by Diana Rattray
Magic cookie bars have been around since the mid-1960s, and Eagle Brand frequently included the recipe in their magazine ads. You could always find a recipe when flipping through a holiday issue of Family Circle or Women’s Day. This is how I always made them, but there are many different versions. This version is like the original but with slightly more butter and graham cracker crumbs for a thicker crust.
Magic cookies were originally made right in the pan with layers of butter, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, coconut, and chopped nuts. There was no need to dirty a bowl! Many people make Hello Dolly Bars, which include a layer of butterscotch chips. Feel free to use half chocolate chips and half butterscotch chips if you like, or try making them with white chocolate chips and semisweet or milk chocolate chips. They are sure to be delicious no matter how you adapt them!
These easy cake mix oat bars are also made with sweetened condensed milk.
PrintMagic Cookie Bars
These classic magic cookie bars are simple, and you don’t have to wait for a holiday to enjoy them! They are the perfect sweet treat for kids and adults!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
- Category: Cookies, Coconut, Chocolate Chips
- Method: Bake
Ingredients
- 11 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 16 full graham crackers sheets, crushed)
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips, about 2 cups
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Put the butter in a baking pan and place it in the oven until the butter is melted. Remove the pan to a rack.
- Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs evenly over the melted butter.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the graham cracker crumb layer.
- Top with the remaining ingredients and press down with your hand or a fork or spoon.
- Bake the magic cookie bars for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.
