Before the hectic holidays, do yourself a favor and get started on make-and-freeze bar treats. These make-ahead sweets give you flexibility when you get a last-minute invitation or unexpected visitors—you’ll be able to pull your bars out of the freezer and get baking at a moment’s notice (or, in the case of no-bake treats, just pull them out and defrost).
How to Freeze Bar Treats
As long as your treats are stored properly and kept in a freezer at 0°F, they should last about six months. When the cookies have cooled completely, wrap them individually and store them in a zip-top freezer bag or an airtight container. Don’t forget to label the storage container.
Alternatively, you can freeze cookies or bars between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container and cover the top layer with another layer of wax paper or foil to prevent air from reaching the treats; this will help prevent freezer burn.
Follow any of the recipes below to save you precious time during the holidays, not to mention a delicious treat.
Orange Cream Sugar Cookie Bars
Blaine Moats
If you need a break from cutouts, make sugar cookie bars instead for the holidays. A pinch of orange zest gives the bars their citrus flavor, and fluffy white chocolate frosting makes them scrumptious enough for a holiday treat.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Honey-Roasted Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Ganache
Andy Lyons
Sandwich creamy honey-roasted peanut butter between two layers of rich chocolate. A smooth, creamy chocolate ganache forms the top layer, while decadent devil’s food cake mix makes up the bottom.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Jacob Fox
Add a burst of bright red to your cookie plate when you serve these festive Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars. A drizzle of melted milk chocolate on top makes each bar look almost like its own individual gift.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars
Andy Lyons
Creme brulee has never been easier than this. Make classic cheesecake bars and then use a kitchen torch or your broiler to caramelize the sugar on top. The caramelized sugar softens with storing, so for a crisp topper, add the sugar and heat just before serving.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Copycat Musketeer Bars
Andy Lyons
There’s no need to buy your kids’ favorite candy bar for their Christmas stockings: You can make a batch at home instead! With no bake time and just 25 minutes of prep, you can whip up enough of these creamy chocolate bars to share with all your holiday guests.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
No-Bake Butterscotch Bars
Kritsada Panichgul
These bars stack up three layers of deliciousness: peanut butter and cereal on the bottom, butterscotch pudding in the middle, and luscious chocolate frosting on top. Sprinkle in chopped peanut butter candies to make these holiday treats even more decadent.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
Andy Lyons
A cinnamon-sugar topping is the perfect finish for these shortcut cheesecake bars. Make a batch using refrigerated biscuit dough, cinnamon cream cheese, and orange zest. A drizzle of honey just before serving adds a sweet touch.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Coconut Joy Candy Bars
Andy Lyons
If you need a little taste of the tropics when snowflakes start falling, try these coconut-filled bars with a rich milk chocolate ganache topping. All your dessert cravings will be satisfied.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Cinnamon Bars
Andy Lyons
These simple cookie bars can be ready in an hour, but you can store them for up to a month (if they don’t disappear when they’re fresh out of the oven). A quick sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar is the only topper these bars need.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Chocolate Revel Bars
Carson Downing
Sandwich a rich chocolate filling between layers of oat and nut dough to create these freezer bars. As one reviewer raves, “Have made these for years. Most requested recipe by my kids and their friends. Always leave with an empty pan when I bring to the potluck.”
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Holiday 7-Layer Bars
Jason Donnelly
Seven layers might seem overly decadent, but the holidays are worthy of each and every one. Our favorite addition? The candied orange peel sprinkled on top.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Cherry Crumble Pie Bars
Scott Little
We don’t know about you, but our holiday isn’t complete without a slice of cherry pie. Get the same flavor with this bar recipe, which makes a big batch so everyone can have a taste.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Chocolaty Caramel-Nut S’more Bars
Andy Lyons
You’ll need just seven ingredients to whip up these freezer-friendly bar cookies. Start with a base made with crushed chocolate wafer cookies and top it with creamy caramel. Finish the bars with crushed nuts, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Fruitcake Cookie Bars
Carson Downing
These moist fruitcake bars are loaded with the traditional dried fruit, chopped nuts, and seasonal spices. We’ve dressed them up with bittersweet chocolate chunks and freshly grated nutmeg.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Pistachio Gelato Brownie Bars
Carson Downing
Bake up a pan of brownies and use them to make these creamy pistachio ice cream bars. To create the crunchy top, brush the brownies with chocolate syrup and roll them in salted pistachios. We find these are easiest to cut with a serrated knife.
Freeze: Up to 2 weeks
Gooey Chocolate-Caramel Bars
Andy Lyons
The secret to these gooey, make-ahead dessert bars? Squares of milk chocolate-covered caramel. Our Test Kitchen recommends using the Ghirardelli brand.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
Karla Conrad
You’re just six ingredients away from whipping up these creamy chocolate chip cheesecake bars. Start with chocolate chip cookie dough and top it with a homemade cheesecake batter. Stash them in the freezer and they’re ready when you are.
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Chewy Cherry Almond Bars
Blaine Moats
This Christmas bar cookie recipe is easy to customize. As one Better Homes & Gardens home cook shares, “Gooey cherries, crunchy almonds, and tasty oats combine to make these bars a sweet treat any time of year. I substituted thawed frozen blueberries mixed with some blueberry jam and the result was terrific!”
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Maple-Bourbon Cheesecake Bars
Andy Lyons
Fall flavors, like maple and bourbon, shine in this make-ahead bar recipe. This freezer cheesecake recipe makes 32 bars—perfect for holiday hosting.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
No-Bake Irish Cream Pudding Bars
These no-bake bars are perfect for chocolate lovers. You can’t go wrong with two layers of chocolate separated by creamy pudding.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Tangerine Cheesecake Bars
Jason Donnelly
Put a citrus twist on classic cheesecake bars. Garnish with a candied tangerine peel to create a dessert that looks as good as it tastes.
Freeze: Up to 6 months
Caramel-Cashew Bars
Jason Donnelly
Caramel, marshmallows, and cashews sit atop a shortbread crust to make a delicious and gooey dessert bar. Ready in less than 45 minutes, these bars are perfect to make when in a time crunch.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Peanutty Buckeye Bars
Blaine Moats
From start to finish, these peanut butter buckeye bars are ready to serve in just 45 minutes. A crunch top, creamy middle, and brownie base make for a mouth-watering dessert bar.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Peppermint Cream Bites
Karla Conrad
These peppermint cream bars are just as good as Girl Scout Thin Mints. Mimic the cookie texture by using crushed chocolate sandwich cookies to make the base of the bars. Top with peppermint cream and melted chocolate.
Freeze: Up to 3 months
Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars
Brie Passano
Trade in traditional pecan pie for dessert bars instead. Chocolate and bourbon make these pecan bars extra decadent.
Freeze: Up to 3 months