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
I literally made these Magic Cookie Bars 2 hours ago. Tonight my husband, kids and I are going to a small gathering and I could not be happier about it. With all the events of the world of late, I feel so blessed that we are able to be with loving, caring people. Even in the midst of personal trials and national devastation, I turned to something that always brings me joy. Baking.
Seven Layer Bars
These are traditionally called seven-layer bars, but the reason I am calling them “garbage bars” is because I simply emptied out my pantry to make them. The bars are based on a recipe from my Mother-in-Law’s church cookbook and been around for many, many years!
Instead of using semi-sweet chocolate and chopped nuts as the original recipe called for, I used 1/2 cup of four different kinds of treats.
Optional Ingredients for Magic Bars
1/2 cup Peanut Butter Chips
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup White Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Butterscotch Chips
I thought they turned out pretty great!
Sweet… like -holy heck are they sweet- but great none the less.
Magic Bars Recipe
If you want to stick to the traditional recipe simply use 2 cups of chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet) and 1 cup chopped nuts. Another fun variation? Try adding 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the graham cracker crust!
I just love how “custom” these bars are. You can truly make them yours by using your favorite ingredients!
Garbage Bars
Ingredients
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 15 ounces can of 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, the original calls for 1 1/2 cups, but I am not a coconut fan
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Melt butter in microwave or small saucepan over low heat. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over bottom of 9x13 pan then pour butter over crumbs. Flatten out crumbs with fork and make sure butter is evenly incorporated.
- Evenly pour two cups of flavored chips over graham cracker crust.
- Pour condensed milk over chips.
- Cover with coconut flakes. (Or shredded coconut)
- Bake 25 minutes. Edges will be brown and center should not jiggle.
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.
Love all of those chocolate chips! These sound absolutely wonderful! 🙂
I tend to bake when things like this happen too. I also was in the kitchen that afternoon when earlier that day I really didn’t feel like it- but once everything started to unfold I felt compelled to bake. These look amazing with all the best things included.
You know, I’ve never made magic bars…. Yours look so tempting, I simply have to try them!! LOVE the photo!!!
In elementary school I started baking ~ my recipe card (circa 1964) says Hello Dolly Bars! Then in the 70’s it started making the rounds as Magic Bars too. No matter what they are called ~ everyone always calls them GOOD!!
Yum. And thank you Amanda, because you and your baking bring lots of people joy as well 🙂
Wow looks and sounds delcious. Love your recipe Amanda
Your bars look so delicious!
These look amazing! I don’t think I could trust myself to make these…
I love those magic bars, they have been around forever. I really want to make your Garbage Bars with the four kinds of chips. Then I don’t have decide on which flavor to pick! Genius!
Is the coconut you used sweetened or plain/unsweetened? Think it would make a difference substituting one for the other?
I used unsweetened Coconut Flakes from Bob’s Redmill. Every recipe I have seen calls for sweetened.