17 Holiday Dessert Bars Perfect for Gifting

When the holiday season arrives, dessert bars become your best friend in the kitchen. They’re easy to make in large batches, transport beautifully, and look absolutely gorgeous wrapped up with a festive ribbon.

Whether you’re attending a cookie exchange, need teacher gifts, or want to spread some cheer to neighbors, these 17 bars deliver big flavor without the fuss of individual cookies. Best of all, most can be made ahead and stored for days, giving you one less thing to stress about during the busiest time of year.

Classic Fudgy Brownies

You can never go wrong with a rich, fudgy brownie during the holidays. These chocolate squares have that perfect crackly top and dense, moist center that makes them universally loved. They’re incredibly forgiving to make and require just one bowl and basic pantry ingredients. Package them in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon for an effortlessly elegant gift that appeals to chocolate lovers of all ages.

Lemon Bars

Bright and tangy lemon bars offer a refreshing contrast to all the rich, heavy desserts of the season. The buttery shortbread crust pairs beautifully with the smooth, tart lemon filling that’s dusted with powdered sugar. They’re surprisingly simple to prepare and hold up well in the refrigerator for several days. These bars bring a lovely burst of sunshine to winter celebrations and are perfect for guests who prefer something on the lighter side.

Peppermint Bark Brownies

These festive brownies combine two holiday favorites into one irresistible treat. The fudgy brownie base gets topped with layers of dark and white chocolate, then finished with crushed candy canes for that signature peppermint bark look. They taste like Christmas in dessert form with the perfect balance of rich chocolate and cool mint. The red and white topping makes them visually stunning for gift boxes or holiday platters.

Gingerbread Cookie Bars

All the warm spices of gingerbread cookies come together in an easy bar form that saves you from rolling and cutting individual cookies. These bars are soft, chewy, and packed with cinnamon, ginger, and molasses flavor that fills your kitchen with the most wonderful holiday aroma. A simple cream cheese frosting or dusting of powdered sugar takes them over the top. They’re perfect for anyone who loves traditional gingerbread but wants a quicker baking project.

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Inspired by the famous coffeehouse treat, these bars feature a soft blondie base studded with white chocolate and dried cranberries. They’re topped with cream cheese frosting and a gorgeous sprinkle of more cranberries and white chocolate drizzle. The combination of tart cranberries and sweet white chocolate creates an addictive flavor that screams holiday cheer. They look professionally made but come together easily in your home kitchen.

Pecan Pie Bars

Get all the deliciousness of pecan pie without the hassle of making a pie crust from scratch. These bars have a buttery shortbread base topped with gooey caramel and crunchy pecans that caramelize beautifully in the oven. They’re much easier to slice and serve than traditional pie, making them ideal for parties and gifting. The rich, nutty sweetness makes them a favorite among those who love classic Southern desserts.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Bars

These bars hit every flavor note with their sweet and salty combination that’s completely addictive. A pretzel crust provides the perfect crunchy, salty foundation for layers of caramel and chocolate, finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They’re incredibly easy to assemble with minimal baking required, and they satisfy both sweet and salty cravings in one bite. The contrasting textures make each bite interesting and delicious.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

These creamy bars capture the essence of fall and winter with their spiced pumpkin filling on a gingersnap crust. The cheesecake layer is smooth and tangy, perfectly complementing the sweet pumpkin and warm spices. They need to be refrigerated, which actually makes them great for make-ahead gifting since they taste even better after chilling overnight. They’re a sophisticated option that feels fancy but requires no special baking skills.

Raspberry Crumble Bars

Sweet-tart raspberry filling nestled between layers of buttery crumble creates a dessert that’s both comforting and elegant. These bars have a wonderful jammy center that bursts with fruit flavor, while the crumbly topping adds a satisfying texture. You can use fresh or frozen raspberries, making them convenient to prepare any time. They’re beautiful when dusted with powdered sugar and look lovely cut into squares for gift boxes.

Eggnog Bars

These festive bars taste exactly like your favorite holiday drink in dessert form. The soft, cake-like base is infused with nutmeg and rum extract, then topped with a creamy eggnog glaze that sets perfectly. They’re incredibly moist and flavorful, bringing all those cozy eggnog flavors without requiring you to drink it. These bars are perfect for eggnog lovers and add a unique option to your holiday dessert spread.

Seven Layer Magic Bars

Sometimes called Hello Dolly bars, these no-fuss treats are pure magic with their graham cracker base and layers of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, and condensed milk. They literally bake themselves with almost no active work required from you. The combination of textures and flavors creates something truly special that everyone loves. They’re incredibly easy to customize based on your favorite mix-ins and dietary preferences.

Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Bars

Buttery shortbread gets a festive makeover with a layer of rich chocolate ganache and crushed peppermint candies. The crumbly shortbread base melts in your mouth, while the smooth chocolate and cool mint create the perfect flavor combination. These bars are surprisingly elegant and look impressive on any dessert table. They’re sturdy enough to stack in gift tins and keep well at room temperature for days.

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

These chewy blondies are loaded with creamy white chocolate chips and tart dried cranberries for a flavor combination that’s festive and delicious. The blonde base has a butterscotch-like flavor that’s less intense than traditional brownies but equally satisfying. They’re incredibly easy to throw together and bake up with beautiful crackly tops. The red and white color scheme makes them perfect for holiday gift-giving and celebrations.

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Bars

Imagine your favorite cinnamon roll crossed with rich cheesecake, and you’ve got these amazing bars. They feature a cinnamon swirl throughout a creamy cheesecake filling on a graham cracker crust, topped with vanilla glaze. The combination is absolutely heavenly and tastes like a fancy bakery creation. They do require refrigeration, but they’re worth making ahead as the flavors meld together beautifully overnight.

Turtle Bars

These decadent bars layer everything you love about turtle candies into one convenient bar form. A shortbread crust gets topped with gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and rich chocolate for an indulgent treat that’s hard to resist. They taste expensive and complicated but come together relatively easily with simple ingredients. The combination of textures and the classic chocolate-caramel-pecan trio makes them a crowd-pleasing favorite.

Candy Cane Fudge Bars

Rich chocolate fudge meets crushed candy canes in these festive bars that are perfect for peppermint lovers. The fudge layer is dense and intensely chocolatey, while the candy cane pieces add a refreshing crunch and cool mint flavor. They’re much easier than traditional fudge making since they bake in the oven rather than requiring a candy thermometer. The red and white swirls make them absolutely gorgeous for holiday gifting.

Apple Pie Bars

All the comforting flavors of apple pie come together in these easy-to-make bars with a buttery crust and cinnamon-spiced apple filling. The bars have a wonderful crumb topping that adds texture and extra sweetness to complement the tender apples. They’re much simpler than making an actual pie and slice cleanly for perfect portions. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or package them up for gifts that taste like home.