Magic Cookie Bars Recipe

The BEST, Easy Magic Cookie Bars recipe is now at your fingertips. You’ll love this 7 layer, chewy treat, that’s so versatile for holidays or a sweet treat any day!

Why This Recipe is Best

I have a confession.

It took me 45 years to try my first Magic Cookie Bar. And I’m not stopping now!

Have you tried these, or are you wondering, “what is a magic cookie bar?”

Magic Cookies Bars are layers of delicious ingredients that create a chewy, decadent bar….like magic.

Today’s version is a little more kid friendly than the original 7 Layer Bar! No coconut here.

I had a bag of pastel M&M’s candies left over in my pantry from Easter, so thought I would use it in this Magic Bar recipe.

• Graham cracker crust forms the base of these bars.
• A sweet and chewy cookie layer in the middle.
• LOADED with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and M&Ms!

Be sure to buy some extra candies to make our delicious M&M cookies next. Or add some to our M&M brownies!

Ingredient Notes

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

• Graham Cracker Crumbs – I prefer to pulse my own in the food processor, rather than using store-bought crumbs. But those will work in a pinch and save you a step.
• Quick Cook Oats – I don’t recommend substituting whole rolled oats or steel cut oats. They are not as processed and won’t soften as much in the cookie bars.
• Milk Chocolate Chips – These add great flavor and sweetness, but you could also substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips if you prefer.
• Butterscotch Chips – You can find butterscotch chips in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips.
• M&M Candies – Any variety of M&Ms will work in these bars.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – This helps create the fudgy cookie layer, doing most of the work for us!

How to Make Magic Bars

1. STEP 1: Pulse the Crumbs. Melt butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs. Mix until crumbly.
2. STEP 2: Make crust. Press graham cracker crumbs firmly into the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish lined with parchment paper.
3. STEP 3: Add toppings. Top the graham cracker crust with milk chocolate chips, quick cook oats, butterscotch chips and M&M’S candies.
4. STEP 4: Add milk. Pour can of sweetened condensed milk all over the top. Bake and cool.

Tips and Tricks

• Line your baking dish with parchment paper to easily remove the bars once baked and help them release cleanly.
• Let the bars cool completely before cutting. The bars will be soft at first but they will firm up as they set and cool.
• Love nuts? Walnuts or toasted pecans go really well with this magic cookie bar recipe. Just add them on top when you add your chocolate chips!
• Additional add-ins. Feel free to add any of the following for extra magic if desired: peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, Reese’s peanut butter cups, shredded toasted coconut and/or 1/2 cup light brown sugar.

Recipe FAQs

More Cookie Bars

• Coconut Almond Bars
• Smores Cookie Bars – also with a graham cracker crust!
• Raspberry Shortbread Bars
• Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
• Gingerbread Cookie Bars
• Cranberry Orange Cookie Bars
• Rainbow Bars

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Magic Cookie Bars

4.77 from 17 votes

By: Aimee

The BEST, Easy Magic Cookie Bars recipe is now at your fingertips. You'll love this 7 layer, chewy treat, that's so versatile for holidays or any day!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter melted
• ▢ 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs 12 full size crackers
• ▢ 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• ▢ 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
• ▢ ½ cup quick cook oats
• ▢ 1 cup butterscotch morsels
• ▢ 1 cup M&M’s candies any variety

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper or foil. Set aside.
• Process graham crackers using a food processor to make fine crumbs. Add in melted butter. Mix with a fork until crumbly.
• Press crumbs into the bottom of prepared baking pan.
• Top crust with chocolate chips, oats, butterscotch, and M&M’S. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.
• Store in airtight container at room temperature or refrigerator (MY CHOICE).

Notes

• Line your baking dish with parchment paper to easily remove the bars once baked and help them release cleanly.
• Let the bars cool completely before cutting. The bars will be soft at first but they will firm up as they set and cool.
• Love nuts? Walnuts or pecans go really well with this magic cookie bar recipe. Just add them on top when you add your chocolate chips!
• Additional add-ins. Feel free to add any of the following for extra magic if desired: peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, Reese’s peanut butter cups, shredded coconut and/or 1/2 cup light brown sugar.
• See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 233kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 62mg, Potassium: 120mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 182IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Course: Brownies and Bars

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Magic Cookie Bars are an easy, 7 layer cookie dessert. Chewy and decadent, you’ll love these for holidays or bake sales!