How To Cut Cake Squares Perfectly Even

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Make sure your desserts always look their best by learning how to cut brownies and dessert bars three ways.

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Whether it'southward for a holiday dinner, potluck or bake sale, dessert confined are a crowd-pleasing dessert option for nearly every occasion. You can become classic with fudge brownies and snickerdoodle confined, or dazzle gustation buds with blueberry lattice bars and pistachio-cherry s'more bars. Either way, these convenient treats can exist packed up right in their blistering pan and brought to the festivities without risking total transport disaster.

Simply as piece of cake as this on-the-go confection is, dessert confined aren't always the prettiest treat on the dessert table. (Especially when one of these gorgeous cakes are on the table!) Luckily, Taste of Home's Examination Kitchen experts accept the answer: perfectly sliced dessert bars. Information technology might not seem the most exciting, merely groomed bars wait professional and will ensure every piece is as even as the next.

Keep reading to learn our Exam Kitchen's preferred cutting methods and more must-have baking tips.

Psst: Hither's how to fix the most mutual baking issues.

Earlier You Bake

Prevent your dessert bars from sticking to their pan past properly preparing and greasing the pan. Showtime, line your baking pan with two layers of parchment newspaper. For your first layer, y'all'll want the parchment paper to accomplish upwards the sides of the pan, so cut the paper a little long. Then, layer the parchment paper with i piece going lengthwise along the pan and the other going widthwise.

Next, grease the parchment paper with shortening, butter or cooking spray. While this might feel frivolous given the parchment paper, trust usa when we say it volition aid ensure not a crumb of your dessert confined will become left backside.

Once the pan has been prepped, fill it with your dessert bar batter and bake as directed. Here are some of our accented favorite dessert bar recipes for inspiration.

Our Secret Weapon for Cut Bars

Rather than a standard kitchen pocketknife Taste of Home's Examination Kitchen turns to a demote scraperto cut dessert bars. If you lot're unfamiliar, a bench scraper is a super-tool made of sparse metallic that can exist used to split doughs, chop veg, cut pasta and scrape $.25 and pieces off your counters and pans.

This tool is especially helpful when cutting dessert confined equally the long border of the scraper gives you more command over your cuts than a knife would. Plus, a scraper gives yous control to apply an up/down cutting motility, rather than the dragging of a knife, meaning your edges won't exist full of crumbs and loose chunks.

The Test Kitchen'south become-to brand is Norpro, whose stainless steel scraper comes with measurements correct on the side and so you mensurate each piece out before you cut.

Want to cook just similar our Test Kitchen? Check out all of our experts' favorite kitchen tools hither.

Method 1 for Slicing Bars: Squares

Gustatory modality of Dwelling house

After your bars have cooled completely, lift the bake from the pan using the parchment paper and place them on a cutting board.

For an 8×eight pan:

1. Using your bench scraper, measure out out to the eye of the full-sized slice and cut downwards.
2. Measure the halfway point betwixt the heart cut and the border. Cutting straight downward, and then repeat on the other side of the heart cut. At present you should take four columns of bars that are each ii-inches broad.
3. Turn the dessert and echo your cuts until you have 16 two-inch squares.

For a thirteen×9 pan:

1. Kickoff on the shorter side facing toward you. Measure to the middle point and cutting away from yous.
2. Observe the halfway bespeak between the edge and the middle cutting, and cut all the way down. Repeat on the other side of the center cutting. Now you'll have four columns that are ii ¼ -inches wide.
3. Turn the pan longways. Measure to the heart of the full-sized slice and cut through the columns. From the edge, measure out 2 i/ten-inches using the demote scraper, make a mark, so mensurate and marking another ii 1/10-inches. Cutting down from the 2 marks.
4. Repeat on the other side of the eye cut. At present y'all'll have 21 2¼ tenii one/10-inch foursquare bars.

Editor's note: When you're cutting with a bench scraper, be certain to cut by pressing the scraper straight downward and pulling it straight out, rather than sawing. This volition keep your cuts straight and even.

Method ii: Wedges

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Ever allow the confined to cool completely, then remove them from the pan using the parchment paper. This is just like cut squares, except you lot'll be slicing every square in half to brand triangle-shaped wedges.

For an viii×viii pan

1. Cutting larger squares than you would for the standard square cut. They tin can exist four inches past 4 inches hither.
2. And then take your bench scraper and cut corner to corner so you have triangular wedges.

