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    Home » Bars » Holiday Bar Box

    Holiday Bar Box

    By Mike Johnson ⁠— December 20, 2020 (Updated September 8, 2022) — 1 Comment

    5 from 6 votes

    A chewy, gingery, oaty base topped with a sweet, spicy ginger icing.
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Disclosure page.

    Move over holiday cookie boxes, this collection of delicious brownies and bars make the most amazing Holiday Bar Box!

    Table of contents

    • The Best Box to Use For a Holiday Bar Box (or Holiday Cookie Box)
    • Holiday Bar Box Recipes
      • Peppermint Patty Brownies
      • Oaty Ginger Crunch
      • Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats
      • Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice
      • Espresso Carmelitas
      • Festive Birthday Cake Blondies
    Holiday Bar Box

    This Holiday Bar Box is a fun collaboration with my friend Erin from Cloudy Kitchen! Erin and I have collaborated on a few recipes now, like this apple cider layer cake, these cranberry & white chocolate macarons, and these Thanksgiving doughnuts. And because our collabs are so fun, we decided to get a little fancy and team up for the ultimate holiday-inspired recipe post; move over cookie boxes... this Holiday Bar Box is taking center stage now!

    Holiday Bar Box

    The Best Box to Use For a Holiday Bar Box (or Holiday Cookie Box)

    We used this box to make this holiday bar box and then Erin's husband, Rich, cut us little dividers on a laser cutter. The craft wood is soft enough, however, that you could probably use a craft knife and a ruler. Then, we just glued the dividers in. When in doubt, just organize your treats by type, no sectionals needed!

    Holiday Bar Box

    Holiday Bar Box Recipes

    We put together 6 of our favorite brownie/bar/slice recipes to make this festive box; you can find all of the recipes either linked below or in their own individual recipe cards at the bottom of this post! Here's what's inside:

    Peppermint Patty Brownies

    Peppermint Patty Brownies

    These Peppermint Patty Brownies were a fun little recipe that I developed for Bake From Scratch Magazine's Holiday Cookies Issue. The brownie is soft, the filling minty, and who doesn't love a nice chocolate coating?! It screams peppermint patty without actually requiring you to have/use peppermint patties.

    Oaty Ginger Crunch

    Oaty Ginger Crunch

    This Oaty Ginger Crunch is a New Zealand treat that Erin put together! It's a chewy, gingery, oaty base topped with a sweet, spicy ginger icing. These bad boys are sweet (and they're supposed to be), so I recommend cutting them into small bite-sized pieces perfect for snacking on.

    Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats

    Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats

    These Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats are a fun little twist on a recipe from my cookbook, Even Better Brownies. Rice Krispie Treats are already pretty perfect, in my opinion. So the addition of brown butter and festive holiday sprinkles really just take these over the top. A quick note regarding the sprinkles: feel free to use any color you want, but I would avoid nonpareils and stick to jimmies or confetti-type sprinkles!

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice

    This Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice recipe is another genius creation from Erin. One thing we both agree on is the fact that brown butter makes everything taste better, and this caramel slice is no exception! It has a brown butter shortbread base topped with a silky brown butter caramel and is finished off with a smooth layer of chocolate. YUM!

    Espresso Carmelitas

    Espresso Carmelitas

    These Espresso Carmelitas are a recipe from my cookbook, Even Better Brownies. They're basically a buttery brown sugar and oats cookie bar that is stuffed with chocolate chips, pecans, and espresso caramel. You're gonna love them, trust me! Not a fan of coffee? Feel free to omit the espresso powder; you'll still be left with a delicious treat, trust me!

    Festive Birthday Cake Blondies

    Erin shared this recipe for Birthday Cake Blondies from my cookbook on her blog recently, and so we thought it would be a great idea to make them festive with some holiday sprinkles and include them in our little holiday bar box. You'll notice the recipe calls for clear imitation vanilla extract --- this is a trick I learned from Christina Tosi (Milk Bar) years ago; clear imitation vanilla is what gives you that box mix funfetti cake flavor from your childhood (which personally, I love). You can replace it with 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract if you prefer!

