Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

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Is anything more classic for the holidays (or you know, a Monday morning with a coffee) than deliciousMagic Cookie Bars, also known as Hello Dolly Bars? These condensed milk and chocolate layer bars are so easy to make and are always a crowd favorite!

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (1)

How to Make Magic Cookie Bars

Magic cookie bars are the original 7 layer bar, even though they don’t technically have 7 layers. The original bar has 6 layers and people have adapted them into 7 layer bars over the years. The original magic cookie bars don’t have butterscotch or extras (hey, not that those don’t make the bars better!) but I wanted to provide you guys with the basic, old a heck, classic magic cookie bar recipe that started it all!

Making magic cookie bars is as easy as 1,2,3!

  1. Press the crumb base into the bottom of the pan.
  2. Place all of the ingredients into the pan in the correct order.
  3. Bake, then cool and slice.

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2)

How to Freeze Magic Cookie Bars

Magic cookie bars freeze perfectly but there is a trick to it because they are slightly ooey and gooey, so they take an extra step to freeze.

  • Cut the magic bars into the size that you want to freeze them.
  • Place the cookie bars onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Freeze them until they are solid.
  • Place the bars into a container and layer them between parchment paper to ensure that they don’t stick together.
  • Cover the container and freezer for up to 3 months.

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (3)

Why these are also known as Hello Dolly bars I am not quite sure, but they were invented in the 1960’s and started out as Hello Dolly Bars. They are the exact same thing as magic cookie bars, just differently named.

More Cookie Bar Recipes

  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
  • Butter Tart Bars
  • Lemon Bars

These are super sweet and awesome cookie bars, enjoy!

Love,

Karlynn

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (4)

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Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (5)

Magic Cookie Bars

Is anything more classic than deliciousMagic Cookie Bars? These condensed milk and chocolate coconut layer bars are so easy to make and are always a crowd favorite!

4.89 from 27 votes

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (6)

Review

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Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Servings
20
Calories
247
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup salted butter melted
  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • one 14 ounces can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts'

Instructions

  • Pre-heat your oven to 350° F, or to 325 °F if you are using a glass dish.

  • Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper and set aside for later.

  • Combine the graham cracker crumbs and the salted butter until the graham crumbs are moistened with the butter throughout.

  • Press the mixture into the bottom of your prepared prepared pan.

  • Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the graham crumb crust.

  • Sprinkle even layers of the chocolate chips, coconut and the nuts, making sure they are mixed on the top evenly. ( you want a little of each all over the place)

  • Press these down firmly with the back of a spoon into the condensed milk ( but don't break through to the crust.!)

  • Bake for 25 minutes in your preheated oven or until lightly browned all over. If you notice the top browning too fast you can cover with tinfoil for a few minutes and keep baking. Remove and cool.

  • Cool the bars completely before slicing.

  • Cut into bars or diamonds.

  • Store covered at room temperature or in a closed container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 247kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 86mg, Potassium: 169mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 150IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1.8mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Bars and squares Christmas Christmas baking Vintage recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Terre says

    Reply

    I’ve been looking for the vegan version of this recipe, which I still haven’t found. This recipe is really easy to veganize though. Can’t wait to try them. Thank you!Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (11)

  2. Lynn says

    Reply

    My daughter made these today and they were not only scrumptious but easy and will be lovely to serve. Thank you so much for all the extra tips in the instructions. Great recipe. Will definitely make again.Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (12)

  3. Janet says

    Reply

    I think the pan is too large, too thin of a bar. I used dark chips and only half the required amount, family found them too sweet.Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (13)

  4. Jess M says

    Reply

    I just made these for my husband with semi sweet chips, honey roasted peanuts and Biscoff cookies for the base.
    Oh my gosh it’s so delicious, thank you so much for this wonderfully easy recipe!Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (14)

  5. betcclic.com says

    Reply

    I learn to cooks soup recipes by watching youtube videos

  6. Kay says

    Reply

    I have been making them every Christmas for years, this is the first time I have poured the condensed milk in first. waiting for them to cool the check out the result 🙂Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (15)

  7. Dori says

    Reply

    I’ve been making these since I was a teenager, back when they were called Hello. Dolly bars. To reply to some of the other comments, I use a 13×9” pan, putting the sweetened condensed milk on top of the graham crackers doesn’t make them more moist, it actually makes them drier, put the sweetened condensed milk on top, makes for a much moister cookie bar. These are my granddaughters favorite, make them for her every Christmas.

  8. Sheila P says

    Reply

    I have never seen this recipe where you pour the sweet condensed milk over the graham crumbs!! All the recipes I’ve seen add it at the end, on top of everything else. This makes so much more sense. This way, the milk bubbles up through everything to hold it together, and doesn’t brown so quickly. Thank you!

  9. Joy Wilson says

    Reply

    can I use unsalted butter. that’s what I have on hand.

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Reply

      Yes, just add a sprinkle of salt to the recipe

  10. Candace says

    Reply

    Did you use a 9×9 pan?

    • Judy says

      Reply

      What size pan?

  11. susan gortva says

    Reply

    i used to really love these. can’t believe all the goodies I ate

    • Dawn says

      Reply

      We call these Simple Simon’s and have been making them since the 60’s. This was in the church cookbook my mother helped put together. Butterscotch chips were in the recipe and the condensed milk was poured on top of everything. So I guess our Simple Simon’s are the 7 layer bars

Leave a Comment or Recipe Tip

Magic Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do Magic bars have to be refrigerated? ›

Cut into 24 pieces and store in an airtight container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers. The flavor of the bars is even better the day after baking. Bars stored at room temperature will be fairly soft and are best eaten within 3 to 5 days. For firm and chewy bars, store in the fridge for up to a week.

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.

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!

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.

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.

What size do you cut cookie bars? ›

Dip the knife in warm water and quickly dry it off before the first cut. Then wipe it clean, dip it in warm water, then dry again before each subsequent cut. Use a ruler to measure equal pieces. If cutting these cookie bars into 16 squares, you'd want each bar to be 2″ x 2.”

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.

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.

What is a carnival cookie? ›

🎡The Carnival Cookie🎡 A massive, buttery-soft sugar cookie topped with. smooth vanilla buttercream icing and garnished. generously with rainbow sprinkles.

What's in magic bars? ›

Magic Cookie Bars are easy to make and always a hit! The bars are layered with a graham cracker crust, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. Basically, dessert heaven!

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? ›

You can also place the baked cooled cookies on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then move the frozen cookies or bars to either airtight bags or containers. Remove cookies from their containers or bags and thaw at room temperature before serving or decorating. Some bars can take 6-8 hours to thaw.

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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