For a thirteen×nine pan

1. Cutting 3 long rows into your bars (that'due south three three-inch rows).
2. And so cut across the other way to form rectangles—they should be betwixt three and 4 inches across
3. Cut each rectangle in half diagonally with the demote scraper or a abrupt knife.

Method 3: Long Rectangles

Taste of Home

Once more, allow your confined to cool completely, then remove them from the pan using the parchment paper lining.

For an viii×8 Pan:

1. On i side, make three marks that are ii-inches apart and cutting down. Plow the bars and make one mark in the middle, four-inches from the edge, and cut down. Y'all'll have 8 2×iv-inch rectangles.

For a thirteen×ix Pan:

1. On the long side of the pan, make a mark and cut downward every 2 one/ten-inches, then you have half dozen columns. Plough the pan to its shorter side and brand one cut downwardly the middle, 4 ½-inches from the edge. You'll end upwards with 12 2 1/10×4 ½-inch rectangles.

At present that your dessert bars are perfectly cut, pack them back upward in their pan or on a decorative platter and become ready to impress your friends and family.

Try More of Our Dessert Bar Recipes

Bake-Sale Lemon Bars

The recipe for these tangy lemon confined comes from my cousin Bernice, a farmer's wife famous for cooking up feasts. —Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois

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Macadamia Sunshine Confined

Your guests will exist delighted with my confined. They are packed with basics and stale fruit. I think that when y'all take a seize with teeth of this treat it'due south like a mini-vacation to a Polynesian paradise. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Peach Crumb Bars

I had the about cute peaches and really wanted to bake with them. I started with my huckleberry crumb bar recipe, and after a couple of tries, I was and so happy with the results. My co-worker sense of taste testers were, besides! —Amy Burns, Newman, Illinois

Chocolaty S'mores Confined

I night my husband had some friends over to play poker and he requested these s'mores bars. They polished off the pan and asked for more! I shared the recipe, and now their families make them, besides. —Rebecca Shipp, Beebe, Arkansas

White Chocolate Cereal Bars

A friend shared with me this fresh take on traditional crispy treats. My husband loves them, and I feel so efficient with their quick prep time. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama

Raspberry Patch Crumb Bars

To give these fresh, fruity bars even more crisis, add a sprinkling of basics to the yummy crumb topping. Everyone volition want to indulge. —Leanna M. Thorne, Lakewood, Colorado

Lavender Lemon Bars

Hints of lavander and lemon zest in the crust make these treats a favorite. —Judith Hilinski, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Chocolate Chunk Walnut Blondies

Put a stack of these beauties out at a potluck and you'll find only crumbs on your platter when it's time to caput home. Everyone will be request who made those scrumptious blondies, and then be sure to bring copies of the recipe! —Peggy Woodward, Taste of Dwelling Senior Food Editor

Orange Cashew Bars

Ii of my favorite ingredients, oranges and cashews, make a fantastic combination for a holiday bar—peculiarly when you use fresh-squeezed orange juice in the coat. —Anna Forest, Cullowhee, North Carolina

Chocolate Peanut Treats

When I was in high school, I took these sweetness and crunchy squares to bake sales— and they were the first to sell out. I notwithstanding make them for family unit and friends who love the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Christy Asher, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Browned Butter Cereal Bars

Crispy rice treats were one of the first recipes I e'er fabricated as a child. For this version, I wanted to brand something like but more special. Friends and family think using Cap'n Crunch and browned butter is genius, only I simply call them delicious.—Kelly Krauss, Lebanon, New Jersey

Southward Dakota Frito Treats

Yep, they're made with corn chips, but don't let that fool you. These salty sweets were a staple afterwards meetings at the quilt guild I one time belonged to. —Ballad Tramp, Wynot, Nebraska

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-alee strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at whatever potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan

Lemon-Lime Bars

This easy lime bar recipe is a dessert that volition wow your guests. I baked these bars for a dejeuner on a hot summer twenty-four hour period. A gentleman fabricated his way to the kitchen to compliment the cook who made them. —Holly Wilkins, Lake Elmore, Vermont

M&Yard Oat Bars

These irresistible confined can sweeten whatsoever holiday. —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota

Chocolate Maple Bars

My family unit runs a maple syrup operation, and I'm e'er looking for new ways to incorporate maple syrup into my cooking and baking. These confined are delicious! —Cathy Schumacher, Alto, Michigan