    Festive Birthday Cake Blondies

    Feel free to mix and match the heck out of this box - use any recipes you like, and arrange the dividers (if using) however you see fit! You can never go wrong when assembling a box full of delicious treats!

    Holiday Bar Box

    Looking for more brownie/bar recipes to include in your own box?
    Check these out!
    Ultimate Fudge Brownies
    S’mores Brownies
    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies
    Even Better Brownies (my cookbook!)

    Oaty Ginger Crunch
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Oaty Ginger Crunch

    A chewy, gingery, oaty base topped with a sweet, spicy ginger icing.
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: Brownies & Bars, Ginger Slice
    Servings: 32 squares
    Calories: 230kcal
    Author: Erin Clarkson

    Ingredients

    For the Base:

    • 300 g all-purpose flour
    • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 2½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 300 g light brown sugar
    • 135 g old-fashioned oats
    • 225 g unsalted butter
    • 90 g golden syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

    For the Ginger Topping:

    • 135 g unsalted butter
    • 125 g golden syrup
    • 1½ tablespoon ground ginger
    • 325 g powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

    Instructions

    To Make the Base:

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9x9-inch pan, and line with two pieces of parchment paper, so that there is an overhang on all sides, forming a sling.
    • In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and ground ginger. Add the brown sugar and rolled oats, and mix well to combine.
    • In a small pot, melt together the butter, golden syrup, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix well. Press the mixture into the tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden on the edges. Five minutes before the base is done, prepare the topping.

    To Make the Topping:

    • Add all of the ingredients to a medium pot in the order listed. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Pour over the hot base, and leave at room temperature until set. Slice into pieces with a hot knife.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container. Can be kept in the fridge, but bring to room temperature before eating.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1square | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 281IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Tag @mikebakesnyc and use the hashtag #mikebakesnyc!
    Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Brown Butter Holiday Rice Krispie Treats

    The best Rice Krispie Treat you will ever taste.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Brown Butter, Brownies & Bars, Even Better Brownies, Rice Krispie Treats
    Servings: 16 treats
    Calories: 175kcal
    Author: Mike Johnson

    Ingredients

    • 170 g unsalted butter
    • ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 285 g mini marshmallows
    • 170 g crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
    • 80 g festive sprinkles (avoid nonpareils)
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Line a 9 x 9–inch pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set it aside.
    • Place the butter in a light-colored skillet. (The light-colored skillet will help you determine when the butter begins browning.) Melt the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once melted, the butter will start to foam. Keep stirring. After 5 to 8 minutes, the butter will begin browning; you’ll notice lightly browned specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan, and you’ll start to smell a nutty aroma. Once browned, immediately remove from the heat, then stir in the salt and vanilla.
    • Working quickly, add half of the marshmallows and stir until thoroughly melted. Add the remaining marshmallows and stir until melted. (The residual heat from the butter should be enough to melt them without adding the heat, but you can return the pot to medium-low heat for a few minutes if the second addition of marshmallows isn’t melting quickly.)
      Note: After you add the marshmallows, keep the heat on low or below medium-low. If your marshmallow is exposed to heat that’s too high, you’ll end up with treats hard enough to break your teeth!
    • Add the cereal and about ¾ of the sprinkles and gently fold it in with a rubber spatula coated in nonstick cooking spray until the cereal is completely covered with the marshmallow mixture. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Using the rubber spatula, gently press the mixture into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining sprinkles on top.
      Note: Don’t pack the Rice Krispie Treats into the pan too tightly. If you pack them too tightly, they can end up dense and difficult to bite through.
    • Let the treats stand at room temperature until set, about 1 hour, before cutting into bars.

