Kids love desserts. They sometimes ask for the dessert first more than the main meal. Or they may ask for it any time of the day. They can even eat as their breakfast or snacks. These can be baked treats like cakes, pies, and pastries. These are loaded with sweets, chocolates, or nuts that can be appetizing for the kids. And admit it, it’s not only for the young but also for the young at heart.
Sheet pan bars for dessert sounds delicious. What are these? These are desserts that are cooked with the use of the sheet pan. Sheet pan or also known as baking tray or baking sheet is a flat rectangular pan used in an oven. These are often used in making bread and pastries, cookies, cakes, rolls and pizzas. There are many cookie bars or dessert bar recipes you can serve for parties or a crowd.
Whether you want dessert recipes and ideas for catering or you just want to give your kids sweet treats, you can prepare these tasty desserts using your sheet pans.
Sheet pan lemon bars
Ingredients:
Crust:
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 10 ounce of butter, cut into chunks
Lemon Custard:
- 8 eggs
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- ÂĽ tsp salt
- Âľ cup milk
- ÂĽ cup lemon zest
- 1 ½ cups lemon juice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°F.
In a food processor, mix flour, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly add in the butter. Put the mixture in a buttered 12” x 18” sheet tray. Slightly press to produce an even layer of crust.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the inside.
Prepare the topping. In a bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the sugar, salt, and flour. Whisk until well mixed. Add in the lemon zest, milk and juice and continue blending.
Pour the topping in the baked lemon crust and bake for another 20 minutes. Chill for two hours before cutting this real simple lemon rectangular pie into bars. Sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Easy chocolate chip cookie bar
Ingredients:
- 2 ÂĽ cups all-purpose flour (leveled)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- Âľ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup of chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ÂĽ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: sea salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line the bottom and sides of a 9” square baking pan with parchment. Be sure to leave an overhang on each side to lift the bars easily when cooked. Set aside.
Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
In another bowl, whisked melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until smooth. Add in the egg and continue whisking. Add in the egg yolk and the vanilla extract and continue whisking until thick.
Pour this mixture into the mixed dry ingredients. Stir until well combined. The dough will be very soft but thick. Fold in the chocolate chips. Make sure that it is well combined.
Pour this mixture to the prepared baking pan. Press in an even layer. You can press a few more chocolate chips on the top of the dough. You can sprinkle sea salt in the top if desired for a sweet-salty taste.
Bake for until light brown, about 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow cooling in the pan for at least an hour. Once cool, you can lift the chocolate chips cookies with the help of the overhanging parchment and cut into squares.
Sheet pan chocolate chips oatmeal cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi-sweet, or a combination of both)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Slightly grease a 9” x 13” pan with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add in vanilla. Set aside. This is the butter mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and a cup of chocolate chips.
Add in the butter mixture and stir until well combined.
Put half of the mixture in the pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips. Pour in the remaining cookie mixture. Slightly press for an even layer.
Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. It should also be golden brown. Let it cool before cutting into squares.
*You can substitute butterscotch chips for chocolate chips to create butterscotch oatmeal cookies.
Carrot-raisins bar
This is an easy bar recipe using cake mix but will surely satisfy your sweet cravings.Â
Ingredients:
- 1 package 2-layer size cake mix (yellow or white)
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ÂĽ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup finely shredded carrots
- ½ cup raisins
- 16-ounce cream cheese frosting
- ÂĽ cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease and flour a 15” x 10” x 1” baking pan. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, oil, milk, eggs and vanilla using an electric mixer on medium speed. Once combined, add in carrots and raisins. Blend more with the use of a wooden spoon.
Pour batter in the baking pan, spread evenly.
Baked in the oven for 20-22 minutes or until top springs back when touched. Let it cool over a wire rack.
Frost with cream cheese frosting. Topped with chopped nuts. Cut into bars.
These recipes can be adjusted for more servings. You just need to double or triple the ingredients, cut into bars when cooked and serve as easy finger foods for dessert in parties or crowd. Sheet pan dessert can make a meal complete for its appetizing look and sumptuous taste.
Also, these are recipes that are easy to prepare. These are not only the best dessert to bring to a dinner party, but you can also stock some on airtight containers and put it in the fridge for your kids’ cravings.
Read also:
- Apple Recipes for Kids: Tempting Desserts
- Sumptuous Healthy Yogurt Dessert Recipes
- Sweet Treats for Your Kids: Best Polish Oven Desserts
