The Best Magic Cookie Bars

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Jillian Morris
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These scrumptious Magic Cookie Bars are chocolatey, crumbly goodness topped with chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, and sweetened condensed milk.

Magic Cookie Bars

If you’ve never had Magic Cookie Bars before, you’re in for a serious treat. This is the recipe my grandmother always used to make Magic Cookie Bars, which she lifted off the back of a can of sweetened condensed milk by Eagle Brand, with the exception of a few key elements.

There’s something special about the combination of chocolate, butter cookies, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk that you’d never know until you try this. The way these ingredients meld together and become chewy gooey deliciousness is just a thing of beauty.

The top of these magic bars is like a macaroon with sticky coconut that melts in the mouth, but it really reminds me of a Samoa girls scout cookie on steroids. It’s the perfect blend of textures and flavors.

Jessica Formicola says: 5 stars
These cookie bars really are magic! I love the simple ingredients and the kids (and me!) love the flavor!

Ingredients You Need

  • Graham cracker or shortbread cookies
  • Butter, melted
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Shredded coconut
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Caramel syrup (not liquid syrup)

Helpful Tips

  • Use pecans or another type of nut that you like, if you don’t have walnuts.
  • If you’re allergic to nuts, or simply don’t like them, they can be taken out of this recipe. So can the coconut if you’re not a fan. Some other things you could include instead is oats, little chunks of caramel, or marshmallows. This recipe is highly versatile and won’t hurt if you take a couple ingredients out.

How To Make Magic Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prepare the oven

Preheat the oven to 350 F or 175 C (325 F and 160 C for glass pans). I use a glass 13″ by 9″ pan and the cookies turn out just the right thickness. You could make them in an 8×8 pan, but they’ll be a bit thicker. There’s no need to grease the bottom of the pan.

Step 2: Prepare the crust

Crumble the shortbread cookies in a food processor until very fine. I use shortbread cookies because I like the buttery flavor better than graham crackers, and I think it forms a more sturdy base. You can use graham crackers to make the crust for the bars instead, if you want.

Mix the cookie cumbles with the stick of butter, stirring until the mixture is wet and pebbly. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 baking dish and press it down to form a compacted crust.

Cookie Crust

Step 3: Add other recipe ingredients

When opening your sweetened condensed milk, I suggest using the pokey end of a bottle opener to make an indention in one side of the can, and a similar indention in the other side.

This will create a sort of pour spout that helps you drizzle the milk onto the cookie base. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the cookies. There’s no need to smooth it out. It’ll do that on its own.

Magic Cookie Bar Crust with Chocolate Chips

Add on the semi-sweet chocolate chips, followed by the flaked coconut, and chopped nuts. Press down on the top of the bars gently to compact it. I just use my hand to press it down lightly.

Magic Cookie Bars

Then you can drizzle on the caramel syrup. I use Carnation Dulce de Leche caramel. You could also use a canned caramel by Carnation. As long as it’s a thick caramel syrup, it’s fine. Don’t use a liquidy caramel syrup that you’d put in your coffee. That’s not the right type of caramel.

Magic Cookie Bars

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 25 to 30 mins, or until the coconut is lightly browned on top. You might be tempted to take it out too early, when the coconut just starts to get golden, but leave it in a bit longer. It takes longer to really meld together and caramelize the condensed milk than you might think. If you take it out too early, the topping might fall off easily. That’s how you know it’s not done yet. The chocolate chips need to be really melted.

There’s no need to cover this with foil while you’re cooking. It won’t get burned on the top.

Step 5: Cool

Cool the magic cookie bars completely before cutting into bars and serving. If you don’t wait long enough, the chocolate and caramel will be too gooey and the bars will fall apart. I also like to sprinkle on a little bit of flaky sea salt on the top for added flavor.

Cookie bars are a great way to make a big pan of dessert in a short time. If you like these, you might try these scotcheroo bars that are full of peanut butter and butterscotch.

Magic Cookie Bars

Storing & Freezing

These cookies are great for freezing. Completely bake them, then slice/cut them in your preferred fashion. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and then seal them altogether in an airtight freezer bag. They’ll keep for a couple months in the freezer before losing their flavor.

To thaw, set them out on the counter for a few hours. You can eat them once they’re thawed, or heat them up from thawed – which is my method for getting the chocolate nice and gooey again.

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Magic Cookie Bars

Magic Cookie Bars

These scrumptious Magic Cookie Bars are chocolatey, crumbly goodness topped with chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, and sweetened condensed milk.
4.75 from 20 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 18 Servings
Calories: 320kcal
Author: Jillian Morris

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup graham cracker or cookie crumbs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 tbsp caramel syrup (not liquid syrup)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C (325 F or 160 C for glass baking dish).
  • Crumble the shortbread cookies or graham crackers in a food processor until very fine. Combine it with the butter, stirring until the cookies are wet and pebbly.
  • Transfer the mixture to a 9X13 baking dish and press it down to form a compacted crust.
  • Pour sweetened condensed milk over graham cracker crumbs. Top with remaining ingredients and press down gently. Drizzle on the caramel syrup.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

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Magic Cookie Bars

7 thoughts on “The Best Magic Cookie Bars

  1. Jessica Formicola says:

    5 stars
    These cookie bars really are magic! I love the simple ingredients and the kids (and me!) love the flavor!

  2. Alison says:

    3 stars
    Half a cup of butter is too much. Can cut back or add more cookie crumbs to get a good cookie crust. Also if following the recipe the cookie crumb crust will only cover an 8×8 or 9×9 dish. Would make again with some modifications.

    • Laura says:

      I’m sorry you found that the cookie crumble didn’t cover your 9×13 pan. We’ve made this recipe hundreds of times and haven’t had that issue. I suppose it comes down to how heavily you spread it.

  3. VIVIAN L WALLS says:

    We used corn flakes to make the crust. It added a little more savory to balance out the sweet richness of the bar.

4.75 from 20 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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