Easy to make Magic Cookie Bars have a magical taste that’s almost too good to be true! A buttery graham cracker crust set below seven sweet, crunchy, chewy layers and drenched in sticky condensed milk is definitely a drool-worthy dessert!
Magic Cookie Bars recipe is an old-fashioned favorite that has surely stood the test of time. What started with busy moms and teachers who needed something easy to bake for their families and students remains one of my most requested recipes today.
Wondering why? Well, it’s no secret that this dessert is downright delicious. What makes these 7 layer cookies so magical is that they are filled with a flavor combination that’s out of this world!
Even better, there’s no mixing, no creaming, or complicated steps – just graham cracker crumbs pressed into the base of a pan, layered with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans, covered with sweetened condensed milk, and baked until golden brown.
What Are Magic Cookie Bars
Magic bars, also known as seven-layer bars or Hello Dolly bars, are a decadent dessert consisting of a buttery graham cracker crust layered with chocolate chips, sweet coconut, and pecans, all topped with sweetened condensed milk. When baked, these layers merge into an irresistible gooey, sweet treat.
Ingredients Notes
- Salted butter: Helps bind the graham cracker crumbs together, creating a cohesive crust.
- Vanilla extract
- Light brown sugar: Brown sugar’s molasses provides extra moisture, which helps prevent the crust from becoming too dry.
- Graham crackers: You can use regular honey graham crackers, cinnamon graham crackers, or chocolate graham crackers for your crust. You can also use vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers for the base of your magic bars.
- Milk chocolate chips: For a tasty twist, feel free to use semisweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, or even white chocolate chips.
- Shredded coconut: You can use sweet or unsweetened shredded coconut. The sweetened condensed milk adds quite a bit of sweetness to the bars, so unsweetened coconut would work fine and provide the same chew.
- Pecans: For a similar crunch, you can swap the chopped pecans for chopped walnuts, cashews, or almonds.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Its thick, creamy consistency helps bind layers together; it’s essential for achieving the signature sweet, gooey texture.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
- Create The Crust: Combine the crushed graham crackers, vanilla extract, light brown sugar, and melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.
- Cover The Crust: Sprinkle the chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans over the crust. Repeat the layers 2 more times. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the layers.
- Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or until the coconut and edges are lightly browned.
- Serve: Cool completely before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These 7-layer magic cookie bars can be served at room temperature or chilled. They’re the perfect sweet treat for potlucks, parties, bake sales, or after dinner desserts.
Make your own magic with your favorite add-ins or substitutions, and bite into the best dessert bar that offers something for everyone! For more magic bar recipes, try my chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars and my other 7 layer bar recipe with butterscoth chips.
Proper Storage
Store leftover magic cookie bars in an airtight container to prevent drying out or staleness. They do not need to be stored in the refrigerator; however, I find they keep their shape and consistency better when stored in the fridge.
When storing, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper between the layers if you are stacking them on top of each other in a lidded container. This will help keep them from sticking together.
You can also freeze your bars. After they have cooled and you have cut them, place them on a pan with parchment paper in the freezer until they have frozen solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
More Delicious Dessert bars
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Magic Cookie Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups honey graham crackers crushed into crumbs (about 16 full sheets)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup shredded sweet coconut
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- 1⅔ cups sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 baking dish. Set aside
- In a mixing bowl add crushed graham crackers, vanilla extract, light brown sugar, and melted butter. Stir to combine.2 cups honey graham crackers, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup salted butter
- Pour into the 8×8 baking dish and press down firmly with your fingers. You might want to use something flat to really press the mixture down so the crust can set up.
- Sprinkle ⅓ of the chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. Repeat layers 2 more times.1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1 cup shredded sweet coconut, ¾ cup chopped pecans
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the layers.1⅔ cups sweetened condensed milk
- Place in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the coconut and edges are lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving.
Jenn’s Notes
- Make sure to scrape out all of the sweetened condensed milk from the inside of the can. You will find that you can scrape out an extra 2-3 tablespoons of the thick, sweetened milk from the sides and bottom of the can. You want all that goodness to be added to your 7 layer magic cookie bars!
- Be sure to keep a good eye on your bars towards the end of the 30 minutes of baking. Right when you see the coconut beginning to brown, they are done!
- Be sure to let the bars cool completely before cutting and serving them so they don’t fall apart. If you are short on time, you can place them in the fridge to cool them faster.
- If you do not care for coconut, feel free to remove it. You can substitute extra chocolate chips, or add some other fun ingredients and flavors instead. Try some mini marshmallows, dried fruit, pretzel pieces, toffee bits, or M&Ms.
Nutrition Info
Magic cookie bars are the perfect dessert for the holidays, road trip snack, or potluck. The combination of flavors offers something for everyone. They are gooey and delicious and best of all, so easy to make. If you haven’t already tried this classic cookie bar, you are in for a treat!
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