Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListBrownies and BarsMagic Cookie Bars Recipe

Posted by Aimee 18 comments
Published: Jun 09, 2023 Last Updated: Jun 9, 2023

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The BEST, Easy Magic Cookie Bars recipe is now at your fingertips. You’ll love this 7 layer, chewy treat, that’s so versatile for holidays or a sweet treat any day!

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe is Best

I have a confession.

It took me 45 years to try my first Magic Cookie Bar. And I’m not stopping now!

Have you tried these, or are you wondering, “what is a magic cookie bar?”

Magic Cookies Bars are layers of delicious ingredients that create a chewy, decadent bar….like magic.

Today’s version is a little more kid friendly than the original 7 Layer Bar! No coconut here.

I had a bag of pastel M&M’s candies left over in my pantry from Easter, so thought I would use it in this Magic Bar recipe.

  • Graham cracker crust forms the base of these bars.
  • A sweet and chewy cookie layer in the middle.
  • LOADED with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and M&Ms!

Be sure to buy some extra candies to make our delicious next. Or add some to our !

Ingredient Notes

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2)
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs – I prefer to pulse my own in the food processor, rather than using store-bought crumbs. But those will work in a pinch and save you a step.
  • Quick Cook Oats –I don’t recommend substituting whole rolled oats or steel cut oats. They are not as processed and won’t soften as much in the cookie bars.
  • Milk Chocolate Chips – These add great flavor and sweetness, but you could also substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips if you prefer.
  • Butterscotch Chips –You can find butterscotch chips in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips.
  • M&M Candies – Any variety of M&Ms will work in these bars.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk –This helps create the fudgy cookie layer, doing most of the work for us!

How to Make Magic Bars

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (3)
  1. STEP 1: Pulse the Crumbs. Melt butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs. Mix until crumbly.
  2. STEP 2: Make crust. Press graham cracker crumbs firmly into the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish lined with parchment paper.
  3. STEP 3: Add toppings. Top the graham cracker crust with milk chocolate chips, quick cook oats, butterscotch chips and M&M’S candies.
  4. STEP 4: Add milk. Pour can of sweetened condensed milk all over the top. Bake and cool.

Tips and Tricks

  • Line your baking dish with parchment paper to easily remove the bars once baked and help them release cleanly.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting. The bars will be soft at first but they will firm up as they set and cool.
  • Love nuts? Walnuts or toasted pecans go really well with this magic cookie bar recipe. Just add them on top when you add your chocolate chips!
  • Additional add-ins. Feel free to add any of the following for extra magic if desired: peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, Reese’speanut butter cups, shredded toasted coconut and/or 1/2 cup light brown sugar.
Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Can I add coconut to these magic bars?

Absolutely, and many recipes feature coconut. My husband is not a coconut fan, so I used quick cook oats instead. You can add 1 cup of sweetened, shredded coconut if you prefer (keep or remove the oats, your choice)!

How do I store Magic Bars?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature. (I prefer mine chilled.) They will keep for up to 1 week.

Can I freeze Magic Bars?

Yes! After they are baked and cooled, slice them into bars. Then slide them into a freeze safe ziploc bag (or container). Freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight at room temperature (or in the refrigerator).

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (5)

More Cookie Bars

  • Coconut Almond Bars
  • Smores Cookie Bars – also with a graham cracker crust!
  • Raspberry Shortbread Bars
  • Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Gingerbread Cookie Bars
  • Cranberry Orange Cookie Bars
  • Rainbow Bars

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (6)

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Magic Cookie Bars

By: Aimee

The BEST, Easy Magic Cookie Bars recipe is now at your fingertips. You'll love this 7 layer, chewy treat, that's so versatile for holidays or any day!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs 12 full size crackers
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
  • ½ cup quick cook oats
  • 1 cup butterscotch morsels
  • 1 cup M&M’s candies any variety

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper or foil. Set aside.

  • Process graham crackers using a food processor to make fine crumbs. Add in melted butter. Mix with a fork until crumbly.

  • Press crumbs into the bottom of prepared baking pan.

  • Top crust with chocolate chips, oats, butterscotch, and M&M’S. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.

  • Store in airtight container at room temperature or refrigerator (MY CHOICE).

