Magic Cookie Bars

Scrumptious Magic Cookie Bars, also known as Hello Dolly Bars and Seven Layer Bars, are layers of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, coconut, and walnuts over a buttery graham cracker crust. These tasty treats can be prepped and ready to go into the oven in less than five minutes. 

I love to take them to potlucks, family reunions, and neighbourhood socials because I always come home with an empty dish. They also make a beautiful, tasty addition to my Christmas cookie trays, with haystack cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, pecan pie cookies, and chocolate crinkle cookies.

Why this recipe works

• This recipe is virtually foolproof. Just a couple of ingredients are mixed, and the rest are layered.
• These seven-layer magic bars are always a hit at parties. As my late mother used to say, they go like hotcakes.
• They can be prepared up to two days before, covered, and stored on the counter at room temperature.
• The magic in these cookie bars is just how delicious they taste. Therefore, consider yourself warned: They are addicting.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.

• Butter: I use unsalted but salted butter will work, too
• Graham cracker crumbs: Save yourself a little money and crush your graham crackers into fine crumbs in a food processor or with a bag and a rolling pin. One sleeve plus two full sheets make about 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs.
• Chocolate chips: semi-sweet. You can also use dark chocolate chips. I think milk chocolate chips are too sweet for this recipe, but you can use them.
• Peanut butter flavored chips: Change it up and substitute butterscotch for peanut butter chips.
• Nuts: walnuts or pecans

How to make Magic Cookie Bars

This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.

Start by mixing the crushed graham crackers with the melted butter. Press the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Then sprinkle the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, shredded coconut, and chopped walnuts over the top.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top, covering as much as possible. Finally, bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool the bars completely before cutting.

Preparation Tips

• Grease the casserole dish well. These bars are delicious, but they are sticky.
• Thoroughly cool the bars before slicing so they don’t fall apart.
• You might want to make two batches if you have a large crowd because they go fast. Consider yourself warned.

Recipe Variations

• Lemon: In place of the graham cracker crust, mix lemon cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Spoon into the prepared casserole and pre-bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with white chocolate chips, coconut, and almond slivers. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top and bake for 30 minutes.
• German Chocolate: In place of the graham cracker crust, mix German chocolate cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 egg. Spoon into the prepared casserole and pre-bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with chocolate chips, coconut, and chopped pecans. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top and bake for 30 minutes.
• White Chocolate Macadamia Nut: Follow the recipe as directed, except substitute white chocolate chips for both chocolate and peanut butter chips and macadamia nuts for the walnuts.

Store and Freeze

Store magic cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.

Freeze by placing the bars on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in a single layer without touching. Place it on a level spot in the freezer until fully frozen, a process known as flash freezing. Then, transfer the frozen bars to a sturdy freezer container with parchment paper or wax paper between the layers. Freeze for up to 3 months.

More Cookie Recipes

Magic Cookie Bar Recipe

Fun, easy and delectable these Magic Cookie Bars will be a hit at your next party, potluck or family reunion.  Filled with chocolate and peanut butter chips, coconut and walnuts these bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

5 from 24 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 servings

Calories: 293kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup peanut butter flavored chips
• 1 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or line the entire dish with parchment paper with an overhang for easy removal. 
• In a medium bowl combine melted butter and graham cracker crumbs.  Press into bottom of prepared pan.  Top with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, coconut and walnuts in an even layer.  Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top covering as much as you can.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool the bars completely before cutting.

Notes

• Grease the casserole dish well. These bars are delicious, but they are sticky.
• The bars must be thoroughly cooled before slicing so they don’t fall apart.
• If you have a large crowd, you might want to make two batches because they go fast. Consider yourself warned.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 130mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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