Picture this: It’s Christmas morning and you’re grabbing a freshly baked magic cookie bar made by grandma Maria. As soon as you bite into it, you’re tasting the different flavors dancing on your taste buds with this nutty sweetness of toasted pecans, the soft buttery texture swirling with subtle hints of vanilla and creamy condensed milk. The golden buttery graham cracker crust gives this gentle hunch that quickly reminds you of the magic behind those bars and its names.
Also known as the 7-layer bars, these bars are super quick and an easy dessert to make that are amazing even outside of the holidays – this will quickly become your favorite dessert bar recipes!
How to the Make Classic Magic Cookie Bar Recipe
Simple Ingredients:
- ½ cup of butter
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (use the eagle brand!)
- 1 ¼ cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips are best!)
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 3 ½ oz coconut flakes – or shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts – I prefer chopped pecans or hazelnuts
- Sprinkle of sea salt
Tip: Use 1/2 semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 and 1/2 dark chocolate chips to reduce the sweetness in your bars – unless you love it sweet, then go ahead as described above!
Alternative Ingredients:
- Graham cracker crumbs – Crushed chex rice and corn cereal, crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, gluten-free graham crackers, crushed pretzels, crushed shortbread cookies, oreo cookies, gluten-free cookie crust
- Nuts – Almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, or nut-free options
- Chocolate chips – Milk chocolate, semisweet, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, caramel bits
- Vanilla extract – almond extract, coconut extract
- Coconut shavings – Cranberries, cinnamon chips, toasted coconut
- Condensed milk – Dulce de leche, caramel sauce, dairy-free condensed milk
- Toppings – Salted pecans, granola, raisins, toffee bits, crushed candy pieces, mini marshmallows, crushed pretzels, crushed oreos, or some caramel sauce drizzled at the end
Step-by-Step Instructions for This Magic Bar Recipe
Step 1: Before starting, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2: Meanwhile, melt your butter in a bowl either over the stove or in the microwave and add the graham cracker crumbs to it – mix it well before you pour it into a 13×9 baking pan.
Tip: If you want to clean up less, either spray the sides and bottom of the pan with some cooking oil or add some parchment paper.
Step 3: Evenly sprinkle the nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut over the melted butter and graham cracker mixture – in this sequence!
Step 4: Next, pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crumbs – you want it to be evenly distributed (generously!) but not drenched – then gently press everything down with the back of the spoon.
Step 5: Once done, bake it for about 25-30 minutes until it’s lightly browned (toasted) before you take it out and let it cool off at room temperature and cut into bars.
Expert Tips For This Sweet Treat
- When making the crust, press the graham cracker base firmly into the baking pan. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup or the back of the spoon to create a more even and compact layer.
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top layer, make sure to not drench the bars in it – you can use a spatula to help distribute it easier.
- Keep an eye on your bars once they’re in the oven as they can easily overbake and end up with a dry and crumbly texture. Look out for golden edges and the top being lightly browned – ounce done, let it all cool off for about an hour before cutting.
To store the bars, put them into an airtight container and store it at room temperature for a few days – if you need to store it longer, layer the magic cookie bars with some parchment paper in between to prevent the sticking.
What to Serve These Coconut Magic Bars With
Here are some common pairings with this simple dessert:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Berries
- Chocolate sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Coffee or tea
- Milk
- Hot chocolate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Got questions? We’ve got the answers! If you don’t see your question here, comment it below!
Magic Cookie Bar Variations
Here are some variations you may want to try:
- Chocolate hazelnut magic bars
- Tropical magic bars with dried pineapple, mango and macadamia nuts
- Chocolate cherry bars with cinnamon and and chocolate graham crackers
- Pumpkin spice magic bars with cinnamon and pumpkin
Great question! If you’ve used insulated baking pans, that may have been the reason – so, just try to bake it longer. Here, you want them to completely cool off before you bake them again for about 5-7 minutes, before you turn it off but leave the bars in as they will continue to cook.
Can magic squares be frozen?
Absolutely! Feel free to freeze your bars by tightly wrapping them in aluminum foil and storing it for up to 3 months – just thaw them overnight in the fridge once you’re ready to lightly bake them.
Ouch! Yes, this can happen if you didn’t use enough butter or if you used “diet” butter or margarine.
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Best Magic Cookie Bars Recipe | Hello Dolly Bars
Ingredients
Simple Ingredients:
- ½ cup of butter
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (use the eagle brand!)
- 1 ¼ cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips are best!)
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 3 ½ oz coconut flakes – or shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts – I prefer chopped pecans or hazelnuts
- Sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
Step 1: Before starting, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2: Meanwhile, melt your butter in a bowl either over the stove or in the microwave and add the graham cracker crumbs to it – mix it well before you pour it into a 13×9 baking pan.
Tip: If you want to clean up less, either spray the sides and bottom of the pan with some cooking oil or add some parchment paper.
Step 3: Evenly sprinkle the nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut over the melted butter and graham cracker mixture – in this sequence!
Step 4: Next, pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crumbs – you want it to be evenly distributed (generously!) but not drenched – then gently press everything down with the back of the spoon.
Step 5: Once done, bake it for about 25-30 minutes until it’s lightly browned (toasted) before you take it out and let it cool off at room temperature and cut into bars.
