Magic Bars
Ok y’all, today’s post is gonna start off a little mushy. First, I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for buzzing my Cranberry Orange Bars to the Top 9 on Foodbuzz today!! This is my first time to get in the Top 9 and I couldn’t be more excited! I have met so many wonderful friends from Foodbuzz and I am so thankful for each and every one of you!!
Alright now that we got that out of the way, we can talk about these Magic Bars. Every year, my Aunt Renée makes a bunch of cookies for Christmas and she always sends a big platter of them home with us. I will say that of all the cookies on the tray, the magic bars are probably the favorite in the family and are usually the first ones to disappear. Part of this might be because she is stingy with giving us the magic bars as my cousins try to hoard them for themselves (*insert evil snicker as I know they might be reading this ;) ). So anyway, once we bring the tray home and unwrap the plastic wrap, there are usually only like 4 or 5 magic bars on the tray. What the heck is up with that, yo?!
This year, Hubs and I will be traveling to California to spend Christmas with his family. I’m excited to spend time with them and I am REALLY excited because I finally get to meet my adorable little nephew who was born at the end of July! But going to Cali means I won’t be going home to Cleveland and won’t get to fight it out for the magic bars so when I decided to make a cookie tray of my own for my lab’s holiday party this weekend, magic bars needed to be on it!!
Classic Magic Bars
From Eagle Brand®
Makes about 24 bars
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup butter, melted
– 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
– 1 14-ounce can sweetened and condensed milk
– 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
– 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut
– Optional: 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine the melted butter and the graham cracker crumbs until it is fully moistened by the butter. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray. Add the crumbs to the pan, spread evenly and push down to form a crust. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crust. Then layer with the chocolate chips and then the coconut. Press down with a fork. Bake for about 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown. I recommend letting the bars cool before cutting.
Suggested variations:
– Sprinkles (though, the nonpareils I used started to bleed so I’m not sure I would use them again).
– M&M’s (use red and green for the holidays!)
– Dried fruit – cranberries, raisins, etc.
– Butterscotch or peanut butter chips (OR, mix the chocolate and PB chips! YUM!)
39 Comments on “Magic Bars”
FUN! Christmas magic bars! I have been making magic bars for a few years but I’ve never put sprinkles in them, duh! What a great idea! :) Plus, they are really cute!
Thanks, girl!
Yum!! These are a classic in my family too…and we were definitely kids who scammed the best baking while my mom was putting baking onto platters :)
Haha! Yeah, I can see why they are a favorite!
See, I have a serious magic bar addiction. As in a coffee shop at my work sells these freshly made and I just cannot pass by without getting one. It’s hell for my waist line but tastes so, so good!
Cute Christmas variety with the sprinkles!
Oh, I’m glad my coffee shop doesn’t sell these, LOL!
Congrats on the T9! These magic bars look like they’re going to be fought after they look that good. Hope you enjoy Christmas in Cali and meeting your new Nephew ;)
Thanks so much, Val!
Congratulations on your top 9! I dream of that day. Something to be proud of for sure!!
I have a recipe for bars similar to these and they are one of my favorite bars in the world. I love the Christmas sprinkles on these…so adorable!
Thanks, Maggie! I’m sure you will get it soon too with all the wonderful recipes you make!
They really look like magic and this what Christmas is all about.
Looks lovely!!! Have fun in California, Happy Christmas!
These look so festive! I’ve had similar bars, but not with the Christmas colors–beautiful!
Oh, how fabulous! You’ve made one of my favorite bars into a Christmas cookie! Now I have another excuse to bake these (and I love that yours don’t have butterscotch chips :)).
Man oh man, I could really go for some of these babies right now!!
I have so many swaps this season, this would make for a perfect gift!
I love these! They remind me of Christmas as a kid :)
Oh my, these look so festive! Perfect bar for the holiday season. Thanks for sharing…
I love how you did the red and green decoration on top! I would be hard pressed not to indulge in these- a lot of chocolatey chewy goodness-yum!.
Traveling for the holidays has its ups and downs. You are not in the comfort of your own home enjoying your own decorations and goodies,
but a lot of the stress of preparing for a big crowd is gone also.
Oh, those ARE magic bars! Congratulations on making Top 9….Those cranberry orange bars were amazing and WELL deserved!
Congrats on getting into the Top Nine! That’s awesome!
These bars look yummy! I haven’t had magic bars in forever and I love how festive you’ve made yours look :-)
Yummmm! Look at all those colors! I love magic bars and yours look absolutely fantastic
Congrats on the Top 9!!!! Doing a jog for you right now! Okay, well maybe it’s a sit down whoo hoot from my desk chair, but my heart is doing a jig for you!
that looks so good.
We always called them Hello Dolly bars and I’d really like to know why. Magic is more like it! I love the sprinkles on top….so festive!!
These are adorable! I love the addition of the candy balls to classic magic bars! So festive, and by the way the bars in the previous post look scrumptious as well! Happy Holiday baking to you :)!
Congrats on top 9!!! I missed your cranberry post, but I’m so glad I saw this one. I love the sprinkles in the magic bar, so festive!
Congrats on making it to the Top 9 and this bars are simply amazing and love that deco to coincident with Christmas colors.
Congratulations! A well deserved award for sure. People bring these magic bars to work and they’re gone in a flash. Thanks for the recipe, and have a good weekend!
This is the first time I have seen magic bars looking holiday festive and I love it!!!
Hi Stephanie! A well deserved Top 9 indeed. Congratulations!!! I have been away again for work, and now I finally get to catch up on some reading. I can’t wait to start sharing my Christmas goodies too. I love the sound of your ‘Magic Bars’. Christmas indeed is a magical time of year. Happy Christmas.. hugsssss, Jo
the magic bar looks pretty and yummy with chrismas magic :)
These Magic Bars look so magical and pretty! love the colours too.. so did you lick the condensed milk spoon? :P
Stephanie, congrats on your first Top 9! Love the magic bars – perfectly Christmassy!
Stephanie, these look *so* great! I particularly like the shredded coconut strewn across the bars… thick, moist bars of deliciousness… mmm!
These bars are such a special treat for me. It was something my mom never made growing up. I have no idea why. Anyway I go a little crazy every time some are near. Love the holiday touch!
Gorgeous bars there my dear. I would think they would be magic, able to disappear in 5 seconds flat in this house. I love that there is coconut in them. You know me and coconut.
Simply gorgeous! You can’t go wrong with coconut, nuts and condensed milk. On top of that your christmas colour sprinkles and chocolate chips .Who will not adore these lovely bars.
Stephanie…I am so glad you are sharing your Aunt Renee’s Magic Bar recipe with us this year. They really look outrageous! I am a sucker for anything containing coconut! I think my boys would really love these too. And hey…..it’s snowing on your blog! How fun! : )
Oh these have coconut on them! Coconut goes really well with graham cracker crumbs too! I will have to make these for sure!
I’m picturing a version of this with dulce de leche….I’m extremely happy :) Those bars are so festive!