Notes

  • Line your baking dish with parchment paper to easily remove the bars once baked and help them release cleanly.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting. The bars will be soft at first but they will firm up as they set and cool.
  • Love nuts? Walnuts or pecans go really well with this magic cookie bar recipe. Just add them on top when you add your chocolate chips!
  • Additional add-ins. Feel free to add any of the following for extra magic if desired: peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, Reese’speanut butter cups, shredded coconut and/or 1/2 cup light brown sugar.
  • See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 233kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 62mg, Potassium: 120mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 182IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Course: Brownies and Bars

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Magic Cookie Bars are an easy, 7 layer cookie dessert. Chewy and decadent, you’ll love these for holidays or bake sales!

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do Magic bars have to be refrigerated? ›

Store the magic cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Why are they called Magic Cookie Bars? ›

The reason these are called "magic" is because you layer everything into a pan, pour sweetened condensed milk over the top, and bake. When they come out of the oven, the sweetened condensed milk has baked into each layer, creating a bar that holds together and tastes amazing!

How do you cut magic cookie bars? ›

Like with other desserts, first bake your bars in a pan lined with non-stick foil. Chill your bars before lifting them with the foil and placing them on a cutting board. Slice, cleaning the knife after each slice. You may also spray the clean knife with cooking spray if they are still sticking.

Can magic squares be frozen? ›

Even better, magic bars are also freezer-friendly, so you can stash a batch to offer unexpected guests or just when a craving strikes. If you're in the mood for more dessert bar recipes, try my chocolate chip cookie bars, lemon bars recipe, or peanut butter bars recipe.

How long do cookie bars stay fresh? ›

Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.

How should cookie bars be stored? ›

To protect flavor and prevent the cookies from drying out, wrap tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap, or pack in freezer bags or plastic freezer containers with tight-fitting lids. Separate bars with waxed paper between the layers. Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.

Who invented magic cookies? ›

History. Magic cookies were already used in computing when computer programmer Lou Montulli had the idea of using them in web communications in June 1994. At the time, he was an employee of Netscape Communications, which was developing an e-commerce application for MCI.

Why is it called a Hello Dolly? ›

The Hello Dolly name is a reference to the Broadway musical "Hello, Dolly!" which was a popular musical when these bars were created in the mid-1960s. The bars are assembled in seven layers, and they are incredibly delicious.

Is condensed milk the same as evaporated milk? ›

Both are concentrated, shelf-stable milk products that have been heated until at least 60 percent of their water content has evaporated. The main difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk is that evaporated milk is unsweetened while condensed milk is sweetened.

How many bars does a 9x13 pan make? ›

You will get6 bars with a little extra space for a sample for the cook, to taste for quality control. If 9" seem too long , cut in half and you will have a nice dozen. I spray my pans with oil so the food slips out easily, and I start by cutting the food in half; cut the halves in half; and so on.

How much is 12 graham crackers crushed? ›

12 graham crackers should yield about 1.5 cups of crumbs when they're finely ground, or about 180g. (12x15g) 1 full sheet graham cracker = 14–16g, or about ½ an ounce.

How long do squares last in the freezer? ›

For best quality, freeze cookies and squares for up to 3 months.

Can you freeze cookie bars? ›

Yes, you can freeze brownie and bar cookies too! I recommend freezing brownies and bar cookies after they've been baked. To freeze an entire pan of brownies: Before baking, line the baking dish with parchment paper that goes up the sides to create a sling.

Can you freeze frosted bars? ›

Yes, you can freeze things with frosting! This method works with anything that's gooey and/or you can't stack when room temperature for fear of crushing the decorations. Place the items in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in your freezer.

How do you store dessert bars? ›

As a rule, everything must be completely cooled, then arranged in containers or resealable plastic bags in a single layer. To stack, separate layers with a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Don't overfill the containers, and don't mix “flavors.”

Do you refrigerate tabs chocolate? ›

Don't store chocolate in the refrigerator.

Secondly, the moisture that's naturally present in every fridge can cause the chocolate's sugars to the rise to the surface and turn the surface to a milky color. (This is called a “sugar bloom”.)

How do you store homemade ice cream bars? ›

Put the ice creams back on the tray to set in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving or store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

How long can you store homemade energy bars? ›

Another study concluded that an energy bar made from underutilized Chironji seeds was safe to consume within 15 days after production if kept at room temperature . Additionally, energy bars made from sorghum were found to be acceptable up to 60 days of storage and had good shelf life .

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