Recipes
Without further ado, these are the ones I return to again and again. All of these are rated as 5-stars in my recipe organization system.
The Best Brownies
Brownie Tart by Ina Garten at Food Network
This is easily the recipe I have made the most of ALL recipes. These are spectacular. A whole bag of melted chocolate chips is the source of chocolate, so these border on eating a chocolate bar, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I make them in this pan, but you could easily make them in a square pan instead.
Outrageous Brownies by Ina Garten at Barefoot Contessa
These may or may not be the same as the version above but scaled to feed a very large crowd.
Triple-Chocolate Brownies by Bon APPéTIT
This is a very different style brownie than the ones above, and it’s also fabulous. They are less dense but still not cakey.
Nutella Brownies by NYT Cooking
By some sort of cooking magic, these are only 4 ingredients. You add eggs, flour, and salt to a jar of nutella, and it transforms into brownies. Amazing.
Pumpkin-Swirl Brownies by Martha Stewart
I’ve been making these since college. It’s a wonderful fall treat. You start with one batter and divide it in half—one half becomes brownies, the other half becomes pumpkin, and you swirl them together.
The Best Blondies
Raspberry Almond Blondies by Martha Stewart
I’ve been making these since college. They are my favorite blondie.
My copy of Martha Stewart’s Cookies lovingly opens to this page naturally because I have made it so many times that’s where the spine bends now.
Maple-Walnut Blondies by NYT Cooking
Another fabulous blondie. These are almost fudgy and are the perfect fall treat if you’re not ready for pumpkin yet.
The Best Rice Krispies-Style Bars
Rice Krispie Treats by NYT Cooking
A classic.
Rice Krispies Treats with Chocolate and Pretzels by NYT Cooking
A classic but extra.
Other Great Bars
Cookie Bar: Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookie Bars by Tutti-Dolci
If I want a chocolate chip cookie and I don’t want to scoop them into individual cookies, I make this.
No Bake: Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars by NYT Cooking
It’s like chocolate bark on a peanut butter bar, and there’s so much room for customization.
Toffee: Toffee Squares by Cooks Country
Just yum.
Final Thoughts
There’s something here for every kind of sweet tooth, whether you crave the dense richness of a gooey brownie or the crunch of a cereal treat. I hope this roundup inspires you to bake a batch (or three) and discover a new favorite. Next up, cookies!
Tried one of these recipes? I’d love to hear which one you loved most!
