Make magic in the kitchen with this famous magic cookie bar recipe!
These 7 layers bars are a cinch to make and they’re the perfect make-ahead treat! Make a batch and store them in the freezer, they thaw in just a few minutes making them perfect for treats and lunches.
What are Magic Cookie Bars?
Everyone loves magic cookie bars. They’re a sweet, chewy, and crunchy combination and require just a few minutes of prep.
They start with a graham cracker base. The base is topped with sweetened condensed milk and then sprinkled with coconut, nuts, and chocolate chips. It’s all baked together and then cut into cookie bars.
So good!
Ingredients
Also called 7 Layer Bars, these have 7 ingredients:
CRUST Butter and graham crumbs are pressed to the bottom of a pan.
SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK This holds the ingredients together in these bars.
TOPPINGS Coconut, nuts, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips are the traditional toppings.
Variations
- Swap out the graham crumbs for chocolate wafer crumbs or even crushed Ritz crackers.
- Add any combination of nuts, dried fruits, or baking chips.
- Trade the chocolate chips for M&Ms or other favorite chopped candy bars.
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
Super easy to make and fun to layer up, these magic bars are fun to make with kids!
- Mix butter and graham crumbs (per recipe below) and press in the pan.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk over top.
- Sprinkle with the remaining ingredients and bake.
Kitchen Tips
- Melt the butter in the pan you’ll be baking in (add it to the pan and place in the oven while it preheats). One less dish to wash!
- Option: line the pan with parchment or foil. This makes the bars extra easy to lift out and cut after baking (plus quick cleanup).
- To save time, purchase chopped pecans.
- This can be made with any combination of chocolate chips. Semi-sweet balances out the sweetness.
- Ensure the bars are chilled before cutting.
How to Store
Store magic cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature and they’ll stay fresh for up to 7 days.
To freeze them, wrap each cookie bar in plastic wrap and store them in a zippered bag with the date labeled on it. They’ll keep fresh for up to a month.
More Bars We Love
- Chocolate Mint Nanaimo Bars – freezer friendly
- Death by Chocolate Magic Cookie Bars
- S’mores Bars – a delicious twist on a classic
- Peanut Butter Magic Cookie Bars – loaded with all things delicious
- Easy Pumpkin Bars – with cream cheese frosting
- Easy Lemon Bars Recipe – bright & refreshing
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – soft & chewy
Did you love these Magic Cookie Bars? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Magic Cookie Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ⅓ cups flaked coconut
- 1 ⅓ cups pecans chopped
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
- Combine graham crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Press into the 9x13 pan.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk over the graham crumbs.
- Sprinkle with coconut, pecans, butterscotch chips, and chocolate chips. Press gently.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Cool completely. Cut into 24 bars.
Notes
- Melt the butter in the pan you'll be baking in by placing it in the oven while it preheats. Stir the crumbs and butter right in the pan. This makes fewer dishes to wash.
- Option: line the pan with parchment or foil. This makes the bars extra easy to lift out and cut after baking (plus quick cleanup).
- To save time, purchase chopped pecans.
- This can be made with any combination of chocolate chips. Semi-sweet balances out the sweetness.
- Ensure the bars are chilled before cutting.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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My family does not like coconut. Could oatmeal be used instead?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Shirley. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
My husband makes these for us all the time. THEY ARE OUTSTANDING!!! The only thing slightly better is the Death by Chocolate cookie bars. We keep them in the fridge and they are soooooo good.
That sounds amazing! So glad you are enjoying this recipe.
My husband made these yesterday and they were delicious! He was a little disappointed because the graham cracker crumbs didn’t stick together as much as he would have liked. I thought the bottom could have been a little firmer but it was still yummy. Any suggestions?
Make sure that you press the crust firmly before adding the other ingredients, and refrigerate before cutting. So happy you love these cookie bars!
Hi,
Can I make these with unsweetened shredded coconut or unsweetened flaked coconut? It’s what I have in the pantry currently. If not I’ll go buy the sweetened variety.
Thanks!
Any variety will work Laurel. No need to go buy more!
These are my favorite bars I’ve ever eaten. Sweet and salty. Just perfect.
My mom used to make these cookies and they are SO good! I haven’t made them in years myself, but I will now. I bet they’d also be good if you swapped out the butterscotch chips for peanut butter chips.
Save some for us lol looks amazing
Sure Irene!