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Magic Cookie Bars – These bars come together in one pan and are so easy to make. Layers of graham crackers, chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, nuts and sweetened condensed milk.
When I was growing up these bars were a staple at my grandma’s house. They go by a few different names; in my family they were called One Pan Bars, but Magic Bars or Seven Layer Bars are all common names for them. If you grew up in the Mid-West there is a good chance you have had these many times before!
What’s In Magic Cookie Bars
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Butter – I always use unsalted butter in baking
- Graham Crackers
- Shredded Coconut
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Butterscotch Chips
- Walnuts
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
This Magic Bar recipe is so simple to make, you literally need 7 ingredients (hence the name seven layer bars) that you just layer into a pan and bake. My grandma mixed the butter and graham cracker crumbs together in the bottom of the pan and then topped with the rest.
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
- Make Crust. In the base of a 13×9 inch baking dish mix together the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs. Press into the base of the pan. It will be a very thin layer, that is perfectly fine.
- Start Layering. Sprinkle over the coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chopped walnuts.
- Topping. To finish evenly pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the bars.
- Bake. Bake for about 30 minutes until they are set, the edges will be bubbling and golden brown. Remove from the oven and then let them cool completely before serving.
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
- Other Nuts. My grandma always used walnuts, but you can use whatever nuts you like! Pecans are another common one used.
- Don’t Like Coconut? Coconut is one of those ingredients you either love or hate. If you aren’t a fan I like to use old fashioned oats instead. They are a great swap with great flavor and texture
- Other Chips. This recipe calls for semi-sweet and butterscotch. But you could use white or dark chocolate, or you could use peanut butter chips as well. It really is a versatile recipe you can use whatever you have on hand.
- No Graham Crackers. If you live in a country that doesn’t have graham crackers you could use Digestive Biscuits that are crushed.
I love a simple dessert that doesn’t take any time to make. These magic cookie bars really are that. Five minutes of work and you can have them in the oven, with just a couple of measuring cups to wash, no extra bowls or anything.
More Great Dessert Recipes to Try
- Cosmic Brownies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Kool Aid Pie
- Peanut Butter Cream Pie
- Coconut Macarons
Magic Cookie Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a 13×9 inch baking dish mix together butter and graham cracker crumbs. Press into the base of the pan, it will be a thin layer.1/2 cup butter, 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- Sprinkle coconut evenly over the graham crackers.1 cup shredded coconut
- Sprinkle over chocolate chips, then butterscotch chips, then chopped walnuts.1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Evenly drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the bars.14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and set.
- Remove and let cool completely before slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Drool alert! I am putting the ingredients on the shopping list today. I can’t wait to make them!
My family loved these tasty bars, and I loved how easy these were to make!
These cookie bars are exactly what I need right now with a cup of tea!
Like magic, these would be gone quickly! I can’t wait to bake these up for the kiddos.
Could I substitute salted peanuts for the walnuts?
The best bars! Such a simple ingredient list too! They are so tasty!
Has anyone ever tried adding the Milk Chocolate Covered Toffee Bar Bits like the Heath Bars to the Magic Cookie Bars recipe?
Yes! I have done this before and it was so good!
Has anyone ever made them with small marshmallows?
I have seen versions with them, but haven’t personally made them. But they looked good!