Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

These deliciously sweet and indulgent bars come by many names; magic bars, hello Dolly bars, cookie bars, seven-layer bars, the list goes on and on. Whatever you choose to call them doesn’t matter much, so long as you make them and enjoy them. The magic in these bars comes from each distinct layer melding together to form one rich, creamy, crunchy dream dessert. The butterscotch and chocolate swirl to form a caramelly flavor while the coconut provides a crunchy and aromatic addition, and the graham cracker crust creates the perfect plate for all the remaining layers.

In addition to being delectable, these bars are so simple to make and can be customized any way you like where size or shape is concerned. For instance, you could purchase individual tart tins and make small one-person size magic bars that would be the perfect addition to your holiday cookie gift box or to bring to the annual cookie swap. These cookie bars are indeed sweet and quite rich, but you can cut them into small squares to feed a large crowd. Because there is a large amount of chocolate and butterscotch, you can make these ahead of the party, cool, and cut them, then store them in an airtight container with no fear of them drying out or going stale quickly.

However you decide to enjoy these bars is up to you and sure to be memorable.

"I loved how easy and straightforward this recipe was. Once you gather your ingredients, these take no time to whip up. I love the addition of butterscotch chips and coconut for sweetness, along with the bittersweet chocolate. Your whole family will love these sweet treats!" – Tracy Wilk

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (1)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, more for the pan

  • 24 graham crackers

  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 10 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate, divided

  • 1 cup butterscotch chips, divided

  • 1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans, divided

  • 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes

  • 2 teaspoons flaky sea salt, such as Maldon, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2)

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F. Line a 13x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper so the parchment hangs over on the two longest sides. Generously grease with butter.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (3)

  3. Use a food processor to grind the graham cracker into a semi-fine meal.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (4)

  4. Add the brown sugar and pulse several times to incorporate.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (5)

  5. With the processor running, slowly add the 1/2 cup butter until well combined.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (6)

  6. Add the graham cracker mixture to the prepared pan, pressing firmly to create an even crust on the bottom.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (7)

  7. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust and smooth in an even layer with a silicone spatula.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (8)

  8. Sprinkle half of the chopped chocolate, half of the butterscotch chips, and half the pecans evenly over the condensed milk.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (9)

  9. Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the mixture in an even layer.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (10)

  10. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate, butterscotch, and nuts evenly over the coconut.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (11)

  11. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt evenly over the mixture.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (12)

  12. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the toppings are slightly golden brown.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (13)

  13. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (14)

  14. Use the excess parchment to lift the bars from the baking dish. Cut into equal size pieces, 12 to 24 bars, depending upon preference, and serve.

    Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (15)

Tips

When cutting the bars, you’ll need to have paper towels or a clean kitchen towel nearby. Be sure to wipe the knife of any chocolate or bits from the bars before each cut, this will lead to clean, appealing squares.

Recipe Variations

  • If graham cracker crust isn’t your favorite way to enjoy these cookie bars, try using a pretzel crust or chocolate sandwich cookie crust for extra chocolaty goodness.
  • You could use macadamia nuts, toasted hazelnuts, or granola instead of pecans.
  • Or something like dried cranberries or blueberries could be a delicious addition if you like mixing chocolate and tart fruits.

How to Store and Reheat

These magic cookie bars can be expected to stay fresh for at least five days, likely more.

Although not recommended, you can freeze these cookie bars and reheat them in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds to bring them back to life. Just be careful not to burn the chocolate when re-heating using the microwave. Alternatively, you can place them frozen in a 350 F oven for about 4 minutes.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
321Calories
21g Fat
30g Carbs
4g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12to 24
Amount per serving
Calories321
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g27%
Saturated Fat 12g61%
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 249mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 30g11%
Dietary Fiber 3g9%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 1mg4%
Calcium 85mg7%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 223mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • cookie bars
  • dessert
  • american
  • christmas

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Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are magic bars made of? ›

Traditional Magic Bars, also known as Hello Dolly Bars or 7 Layer Bars, are a layered dessert bar with a crumbly graham cracker crust, then topped with layers of butterscotch, coconut, chocolate, and nuts. Everything sticks together from gooey sweetened condensed milk that caramelizes on top when baked.

