Raising the bar for terrific treats

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Cookie bars, sliced pie squares, granola bars and crisped rice treats. Whether topped with a drizzle of chocolate or crumbly streusel, bars are the go-to treats for bake sales and school lunches, perfect for potlucks and office parties, or simply a snack when you’re on the run.

Unpretentious and unapologetically old-school, bars are the stuff of Betty Crocker and “The Joy of Cooking,” tapping into our childhood nostalgia for food enjoyed on school buses and at soccer practice.

You can take your favorite granola recipe and convert it into bars too. Keep in mind that, as opposed to traditional granola, which is spread out on a sheet pan and slowly toasted, homemade granola bars will require additional baking time to give them a chance to set up.

While most cookies, pies and even some cake recipes can be converted to bars, keep in mind that as the recipe changes, so too will the baking time and final temperature.