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Confined

Lower in fat and calories than you might always guess, these sweet confined couldn't be easier to whip upward, boast a great chocolaty flavor, and make a fun, quick dessert to bring to parties or serve to company! —Jennifer Rafferty, Milford, Ohio

Zucchini Dessert Squares

We planted one besides many zucchini plants a few summers ago and harvested a lot of zucchini that year. I was looking for ways to utilize them, and this delicious dessert is the result. —Nancy Morelli, Livonia, Michigan

Gooey Chocolate-Peanut Bars

These are so easy to brand and accept no time at all. They're smashing to package up for those college kids looking for something from home. Anybody will want this recipe. —Elaine Grimme, Sioux Falls, Due south Dakota

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

My family unit loves this peanut butter cookie bars recipe—oatmeal, brownie bars, peanuts—information technology'southward fabricated from all our favorite things! Oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate chips make these confined a large hitting with kids of all ages. Since I ever have these basic ingredients on hand, I can whip upwards a batch someday. —Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa

Can't Get out Alone Confined

I take these quick and like shooting fish in a barrel treats to church meetings, potlucks and housewarming parties. I ofttimes make a double batch so we can enjoy some at habitation. —Kimberly Biel, Java, Due south Dakota

Lemon Bars

This delightful lemon bar recipe is from my mother's file. I've been serving information technology for many years. They has a wonderful tangy flavour, and they're always a hit. The color and shape make them a squeamish add-on to a platter of cookies. —Etta Soucy, Mesa, Arizona

Snickerdoodle Blondie Bars

When asked to bring a dessert for my boys' football team to share, I whipped up these unique blondies and was instantly named "the greatest mom" past all. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California

No-Broil Cereal Bars

With ii kinds of cereal and peanut butter, these bars taste almost like processed. —Pauline Christiansen, Columbus, Kansas

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

A fruity filling and fluffy coconut topping truly brand these strawberry oatmeal confined one of a kind. They really wearing apparel up my trays of Christmas goodies. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma

Rhubarb Cheesecake Squares

It's rhubarb season, so at present'due south the time to attempt this rich and tangy cheese bar. Information technology's bound to be a hit with the rhubarb lovers you know. —Sharon Schmidt, Mandan, North Dakota

Gooey Chocolate Caramel Bars

These rich, gooey bars are my well-nigh requested treats. They're pop at school functions, family unit barbecues and picnics. We like them alone or topped with a scoop of ice cream. —Betty Hagerty, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shortbread Lemon Bars

I've put together ii family unit cookbooks over the years, and this recipe ranks amidst my favorites. These special lemon bars have a yummy shortbread crust and a refreshing flavor. I never hesitate to make this dessert for guests since I know information technology will exist a hit. —Margaret Peterson, Forest City, Iowa

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars

A co-worker's mother gave me this precious stone of a recipe a few years dorsum. I can never decide what's more highly-seasoned—the attractive wait of the bars or their incredible olfactory property while they're baking! Everyone who tries these asks for the recipe. —Mimi Priesman, Pace, Florida

Lemon Angel Cake Bars

A neighbour gave me this recipe years ago and it'due south been in flavor rotation e'er since. Information technology can be made ahead and serves a bunch, so it's perfect for parties and potlucks. —Marina Castle, Canyon Land, California

Broadway Credibility Bars

I named these dessert bars for Broadway considering they're a striking every time I serve them. I particularly like to make them every bit a gift for anyone with a sweet tooth! —Anne Frederick, New Hartford, New York

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

My twist on rice crispy bars includes crunchy crushed pretzels. Then I tiptop them with a creamy peanut butter blanket and rich chocolate topping. Garnished with peanuts and even more pretzels, I don't think I'd always go dorsum to plain old bars again. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Easy Cake Mix Confined

I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. Information technology's one of my favorite xanthous cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they're and then easy to eat, piece of cake to make and piece of cake on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri

Crispy Pretzel Bars

I often make a big batch of these peanut butter-flavored cereal bars on days that I don't want to oestrus upwards the kitchen. Kids especially love them, so they're great for picnics, potlucks and schoolhouse bake sales. —Jane Thompson, Eureka, Illinois

Honey Cinnamon Bars

My Aunt Ellie gave united states the recipe for these sweet bar cookies with cinnamon and walnuts. Drizzle with icing, and serve with java or tea. —Diane Myers, Star, Idaho

Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad

Salty pretzels pair nicely with the sweet fruit in this refreshing layered salad. It's a family favorite that is a slam-douse at potlucks. —Peggy Boyd, Northport, Alabama

Picnic Bars

You lot'll score points with a crowd when you stir together these delicious fudge-similar treats. They're very moist and rich. The chocolate fries and walnuts make a pretty topping. —Frank Bee, Eugene, Oregon

Butterfinger Cookie Bars

My boys went through a phase where they loved Butterfingers. We made Butterfinger shakes, muffins, cookies and experimented with dissimilar confined; this 1 was voted the best of the bunch. Make sure you accept an actress candy bar on paw because it's difficult to resist a nibble or two while yous're chopping. —Barbara Leighty, Simi Valley, California

Buttery Coconut Confined

My kokosnoot bars are an American version of a Filipino coconut cake chosen bibingka. These are a crispier, sweeter take on the Christmas tradition I grew up with. —Denise Nyland, Panama Metropolis, Florida

Microwave Oatmeal Confined

My female parent shared this speedy recipe with me. There are non a lot of ingredients, and these microwave treats are easy to fix in the microwave. —Annette Self, Junction Urban center, Ohio

Nutty Cheesecake Squares

I grew upwards on a farm and have had a lot of good recipes handed downwardly to me. This is one of my favorite desserts to serve when guests come up over or at family gatherings and church suppers. —Ruth Simon, Buffalo, New York

Blueberry Lattice Bars

Since our area has an annual huckleberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine

Toffee Pecan Bars

Roll upwards with a hot cup of coffee and one of these treats. The gilt topping and flaky crust requite style to the heartwarming taste of one-time-fashioned pecan pie. —Dianna Croskey, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

Caramel Apple Bars

These bars brand an excellent autumn dessert. We like to warm private servings in the microwave and serve with a scoop of vanilla water ice cream. It speedily became a family favorite; maybe information technology'll get one of your family'south, too. —Carol Stuber, Osawatomie, Kansas

Makeover Cream Cheese Streusel Confined

With an oh-and so-chocolaty chaff, a crispy, crunchy topping and soft cream cheese filling, these delectable confined are over-the-superlative indulgent. —Janet Coops, Duarte, California

Chocolaty Nanaimo Bars

If a pastry could exist a friend, the Nanaimo bar would be my BFF. This version won Cookie of the Fair at the 2006 Iowa State Fair. —Kelly McCulley, Des Moines, Iowa

Caramel Peanut Confined

Rich chocolate, crunchy peanuts and gooey caramel peek out from betwixt golden oat and crumb layers. Delicious!—Ardyce Piehl, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

My family's dearest of raspberries and cheesecake make this a perfect dessert for u.s.a.. The luscious treat is all-time eaten with a fork. —Jill Cox, Lincoln, Nebraska

Ruby-red Coconut Confined

I came across these easy maraschino ruddy bars while stationed at a Michigan Air Strength base in 1964 and take been making the recipe ever since. My children don't think an event is special unless they are part of it. —Marguerite Emery, Orland, California

Chewy Salted Peanut Bars

My rich bars are studded with the all-American peanut. I like to think famed peanut farmer Jimmy Carter would approve. —Ann Marie Heinz, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

S'mores Crispy Bars

My aunt e'er brought south'mores-manner bars to our family unit's summer cottage. Plain or frosted, they're perfect for eating on the run. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota

Chocolate Toffee Crunchies

From the buttery chaff to the golden toffee, melted chocolate and chopped pecans, these bars are filled with Noel flavor. —Joni Crans, Woodhull, New York

Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars

If y'all're looking for a fun snack for kids, try this chewy peanut butter popcorn recipe that have a balmy peanut butter taste. They're easy to mix and can exist pressed into a pan to form bars, or shaped into balls. —Kathy Oswald, Wauzeka, Wisconsin

Apple-Peanut Blondies

My family and I honey apples any time of year, but in the fall, they are always crisp, juicy and absolutely perfect! I establish a blondie recipe similar to this and did a scrap of tweaking to get in my own. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Fudgy Macaroon Bars

Anyone with a sugariness molar will brand a beeline for my dessert tray when these rich squares show up. They're bonny on the platter and delectable with fudge and coconut. —Beverly Zdurne, East Lansing, Michigan