Should you refrigerate magic bars? ›

Store the magic cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

What can you do with sweetened condensed milk? ›

Ways to Use Sweetened Condensed Milk
  1. Make a latte or iced coffee: This one might be obvious, but sweetened condensed milk is the perfect way to make a deliciously sweet and creamy latte or iced coffee.
  2. Spread it on a pastry, toast, or a croissant (especially our Mocha Creamer!)
  3. Drizzle on oatmeal.
Aug 16, 2023

How long to cool bar cookies before cutting? ›

Make sure cookies are completely cool in order to get best results when cutting them, regardless of whether or not you line the baking pan with foil or simply grease the pan. You can go one step further to get clean cuts by freezing bars or brownies in the pan for two hours or overnight before cutting.

Is condensed milk the same as evaporated milk? ›

Both are concentrated, shelf-stable milk products that have been heated until at least 60 percent of their water content has evaporated. The main difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk is that evaporated milk is unsweetened while condensed milk is sweetened.

Why are they called Hello Dolly bars? ›

The Hello Dolly name is a reference to the Broadway musical "Hello, Dolly!" which was a popular musical when these bars were created in the mid-1960s. The bars are assembled in seven layers, and they are incredibly delicious.

How long do cookie bars stay fresh? ›

Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days. For best quality, store bars in the freezer for two to three months.

How many graham crackers for 1 cup of crumbs? ›

14 square

How to harden graham cracker crust? ›

I usually pre-bake this graham cracker crust for at least 10 minutes at 350°F (177°C) before adding a filling. If you're making a no-bake pie/dessert: cool the crust before filling it, unless the no-bake pie recipe you are using states otherwise.

Can you drink straight sweetened condensed milk? ›

It is a ready-to-use product so it may be consumed without any other preparation.

Why is condensed milk not advisable? ›

Sweetened condensed milk is high in calories and unsuitable for people with cow's milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance. Its sweet flavor may be off-putting for some and doesn't typically serve as a good substitute for regular milk in recipes.

Why are my cookie bars raw in the middle? ›

Bar cookies baked in insulated baking pans often don't brown well. Try baking bars longer than called for in your recipe. Realize that most published recipes are not developed using insulated pans. Ideally, only bake one baking pan of bar cookies at a time, placing it on a rack in the middle of the oven.

Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

What happens if you leave cookies on the pan after removing them from the oven? ›

Most cookie recipes, like thumbprint cookies, sugar cookie cutouts, shortbread, and snickerdoodles instruct you to cool cookies on a rack. This is because when cookies are left to cool on a hot-from-the-oven baking sheet, they continue to bake and can become overdone in a flash.

Do Magic bars have nicotine? ›

Magic Bar Max 4000 to a new level! Airflow adjustable supports both MTL and DTL vaping while rechargeable battery and big capacity. It has 650mAh battery and 20mg nicotine strength.

What are cereal bars made of? ›

A cereal bar is a bar-shaped food product, made by pressing cereals and usually dried fruit or berries, which are in most cases held together by glucose syrup. Consumers choose cereal bars as an alternative to the less-healthy snacks, a quick source of energy before a workout, or a substitute for a meal.

Are Magic Bar Vapes good? ›

Magic Bar vapes offer a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths, catering to a wide range of preferences. This makes them a popular choice among both new and experienced vapers.

Where are Magic Bar Vapes made? ›

Magic Bar is dedicated to bring high quality and cost-effective products to vapers. Magic Bar has it's own professional disposable manufacturing factory in China. Hiring more than 600 skilled workers, has over 2000m² plant area, Magic Bar factory's daliy production volume is over 100,000pcs.

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