While I’ll readily admit to being a cookie-baking fool come holiday time, I know that not everyone in the universe is like me. But just about everyone I know does love to eat cookies, so for holiday gift-giving, I know just what to do: I make bar cookies. These cookies—baked in a simple 9×13-inch pan and then cut into squares (or rectangles or triangles)—are not only unfussy to make, but they also yield a big batch of pretty and delicious treats.

Each of my three favorite recipes—rich and chocolateyKahlúa Fudge Bites, chewyButterscotch Bars, and crumblyLemon Cornmeal Shortbread Bars—is terrific on its own. But put a few of each together, and you’ve got a great gift assortment. Just one warning: I don’t guarantee that every one of these fun-to-make, irresistible cookies will make it into a gift tin. Each has an interesting flavor twist that makes it familiar yet intriguingly different…and a little too difficult to give away the whole batch. You’ll definitely want to save a few for yourself.

Simple tools give a professional look

One of the advantgages of m aking bar cookies is that you don’t need any fancy equipment. Though not essential, a couple of s imple tools will make your bar cookies look more professional.

•Straight-sided 9×13-inch metal pans,such as those made by Parrish and Doughmakers, are my favorites for baking these cookies. Regular Pyrex pans, with their rounded corners, are fine, but your yield will be smaller because you’ll need to trim to get sharp edges.

•Small offset spatulas非常适合整齐地抬起正方形；我特别喜欢短2英寸宽的尺寸。对于均匀散布的面糊和釉料，一个3或4英寸长的偏置糖霜铲是完美的。

•Parchmentis great for lining the bottom of the pan—it makes lifting out the bar cookies much easier.

•A bench scraperis the tool I like for cutting bar cookies. Its squared-off shape allows you to see just what you’re doing and lets you aim straight down for the cleanest cut.

•一把尺子帮助您测量，因此如果您要进行多批次，您将获得均匀且一致的收益率。

•Toothpicksare helpful for marking off where you’ll need to cut.

Wrapping it up

对于特殊的礼物，我喜欢在我烤它们的锅中给酒吧饼干，但是还有其他各种礼物包装这些好东西的方法：在漂亮的饼干罐中，在超大咖啡杯中，用鲜艳的外卖容器，或时髦的跳蚤市场陶器。或者，您可以将它们整齐地堆放在纸板蛋糕圆上，并将整个东西包裹在彩色玻璃纸中。只需使用您的想象力，请记住，无论他们如何交付，您的朋友都会喜欢饼干。

锅和包装的来源

For making bar cookies, we like heavy-duty, straight sided, rectangular metal baking pans. Parrish brand pans are good ones to try; they’re sold atBroadway Panhandler. There, you’ll also find parchment, a range of offset spatulas, including a 412-inch Ateco offset icing spatula, and bench scrapers (also called dough scrapers) for cutting bar cookies.

For creative presentation, pack your bar cookies in colorful takeout containers.容器存储carries several styles. Visit甜蜜的庆祝活动for cardboard cake rounds in several sizes. This company carries square and rectangular cake cardboards as well.