Dessert bar facts for kids
A bar made of coconut shavings, caramel, chocolate and butterscotch chips, almond pieces, and an Oreo cookie crust
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| Alternative names | Bar, square |
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| Type | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Midwestern United States |
| Main ingredients | Sugar, eggs, butter, flour, milk |
Dessert bars, also called bars or squares, are a type of American treat. They are like a mix between a firm cake and a soft cookie. People make them in a pan and bake them in the oven. After baking, they are cut into square or rectangle shapes.
Dessert bars are very popular at bake sales and birthday parties. Many people enjoy them during holidays, but they are eaten all year too. You can often find these tasty treats in coffee shops and bakeries.
Some popular flavors include peanut butter bars, lemon bars, and chocolate coconut bars. Other favorites are pineapple bars, apple bars, and almond bars. You might also find toffee bars, chocolate cheesecake bars, and the famous seven-layer bar.
Common ingredients for dessert bars are sugar, eggs, butter, flour, and milk. Other yummy additions include chocolate chips, nuts, raspberry jam, and cocoa powder. Some bars use graham crackers, pudding, mini-marshmallows, or peanut butter. There are also more unique bars made with sour cream, rhubarb, pretzels, and candies.
The Nanaimo bar is a special kind of bar dessert. It does not need to be baked! This bar is named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada.
Many people believe that lemon squares first came from Trinidad and Tobago.
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Popular Dessert Bar Mixes
Big food companies often make mixes so you can bake dessert bars easily at home. These mixes help people make delicious treats without needing many ingredients.
Betty Crocker's Dessert Bar Mixes
In 1992, Betty Crocker started selling Supreme Dessert Bar baking mixes. They first offered flavors like lemon bars, chocolate peanut butter bars, and caramel oatmeal bars. In 1993, they added two new kinds: M&Ms Cookie Bars and Raspberry Bars.
Krusteaz Dessert Bar Mixes
Another company, Krusteaz, also added dessert bars to its quick and easy baked goods in 2004. These mixes make it simple for anyone to bake tasty bars.
Dessert Bars for Healthy Eating
Even people focused on fitness sometimes include dessert bars in their diet. For example, the U.S. Navy SEAL Guide to Fitness and Nutrition lists many bars in its "lightweight menus." These are often energy bars or healthier versions of dessert bars.
Images for kids
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Bars topped with walnuts
