Magic Cookie Bars are an ooey-gooey treat made with a graham cracker crust and loaded with a variety of candy chips, all topped with a layer of coconut. Try my Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars for another sweet treat.
Magic Cookie Bars or 7 Layer Bars?
These are traditionally called Magin Bars and 7-Layer Bars, but we have been known to call them “garbage bars” because I usually empty out my pantry to make them. The bars are based on a recipe from my Mother-in-Law’s church cookbook and have been around for many, many years!
Variations for Magic Bars
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Magic Bars: Use chocolate chip cookie dough instead of graham cracker crust.
- Lemon Magic Bars: Use a lemon cookie crust and add lemon zest to the coconut filling.
- Peanut Butter Magic Bars: Use a peanut butter cookie crust and add chopped peanuts to the coconut filling.
- Caramel Magic Bars: Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the bars before baking.
- Mint Magic Bars: Use mint chocolate cookies for the crust and add peppermint extract to the coconut filling.
- Berry Magic Bars: Spread a layer of your favorite berry jam or preserve over the crust before adding the coconut filling.
And there are many more variations you can experiment with depending on your preferences!
Storing, Freezing, and Thawing Instructions for Magic Bars
Storing:
- Allow the bars to cool completely before storing them.
- Place the bars in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
- Store the bars in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freezing:
- Allow the bars to cool completely before freezing them.
- Cut the bars into individual servings, this makes it easier to thaw only what you need.
- Wrap the individual bars tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped bars in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Be sure to label and date.
Thawing:
- Remove the desired number of bars from the freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for several hours.
- You can also thaw them quickly by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving them on the defrost setting for 1-2 minutes.
More Delicious Bars
Garbage Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 can (15 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup peanut butter chips
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips, or semi-sweet
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup coconut flakes or sweetened shredded coconut, (you can use up to 1 ½ cups)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Melt butter in the microwave or small saucepan over low heat. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the bottom of a 9×13 pan then pour butter over the crumbs. Flatten out crumbs with a fork and make sure butter is evenly incorporated.
- Evenly pour two cups of morsels* over the graham cracker crust.
- Pour condensed milk over morsels.
- Cover with coconut flakes. (Or shredded coconut)
- Bake 25 minutes. Edges will be brown and center should not jiggle.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
You people should know you can add or subtract whatever you want to a recipe you might like it & someone else may not ther is no recipe police coming to get you if you change something & if you don’t like it be kind with your comments not everyone’s taste is the same
My mother made these but called them 7 layer cookies. My favorite cookie.
I cut this recipe in half and got 8 DELICIOUS bars in a 4×6 pan. Ty for the recipe I love the variation for a magic cookie bar.
I have made so many of your wonderful recipes. If I see a post from you I can’t bring myself to scroll past it. Gotta check it out.
Thank you for some great recipes.
Thank you so much, sweet Penny.
Always loved these, but now I use dark chocolate to offset the sweet….
These bars are addictive…easy to do for bake sale too! Yummo
These cookie bars are very rich, the recipe is very easy to play with. I’ve been making them for years! In fact, back in the 70’s and 80″s they were called “Hello Dolly Bars”! So delicious!!!
Could I sprinkle mini marshmallows on top instead of coconut?
I would be afraid that the marshmallows would burn. It takes 20-25 minutes to bake.
You could add the marshmallows the last 10 minutes or so.
The recipe in the book is wrong. It asked for 4-14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk. I I think it’s hilarious that the book I purchased is wrong and this one is right.
Yes, that is a big huge I AM SO SORRY error in the book. I don’t know how it got by 5 separate professional sets of eyes, but it did. Very sorry about that.
Can’t comment on the taste yet. I just assembled these bars using the recipe in your cookbook. Your cookbook recipe says to use 4 cans of condensed milk. Fortunately I stopped at 1 1/2, it looked like way too much. Also the grams for the graham cracker crumbs is off by about 50
Yes, so so so sorry. The book is wrong and the only correction is listed on the official webpage for it. 🙁 Hard to get the word out. I am thankful you were wise and stopped when you did!
Made these today with my kiddo and as always they were delicious!