    Notes

    The treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1treat | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Tag @mikebakesnyc and use the hashtag #mikebakesnyc!
    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Slice

    A brown butter shortbread base topped with a silky brown butter caramel and finished off with a smooth layer of chocolate.
    Prep Time45 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time1 hr 15 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: Brown Butter, Brownies & Bars, Salted Caramel
    Servings: 12 slices
    Calories: 558kcal
    Author: Erin Clarkson

    Ingredients

    For the Brown Butter:

    • 360 g unsalted butter

    For the Brown Butter Shortbread Base:

    • 160 g brown butter at room temperature, spreadable consistency (see notes)
    • 85 g dark brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • ¾ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
    • 275 g all-purpose flour

    For the Brown Butter Salted Caramel Filling:

    • 400 g sweetened condensed milk
    • 185 g light brown sugar
    • 100 g brown butter
    • 50 g golden syrup (or corn syrup)
    • ¾ teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

    For the Chocolate Topping:

    • 180 g 70% cacao dark chocolate
    • 30 g canola oil
    • Optional for feathering- 50g white chocolate melted with ½ teaspoon canola oil

    Instructions

    To Make the Brown Butter:

    • Place the butter in a light-colored skillet. (The light-colored skillet will help you determine when the butter begins browning.) Melt the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once melted, the butter will start to foam. Keep stirring. After 5 to 8 minutes, the butter will begin browning; you’ll notice lightly browned specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan, and you’ll start to smell a nutty aroma. Once browned, immediately remove from the heat.
    • Transfer to a bowl, allow to cool slightly, then transfer the bowl to the freezer and chill the butter until solid. Remove from the freezer and bring to room temperature, stirring often, until soft and spreadable.

    To Make the Brown Butter Shortbread Base:

    • Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch pan with two pieces of parchment paper leaving an overhang on the sides to use as handles.
    • In a medium bowl, cream together the spreadable brown butter and brown sugar using a spoon or spatula. Add the salt, vanilla, and flour, and bring together to form a soft, homogenous dough. Pat the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan, smoothing down with a flat bottomed measuring cup or offset spatula. Prick all over with a fork and chill for 10 minutes.
    • Bake the base for 30 to 35 minutes, until set and evenly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

    To Make the Brown Butter Salted Caramel Filling:

    • Place the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, brown butter and golden syrup in a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan.
    • Place over medium heat and stir until melted together, then cook, stirring constantly with a whisk or rubber spatula, until the mixture registers 220°F (105°C) on an instant-read thermometer. Watch the bottom carefully to avoid the mixture catching, turning down the heat if needed.
    • Once the caramel has reached the correct temperature, add the vanilla and salt, mix well to incorporate, and pour it over the cooled shortbread base and smooth off by shaking the pan and using an offset spatula if needed. Transfer to the fridge and allow to set for 1-1½ hours or until you can no longer feel the heat in it.

    To Make the Chocolate Topping:

    • In a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt together the chocolate and the oil, stirring frequently, until smooth. Alternatively, melt together in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well after each.
    • Pour over the set caramel filling, and tilt the pan to evenly coat. Bang the pan on the counter several times to smooth out the topping and eliminate any bubbles. If you would like to add the feathering, pipe horizontal stripes of the melted white chocolate across the surface, then feather using a skewer or toothpick by dragging it up and down the surface of the chocolate, perpendicular to the lines that you piped.
    • Chill in the fridge until completely set, at least an hour or overnight. Remove from the pan by using the parchment paper slings and cut into slices using a sharp knife, wiping between each.

    Notes

    Brown all of the butter at once and then place into a bowl or container and chill it down until it is a spreadable texture - you can either do this in the freezer, stirring often, or if you are making it ahead, just pop it in the fridge then bring out and let it come to room temperature/a spreadable texture when you are ready to bake.
     
    Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 558kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 636IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you try this recipe?Tag @mikebakesnyc and use the hashtag #mikebakesnyc!
    Espresso Carmelitas
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Espresso Carmelitas

    A buttery brown sugar and oats cookie bar that is stuffed with chocolate chips, pecans, and espresso caramel. From Even Better Brownies.
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: Brownies & Bars, Carmelitas, Even Better Brownies, Salted Caramel
    Servings: 16 bars
    Calories: 363kcal
    Author: Mike Johnson

    Ingredients

    For the Espresso Caramel:

    • 200 g granulated sugar
    • 85 g unsalted butter
    • 120 g heavy cream
    • 1½ teaspoon espresso powder
    • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

    For the Carmelitas:

    • 170 g unsalted butter melted
    • 165 g light brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 120 g all-purpose flour
    • 80 g old-fashioned oats
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • 175 g semisweet chocolate chips
    • 55 g chopped pecans
    • 1 batch espresso caramel
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray an 8 x 8–inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and line the pan with parchment paper with an overhang on two sides. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.

