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January 25, 2017 6 Comments

Magic Bar Cookies {5 ingredients}



 

magic-bar-cookiesFrom the moment I saw these, Almond Joy {four ingredient} Cookies on Pinterest, I knew I needed to try something similar with one of my favorite bar desserts. I love Magic Bars, also known as Hello Dolly Bars, and I just knew I needed to see if I could turn them into Magic Bar Cookies.

I’m happy to say it worked. They only have five ingredients, you don’t need a mixer, and they come together in minutes. Gotta love a quick and easy dessert!

magic-bar-cookiesOne of the only things I don’t like about traditional Magic Bars is that the graham cracker crust is often crumbly and quite messy. These cookies easily solve that problem. They have all the graham cracker taste but no crumby mess, and they have fewer calories because you aren’t using as much butter as the traditional recipe.

Because there isn’t as much butter in them, like the original bars, they aren’t quite as rich, but they are still very sweet and very chocolaty.

magic-bar-cookiesThey are the type of cookie that gets even better the second and third day. My husband ate almost all of them. The kids and I were lucky to salvage a few.

Speaking of kids, this is a great recipe for kids who are learning to cook.

So, if you are a fan of Magic Bars, aka Hello Dolly Bars, you’re definitely going to want to give these little guys a shot!

–and if you use gluten-free graham crackers, these can easily be made gluten-free.

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4.0 from 2 reviews
Magic Bar Cookies {5 ingredients}
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
18 mins
Total time
28 mins
 
A fun and lighter version of the popular Magic Bars, aka Hello Dolly Bars. Only five ingredients and no mixer needed.
Author: Maria
Serves: 30-35
Ingredients
  • 2 cups coconut (you can leave it as is or toast it in the microwave before adding to get a little more crunch and more coconut flavor)
  • 1¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
  • ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • dash of coarse sea salt (about ⅛-1/4 tsp) optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper and set it aside.
  3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
  4. Use a cookie scoop to scoop dough onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Place scoops of dough 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
  5. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.
  6. Cool on a cooling rack and store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
3.5.3251

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Chocolate Chips, Cookies, Desserts, Ingredients, Recipes
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6 Comments

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6 Comments

  1. Ruth

    December 21, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    I divided the chips and did a mix of semi sweet, milk, butterscotch and peanut butter. My son Likes that on the traditional bars, so I decided to give it a whirl in th cookies!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 5:13 am

      Awesome!

      reply to this comment
  2. Vida

    September 7, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    The person said they are lower in calories because there is no butter. One of the ingredients is 1/4 cup of butter. I’m confused.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 12, 2023 at 7:38 am

      Thanks for catching that Vida. I have fixed the recipe now.

      reply to this comment
  3. Dawn

    October 9, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    Wondering how these would freeze?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 11, 2023 at 2:16 pm

      I think they would freeze super well, just make sure to wrap them individually or put them in a very airtight container.

      reply to this comment

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Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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