811 square recipes

Old-fashioned stovetop vanilla fudge studded with quartered candied cherries. Creamy, smooth, and festive, it makes about 2 1/2 dozen squares from an 8-inch pan.

Little fruit cake squares packed with chopped dates, candied cherries, and pecans, baked in a 9-inch pan and rolled in powdered sugar. Bite-sized holiday treats.

Persimmon orange cookies made with persimmon pulp, orange juice, orange zest, warm spices, nuts, and raisins. Bake as drop cookies or cut into brownie-style bar squares.

British-style date flapjacks with jumbo oats, chopped dates, molasses, brown sugar, and mixed spice. Chewy, sticky oat bars baked in one pan and cut into squares.

Herbed rice cake baked with cheddar, dill, parsley, onion, and a hit of Tabasco. Cuts into crisp-edged squares that work as a side or vegetarian main.

Retro molded cucumber salad with lime gelatin, sour cream, chopped radishes, and lemon juice. A cool, creamy side dish that slices into neat squares for summer buffets.

Checkerboard cookies with alternating chocolate and vanilla dough squares in a striking grid pattern. An impressive slice-and-bake cookie for holiday cookie tins and special occasions.

Onion cake with bacon, sour cream, and eggs baked on a crescent roll crust. A savory German-inspired appetizer cut into bite-sized squares and served warm.

Boston cream loaf candy boiled to soft-ball, beaten until stiff, then folded with walnuts and maraschino cherries. A vintage New England fudge-style sweet cut into nibble squares.

Greek spanakopita with a savory spinach and feta filling layered between sheets of buttered phyllo for shatteringly crisp tops and bottoms. The classic Mediterranean pie cut into squares for sharing.

Rahm-Fleckle are German potato dumplings rolled thin, topped with cream and sliced tart apples, then baked and cut into squares. A sweet-savory Bavarian comfort dish served hot with cream.

Broiled polenta squares topped with a quick fresh tomato and garlic sauce with parsley. A simple Italian vegetarian appetizer or snack with crisp edges and a soft, creamy center.

Pecan and chocolate bars with a buttery shortbread base, toffee brickle bits, coconut, and melted chocolate on top. Three layers of crunch, chew, and richness in every square.

Polenta pasticciata layers firm cooled polenta squares with porcini-spiked beef ragù, plum tomatoes, and grated pecorino into a rustic Northern Italian bake. Lasagne, but with cornmeal instead of pasta.

Peppermint candy fudge: crushed peppermint sticks boiled into a chocolate marshmallow fudge for cool, minty bite and a creamy set. A festive Christmas candy that cuts into clean squares.

A fast egg bake layered over store-bought biscuit dough with diced ham and two melted cheeses. Feeds 6, takes 40 minutes, and uses ingredients you probably already have. Weekend brunch, weeknight dinner, works both ways.