I am always on the lookout for a dessert recipe that packs a punch but is also quick and easy to prepare and these Magic Bars are almost too easy! Martha Stewart and the Pioneer Woman will be calling you for the recipe. Related Link : Banana Peanut Butter Brownies.

Why You Will Love These

Fabulous crowd-pleasing desserts don’t have to be difficult.

Decadent dessert bars require only 6 affordable ingredients.The cookie bars go from mixing bowl to table in under 35 minutes. Ingredients are staple items you already have in your pantry.These are easy to prep ahead so you just pull out as needed.Easy to double or triple up to feed a crowd.

Whether you make these for your family, for a party, or for yourself (I won’t tell!), these decadent, thick, chewy, layered cookie bars are sure to be a recipe you come back to again and again. 

Tools To Make These

A handy everyday mixing bowl.A baking tray.A spatula.Aluminum foil or baking parchment.

You will find the full recipe in the recipe card further down below.

graham cracker crumbsmelted buttersweetened condensed milkmini chocolate chipschopped pecanssweetened shredded coconut

Combine melted butter and graham cracker crumbs and press into a parchment-lined baking tray.Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust and sprinkle with pecans and chocolate chips. Top with coconut and more chocolate chips.Bake for 20-25 minutes until the coconut begins to brown.

Magic Bars Tips

I find it easier to combine the graham cracker crumbs and butter in a mixing bowl before pressing into the baking tray. But you could mix them right in the baking pan before pressing into place. The nuts add a delicious crunch to these magic bars so don’t leave them out. Increase and decrease the number of nuts to your taste. 

Feel free to take a shortcut by using pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.If you don’t like or want nuts, skip them and add more chocolate chips or coconut chips.Line your baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy removal of the bars.

Allow the cookie bars to cool completely before slicing with a sharp knife into nine squares. Otherwise, they will fall apart as you slice them. Feel free to make them the night before and slice them the next day.  

These cookie bars are chewy, crunchy, sweet and chocolatey. They are everything you could hope for in an easy to prepare dessert. But, if you are looking to mix it up a bit, try swapping out the chocolate chips and the nuts with other ingredients. Here are some ideas:

Butterscotch ChipsPeanut Butter ChipsWalnutsWhite Chocolate ChipsToffee BitsMacadamia Nuts

If you are really feeling daring (go on you know you want to), you can swap out the traditional graham crackers in the crust for chocolate or cinnamon graham crackers. 

FAQs

 Can I Eat These Warm or Cold?

They hold up better when they are cold but can be served at room temperature or chilled.

You will likely underestimate how quickly these cookie bars will get eaten so storage may not be an issue. Since they are best eaten cold, I like to store magic bars in an airtight container in my fridge.

These cookie bars come together so quickly you may not need to freeze them but you certainly can. Here’s how:

Let them cool down completely.Tightly wrap and freeze the entire pan or freeze individual pieces in an airtight container or ziplock bag. I wouldn’t recommend freezing these for longer than two months, but I doubt they will last that long!

Tips for Thawing Them

It is best to thaw these magic cookie bars in the fridge. Simply remove the frozen bars from the freezer and place them in the fridge for a few hours to thaw. You can then slice and serve them.  I don’t recommend thawing them on the counter, as the sweetened condensed milk can become a bit watery. 

Serving Suggestions

7 Infused Waters.Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate.Raspberry lemonade.No Churn Ice Cream.

Other Easy Cookies and Desserts

Air Fryer Donuts.Peanut Butter Banana Brownies.Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies.

Thank you for reading my Magic Cookie Bars recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry,  food blog.