Berry-Filled Butter Ribbons
Tangy boysenberry is an unusual for a cookie, but it goes well with chocolate. I change the sprinkles and even the type of chocolate to suit the season.—Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland
Apple-Cinnamon Mini Pies
I came up with the idea for my mini pie recipes while snacking on applesauce one night and thought it would make a quick and delicious pie filling. They were a total hit and what's better than a mini pie that you can actually hold in your hand to eat? —Kandy Bingham, Green River, Wyoming
Cranberry Bog Bars
Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats, cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania
Orange-Chili Chocolate Cookies
I love spicy chocolate so I came up with this recipe. Because it starts with a packaged sugar cookie mix, it's super easy! And orange, cinnamon and cayenne are a surprising combo that can't be beat.—Debbie Blunt, Wickenburg, Arizona
Powered-Up Molasses Cookies
These tender cookies are so soft and flavorful. You'd never guess they're also low-fat! —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars
We’re all so busy and pressed for time that I find myself creating recipes that are generally fast to prepare, proving that you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen to obtain fabulous results. Here’s a favorite of mine that combines crunchy M&M's and gooey chocolate all nestled into a flavorful blondie.—Averie Sunshine, San Diego, California www.averiecooks.com
Cinnamon Chip Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles
I love cinnamon chips and am always looking for a way to use them. Make sure to stock up on them during the holiday season so you have plenty to last during the year. —Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas
Date-Nut Honey Bars
The flavor combination here reminds me of baklava—without the hours of work! These bars are perfect for holiday gifts, party platters and bake sales...they never fail to impress. —Anna Wood, Cullowhee, North Carolina
Nutty Pie-Crust Cookies
I like Italian cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe. The splash of orange liqueur in the filling is my special touch. —Sonji McCarty-Onezine, Beaumont, Texas
Chia Seed Protein Bites
I keep these little bites on hand in my refrigerator and grab them for breakfast or snack on when I'm in a hurry. We have a lot of food allergies in our family and I like to keep healthy snacks around that everyone can eat. This recipe has no gluten, eggs, dairy or corn, so it's the perfect go-to treat in our house. —Tanja Miller, Peoria, Arizona
Fruity Cereal Bars
With dried apple and cranberries, these crispy cereal bars are perfect for snacks or brown-bag lunches. —Giovanna Kranenberg, Cambridge, Minnesota
Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
I recently found this old family recipe in my mom’s kitchen. I made a few adjustments to streamline the process, and the cookies turned out wonderfully. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
Nutella Hand Pies
These pint-size Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten-intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I had finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Candy Bar Brownies
Two kinds of candy bars baked into these brownies make them an extra special treat. —Sharon Evans, Clear Lake, Iowa
Raspberry White Chocolate Bars
A co-worker's mother gave me this gem of a recipe a few years back. I can never decide what's more appealing—the attractive look of the bars or their incredible aroma while they're baking! Everyone who tries these asks for the recipe. —Mimi Priesman Pace, Florida
Baki's Old-World Cookies
My uncles have always called these "cupcake cookies" because of the unique and pretty way they're baked. My maternal grandmother mixed up many a batch. —Marilyn Louise Riggenbach, Ravenna, Ohio
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Using hot chocolate mix and marshmallow bits in the cookie dough really makes these cookies taste like hot cocoa. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Magic Macaroons
Peanut butter, candy corn and macaroons are three of my favorite things, so I combine them all to make one magical sweet that's perfect for Halloween. —Jeanette Nelson, Bridgeport, West Virginia
Not Your Mama's Seven-Layer Bars
The addition of dulce de leche makes this a decadent new take on traditional seven-layer bars. You can cut this recipe in half and make it in an 8x8-in. pan. —Andrea Barlow, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Honey Walnut Delights
Even after being frozen, these no-fail cookies stay moist and taste freshly baked. They are among my best holiday giveaway treats and are so easy to make. If you prefer, you can use other nut varieties, such as pecans or almonds. —Jessica Clemens, Wimbledon, North Dakota
Peach Crumb Bars
I had the most beautiful peaches and really wanted to bake with them. I started with my blueberry crumb bar recipe, and after a couple of tries, I am so happy with the results. My co-worker taste-testers are, too! —Amy Burns, Newman, Illinois
Cranberry Port Cookies
This is my version of a recipe I tasted years ago—my family loves it. The flaky cookies are filled with a scrumptious combination of dried cranberries, cinnamon, lemon and a hint of port wine. —Leslie Forte, Oakhill, Virginia
Mocha Sandwich Cookies
I've had cookies melt in my mouth, but not as much as these do! I've made several versions of these, but I like to make them as sandwiches with an almond-mocha filling. —Anna Sylvester, Sylvania, Ohio
"From Russia with Love" Cookies
Delicate and refreshing at the same time, these cookies make everyone fall in love with them. No special baking skills necessary.—Elena Keesee, Albany, New York
Jamaican Chocolate Cookies with Caramel Creme
I made these for an office party cookie contest—and not a crumb was left on the platter! Sweet potatoes are the secret ingredient. Canned sweet potatoes will work, too, if you're short on time. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Browned Butter Cereal Bars
Crispy rice treats were one of the first recipes I ever made as a kid. For this version, I wanted to make something similar but more special. Friends and family think using Cap'n Crunch and browned butter is genius, but I just call them delicious.—Kelly Krauss, Lebanon, New Jersey
Coconut Chocolate Slices
These crispy cookies with a chewy coconut center travel really well. I send a box to our son in the Army, and they always arrive unbroken. —Cheri Booth, Gering, Nebraska
Crackled Cranberry Pecan Cookies
Cranberries, orange and nuts make one of my favorite flavor combinations, and this special drop cookie fits in particularly well at holiday potlucks. For a fruitcake-type cookie, use a mixture of dried fruits and substitute rum flavoring for half the vanilla. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska
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 head home. Everyone will be asking who made those scrumptious blondies, so be sure to bring copies of the recipe! —Peggy Woodward, Taste of Home Food Editor
Behr Track Cookie Bars
The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa
Oatmeal Caramel Apple Cookies
This recipe for caramel apple cookies is a fun twist on traditional oatmeal raisin. These treats are hard to resist! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Chocolate Chip Bars
People are always surprised when I tell them these chocolate chip bars come from the microwave. Chockfull of chocolate chips, the bars are especially good served with a big glass of cold milk. —Shirley A. Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
The post 33 Lunch Box Desserts to Sweeten Up Your Workday appeared first on Taste of Home.
Grace Mannon