Peanut Caramel Brownie Bites

With their multiple decadent layers, these brownies are my family's absolute favorite. —Ella Agans, Birch Tree, Missouri

Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

When you don't take time to bake a real cheesecake, reach for this piece of cake recipe. An almond-flavored dough serves as both chaff and topping for a soft fudgy filling. —Louise Good, Flemington, New Jersey

Pistachio Brownie Toffee Bars

These coveted credibility bars are homey and chocolaty awesome. They've been a sought-after staple on Christmas cookie trays for years. —Troy Shaw, Warrenton, Oregon

Toffee Turtle Squares

Here'due south an easy style to make turtle candies for a big grouping. These bars are very rich, so a trivial square volition exercise ya. —Glenna Tooman, Boise, Idaho

Glazed Ginger Confined

I can't retrieve of the holidays without these luscious bars. The scent and flavour of ginger are just right for the flavour, and the light glaze adds the perfect amount of sweetness. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Chocolate Scrap Bars

People are ever surprised when I tell them these chocolate flake confined come from the microwave. Chockfull of chocolate chips, the confined are especially skilful served with a large glass of cold milk. —Shirley A. Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Trail Mix Blondie Bars

These blondies started as a baking emergency. There was a potluck at my daughter's preschool, and I was out of ingredients. Muffin mix came to the rescue. —Josie Shapiro, San Francisco, California

Chewy Chocolate-Reddish Bars

Colorful dried cherries and pistachios star in this have on vii-layer bars. To switch it up fifty-fifty more than, endeavour cinnamon or chocolate graham cracker crumbs instead of plain and substitute pecans or walnuts for the pistachios. —Taste of Dwelling house Test Kitchen

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

These yummy pecan bars kickoff with a homemade pastry crust and pile on lots of semisweet chocolate. They're perfect for a holiday broil sale or coincidental become-together.—Heather Biedler, Martinsburg, Westward Virginia

Coconut-Pineapple Rhubarb Bars

I make this crunchy, buttery dessert bar with homegrown rhubarb. For an added allure, serve it warm with frozen yogurt or ice cream. —Raymonde Conservative, Swastika, Ontario

Kahlua Dream Bars

I always double this recipe so everyone gets a piece. For a glaze with deeper season, utilize 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate and 2 ounces semisweet.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

Chocolate-Coconut Layer Bars

I'm a huge fan of Nanaimo bars, the no-bake layered dessert named for the city in British Columbia. For fun, I reinvented this treat with coconut lovers in mind. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

Minty Chocolate Cream Cheese Confined

I always looked forrad to my grandma's gooey rich foam cheese bars while I was growing upwards. This version includes mint, which is one of my favorite flavour add-ins. —Jill Lutz, Woodbury, Minnesota

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies

There's nix ameliorate than a cookie, credibility and cheesecake mixed together, with bacon to top it off! —Katie O'Keeffe, Derry, New Hampshire

Humble Bumble Crumble Confined

While developing a treat for my bingo group, I asked my hubby for ideas. He suggested a fruity bar. This berry bar is lightly sweet then easy. —Nancy Phillips, Portland, Maine

Not Your Mama's Seven-Layer Confined

The addition of dulce de leche makes this a decadent new accept on traditional seven-layer bars. You can cut this recipe in half and get in in an 8x8-in. pan. —Andrea Barlow, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Peanut Butter Pretzel Confined

My surreptitious to these rich no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church building, Virginia

Behr Rails Cookie Bars

The holidays are the perfect fourth dimension to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweetness peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make certain to cut cookie confined small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa

Fudgy Layered Irish Mocha Brownies

My married man and I are big fans of Irish cream, so I wanted to incorporate it into a brownie. I started with my mom'southward brownie recipe, then added frosting and ganache. These corrupt treats are the result, and we really enjoy them! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Raspberry & Chocolate Shortbread Bars

A very long time ago, when I was a child, I decided that chocolate and raspberries was a combination made in heaven, and that whatsoever treat made with these two succulent ingredients would exist at the peak of my vacation list. Whatsoever seedless jam or preserves may be used, but raspberry is our favorite. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Chocolate Scrap & Pecan Meringue Confined

I've had recipes for chocolate flake cookies and pecan meringues in my drove for a number of years—and I combined them to brand these bars! They're a lovely addition to whatever holiday cookie tray. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-cut-dessert-bars/

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