Bar cookie

Bar cookies, called tray bakes in the UK and slices in Australia and New Zealand, are a type of cookie or dense, often chewy, cake that is baked in a shallow flat baking pan such as a square cake pan.^[1]^[2]^[3] They can be eaten as a handheld or as a plated dessert. Brownies are a notable example.

Preparation

Bar cookies generally are made by spreading a thick batter into a cake pan and baking.^[4]

Some versions are layered by spreading a layer of batter, topping with a layer or fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or other ingredients, and topping with another layer of batter before baking.^[4]^[5] Typically bar cookies are cooled completely before cutting into their final shape.^[5]

Popularity

Bar cookies are quicker and easier to make than many other desserts, can be made ahead, and travel well, making them popular for events like potlucks.^[6]^[1]^[7]^[4]^: 13–14 They are versatile and less likely to fail than many baked desserts, which tend to require following recipes exactly.^[4]^: 13–14 They can often be eaten out of hand, making them popular for casual events and large gatherings.^[1]^[7]

Bar cookies also are often more subtantial than a drop or rolled cookie, which means a single serving can be sufficient.^[5]

Nomenclature

In the UK, the term tray bake is used as an umbrella term for any dessert baked in a flat pan and cut into small rectangular portions for serving, including what is called a sheet cake in the US; school cake is an example.^[2] In Australia and New Zealand, the term slice can be used for both savory and sweet foods that are baked in a flat pan and cut into small rectangular portions; a zucchini slice is an example of a savory version.

Notable examples

Blondie
Brookie, or "chocolate chip cookie brownie", is a dessert made by combining a brownie and a cookie; it is basically a type of bar cookie using a mix of chocolate chip cookie and chocolate brownie batters^[8]^[9]
Brownie^[6]^: 1
Caramel shortbread
Confetti square
Date square
Fifteens
Flapjack
Food for the Gods
Lemon square
Nanaimo bar
Shortbread
Vanilla slice

Similar dishes

Dessert bars are also a dessert that is baked in a flat pan and cut into squares.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c York, Patricia S. (24 June 2025). "Our 38 Most Decadent Bar Cookie Recipes". Southern Living. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
^ ^a ^b Martin, Deborah (2023-01-26). "What Exactly Is A British Traybake?". Tasting Table. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
^ Nelson, Libby (2015-11-29). "British desserts, explained for Americans confused by the Great British Baking Show". Vox. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Simmons, Marie (1994). A to Z bar cookies. Shelburne, Vt: Chapters Publishing. ISBN 978-1-881527-55-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bodger, Lorraine (2000). The Four-Sided Cookie: 55 Recipes for Delicious Squares and Bars. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312206758.
^ ^a ^b Gates, Laura (1991). Brownies, Blondies, and Bar Cookies. HP Books.
^ ^a ^b Good, Georgia (2024-08-14). "Bake These Christmas Bar Cookies for a Sweet Holiday Treat". The Pioneer Woman. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
^ Locker, Melissa (2025-12-16). "Sam's Club Now Offering Popular Bakery Item In Their Cafes". Southern Living. Retrieved 2025-12-22. The store originally released these Cookie Dough Brownies, which are basically brookies with a different name, back in July in the bakery section, and fans instantly fell in love with the trays full of swirls of brownie batter and chocolate chip cookie dough.
^ Jung, Carolyn (2021-09-01). "Martha Stewart Brookies - Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies". Food Gal. Retrieved 2025-12-22. This decadent recipe is from "Martha Stewart's Cookie Perfection: 100+ Recipes to Take Your Sweet Treats to the Next Level" (Clarkson Potter) from the Kitchens of Martha Stewart Living. They are essentially Brookies, which are often made as individual circular cookies. This recipe streamlines that because you bake everything in one pan.