Magic Bars (Howdy Dolly Bars)

Magic bars are made by topping a graham cracker base with nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. The result’s a candy, chewy cookie bar that’s all the time a success at potlucks and cookie exchanges!

Cookie bars are the most effective methods to make a complete bunch of cookies with minimal effort.

I won’t have time to make and frost a batch of sugar cookies, however I could make a pan of sugar cookie bars and minimize them into as many items as I want. It takes much less time to make a pan of monster cookie bars than it does to scoop and bake a number of pans of cookies.

These magic bars are a straightforward favourite. They solely take a couple of minutes to assemble and also you’ve bought a complete pan of chewy cookie bars which can be bursting with chocolate, coconut, and your favourite nuts.

In case you want one other deal with so as to add to your vacation menus or cookie exchanges, this magic cookie bars recipe is it.

What are magic bars?

Have you ever ever had magic bars? They’re really easy they actually do really feel like magic after they come collectively.

Magic bars are candy, chewy cookie bars made by topping a graham cracker crust base with nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. They’re also called Howdy Dolly bars or 7-layer bars.

The “magic” half is that you just don’t really combine the topping of the bars. Just like making cherry dump cake, you simply layer the toppings components over the graham cracker crust and drizzle the sweetened condensed milk excessive.

And but in some way the whole lot comes collectively within the oven to convey the whole lot collectively.

Since these are really easy to assemble, they’re nice for making with youngsters. They’re additionally excellent once you want a last-minute deal with to take to potlucks, cookouts, or vacation cookie exchanges!

Give these a attempt. They’re sure to turn out to be considered one of your favourite cookie bar recipes!

How one can make magic bars

Able to see simply how magical these simple cookie bars are to make?

Elements you’ll want

First, we’ll make the graham cracker crust base. For this, you’ll want:

• 3 cups graham cracker crumbs 
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 10 tablespoons melted salted butter

I normally want round 22 full graham cracker sheets pulsed within the meals processor to get 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs. You too can purchase packing containers of graham cracker crumbs for a straightforward shortcut!

In case you solely have unsalted butter, simply add a small pinch of salt to the crust.

For the topping, you’ll want:

• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• flaky sea salt (non-obligatory)

Once you’re on the retailer, be sure to purchase sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk. They’re very completely different and may’t be substituted for one another!

Making these magic cookie bars

These magic bars like to stay to the pan, so I wish to line my 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, then spray the foil with nonstick spray.

In a big mixing bowl, stir collectively the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter till the crumbs are moistened. Firmly press this combination into the underside of the ready baking pan.

Now evenly sprinkle the in an excellent layer nuts over the crust, adopted by the chocolate chips. End with the coconut.

Lastly, drizzle the complete can of sweetened condensed milk excessive. Bake at 350°F for 25-Half-hour, or till calmly browned on high.

I wish to sprinkle the tops of the bars with a little bit of flaky sea salt proper after they come out of the oven. Just like including sea salt to the highest of heath bar cookies, chocolate chipless cookies, or simple chocolate chip cookies, I like the way in which it balances out the sweetness of the cookie bars.

Typically I wish to sprinkle just a few further chocolate chips excessive proper as they arrive out of the oven, too, simply to make them look fairly.

Let the magic bars cool utterly earlier than utilizing the foil to elevate them out of the pan. Lower into bars and luxuriate in!

Storage suggestions

I like to recommend storing these magic bars in an hermetic container within the fridge, inserting a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper between stacked layers. They’ll keep good for as much as 5 days.

Magic bars additionally freeze nicely. Retailer them in a freezer-safe hermetic container with parchment or waxed paper between the layers.

If you would like further insurance coverage in opposition to the bars sticking collectively, freeze them on a single layer on a baking sheet earlier than including them to the container.

Retailer within the freezer for 2-3 months. Allow them to thaw in a single day within the fridge or for a few hours at room temperature earlier than serving.

Variations and ingredient substitutions

The great thing about making magic bars is there are a selection of the way they are often tailored to your preferences.

• Use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs for a gluten-free model. Make sure that the remainder of your components are additionally licensed gluten free if you happen to go this route.
• Use pecans or walnuts, relying in your favourite. Chopped cashews may even work!
• Omit the nuts if you happen to don’t like them or have a tree nut allergy.
• Change up the kind of chips you utilize! White chocolate chips are a standard swap, however darkish chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and butterscotch chips would additionally work nicely.

Simply be sure to do NOT omit or substitute the coconut or the sweetened condensed milk on this recipe. The coconut is required for getting the appropriate chewy texture and the condensed milk is required for taste and for bringing the whole lot collectively within the oven.