31 Lunch Box Desserts to Sweeten Up Your Workday

Read Time: 11 mins

31 Lunch Box Desserts to Sweeten Up Your Workday1/31 Berry-Filled Butter Ribbons 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 55 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 2/31 Apple-Cinnamon Mini Pies 6 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Apple-Cinnamon Mini Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the

Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats,

Recipe Creator: 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 3/31 Cranberry Bog Bars 33 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cranberry Bog Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats,

cranberries, brown sugar and pecans

cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania 4/31 Orange-Chili Chocolate Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Orange-Chili Chocolate Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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. 5/31 Molasses Cookies 118 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Giant

My family always requests these soft molasses cookies

Molasses Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family always requests these soft molasses cookies. These chewy cookies are also perfect for shipping as holiday gifts or to troops overseas. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York 6/31 Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 9 bars Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We’re all so busy and pressed for time. I find myself creating recipes that

Make sure to stock up on them during the holiday season

are fast to prepare and deliver fabulous results, proving you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen. Here’s a favorite of mine that combines chocolate candies and cookies into one wonderful bar. —Averie Sunshine, San Diego, California 7/31 Cinnamon Chip Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles 7 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cinnamon Chip Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings about 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love cinnamon chips, and this is an intriguing way to use them. Make sure to stock up on them during the holiday season.

—Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas 8/31

—Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas 8/31 Date-Nut Honey Bars Test Kitchen Approved Date-Nut Honey Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 9/31 Nutty Pie-Crust Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings about 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like Italian

cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe

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 10/31 Chia Seed Protein Bites 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 15 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I keep these little bites on hand in my refrigerator and grab them for breakfast or a snack 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

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 11/31 Fruity Cereal Bars 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 20 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With dried apples and cranberries, these crispy cereal bars are perfect for snacks or brown-bag lunches. —Giovanna Kranenberg, Cambridge, Minnesota 12/31 Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 5 dozen

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 13/31 Nutella Hand Pies 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Nutella Hand Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These pint-sized Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 14/31 Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen

Approved Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings about 8 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida 15/31 Candy Bar Brownies 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Candy Bar Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Total Time 45 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Total Time 45 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The two kinds of candy bars baked into these brownies make them an extra-special treat. —Sharon Evans, Clear Lake, Iowa 16/31 Raspberry White Chocolate Bars 15 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Raspberry White Chocolate Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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!

incredible aroma while they’re baking! Everyone who tries these asks for the recipe. —Mimi Priesman, Pace, Florida 17/31 Baki’s Old-World Cookies 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Baki’s Old-World Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My uncles have always called these “cupcake cookies” because of the unique, pretty way they’re baked. My maternal grandmother mixed many batches. —Marilyn Louise Riggenbach, Ravenna, Ohio 18/31 Hot Chocolate Cookies 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Hot Chocolate Cookies Recipe photo by Nicole Perry for Taste of Home Total Time 25

—Jeanette Nelson, Bridgeport, West Virginia 20/31 Seven-Layer Cookies 1

min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Using hot cocoa mix and marshmallow bits in the cookie dough really makes these hot chocolate cookies taste like the cozy drink. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 19/31 Magic Macaroons Test Kitchen Approved Magic Macaroons Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 20/31 Seven-Layer Cookies 1

You can cut this recipe in half and make it in an 8×8-in

Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Seven-Layer Cookies Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: 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 8×8-in. pan. —Andrea Barlow, Hot Springs, Arkansas 21/31 Honey Walnut Delights 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Honey Walnut Delights Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings about 8 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Even

after being frozen, these no-fail cookies stay moist and taste freshly baked

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 22/31 Peach Bars 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peach Crumb Bars Recipe photo by Emily Davis for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I had the most beautiful peaches and really wanted to bake with them. I started with my blueberry crumb

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• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

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✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

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