    To Make the Espresso Caramel:

    • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the granulated sugar, stirring with a high heat–resistant rubber spatula or wooden spoon. The sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick, amber-colored liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn it!
    • Once the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes, immediately add the butter and stir until melted, about 2 minutes. (Be careful with this step, because the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added.)
    • Very slowly drizzle in the heavy cream while stirring. Allow the mixture to boil for 30 to 45 seconds, then remove it from the heat. Stir in the espresso powder and salt and set it aside until needed.

    To Make the Carmelitas:

    • In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, light brown sugar, vanilla, flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir everything together with a fork. Press half of the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the top evenly with the chocolate chips and pecans, and then with the espresso caramel. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the caramel. Return the pan to the oven and continue to bake for 18 to 20 minutes, just until the edges are lightly browned.
    • Remove from the oven. Cool in the pan on a wire rack at least 3 hours before removing and cutting into bars.

    Notes

    Cover and store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 270mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 514IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Tag @mikebakesnyc and use the hashtag #mikebakesnyc!
    Festive Birthday Cake Blondies
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Birthday Cake Blondies

    From Even Better Brownies
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Blondies, Brownies & Bars, Even Better Brownies
    Servings: 16 blondies
    Calories: 214kcal
    Author: Mike Johnson

    Ingredients

    • 180 g all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 115 g unsalted butter melted
    • 165 g dark brown sugar
    • 100 g granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon clear imitation vanilla extract (see notes)
    • 60 g rainbow sprinkles divided
    • 90 g white chocolate chips
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8"x8" pan and then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Grease the parchment paper then set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for about a minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until lighter in color, about 4 minutes. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
    • Gently fold in 5 tablespoons (50 g) of the sprinkles and the white chocolate chips until evenly incorporated. Transfer the batter to the pan and top with the remaining 1 tablespoon (10 g) of rainbow sprinkles.
    • Bake until the top and edges are set and golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the blondies to cool in the pan for 45 minutes before removing and slicing.

    Notes

    I learned this trick from Milk Bar years ago --- clear imitation vanilla extract is what gives you the funfetti birthday cake flavor from your childhood. You can replace it with 1 tablespoon (15ml) of pure vanilla extract if that's all you have!
     
    Cover and store leftover blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1blondie | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Tag @mikebakesnyc and use the hashtag #mikebakesnyc!

    MikeBakesNYC LLC owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this website unless authorization is given. If you enjoyed the recipe and would like to publish it on your site, please re-write it in your own words, and link back to my site and recipe page. Read my Disclosure page. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Filed Under

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    Comments

    1. Joelle

      May 06, 2021 at 7:19 am

      5 stars
      When receiving Mike's cookbook "Even better Brownies" as a belated Christmas gift to myself, I immediately knew I had to make the Espresso Carmelitas. As a fellow food blogger, I love to try out other blogger's delicious, original recipes too. And goodness, these Espresso Carmelitas were absolutely, 100%, mega fantastic! The crumbly, buttery oat-base is to die for (I ate my fair share of dough) and the espresso caramel by itself is out of this world, too.
      We couldn't stop ourselves from eating them directly out of the oven (it was a delicious, ooey-gooey mess), but if you have the willpower, I do suggest refrigerating the bars as Mike instructs us to do. The bars definitely hold their shape better, and are equally as nice. They're a wee bit crunchy, not too sweet, and burst with flavour!

      I also made a second batch with gluten-free flour and oats because my sister was diagnosed with gluten intolerance a few weeks later (yay). The recipe worked quite fine, although the baked bars were a bit more "soggy" and gooey. Next time, I think I would add some more gf oats. For the gluten-free version, I really suggest refrigerating the bars: The gf version definitely firmed up when cooled and my sister said they tasted exactly like they original recipe which isn't gluten-free!

      I Will definitely be making these again; I can recommend these Espresso Carmelitas to any coffee-, chocolate- or caramel-lover!

      Reply

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