Magic Cookie Bars (Printable)

Chewy layered bars with chocolate, coconut, nuts, and a rich buttery base everyone will love.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

→ Layers

03 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
04 - 1 cup butterscotch chips (optional, may substitute with white chocolate chips)
05 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
06 - 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
07 - 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crust.
04 - Evenly distribute chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, and chopped nuts over the condensed milk.
05 - Gently press down the layered ingredients using the back of a spatula to ensure even compaction.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until edges are golden and center is firmly set.
07 - Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 portions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in 10 minutes of actual hands-on time, leaving you with nothing but an oven timer between you and dessert.
  • Every layer adds something different—the crunch of nuts, the chew of coconut, the melty chocolate—so there's something satisfying in every bite.
  • You can customize the mix-ins based on what's in your pantry, and it almost always turns out incredible.
02 -
  • Don't overbake—the moment the edges turn golden is when you pull them out; a minute too long and the condensed milk loses its chewiness.
  • The bars firm up as they cool, so what feels soft in the pan will be perfectly set by the time you cut them.
03 -
  • Press the crust down firmly so it stays together when you bite; a loose crust means crumbles in your lap.
  • If your condensed milk layer isn't fully setting in the center after 30 minutes, give it another 3–5 minutes rather than risking underbaking.
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