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Made with only 7 ingredients, these magic bars are the easiest desserts ever! Also known as the Hello Dolly bars, these ooey gooey bars combine shredded coconut with chocolate chips and pecans held together by the perfect graham cracker crust.
At first, you might be a bit confused about how this recipe comes together. This Magic Bar is also known as Hello Dolly Bars or 7 Layer Bars and you might just be wondering how condensed milk works in a bar. I know, it sounds odd that you’ll layer condensed milk into a bar but trust me when I say this coconut magic bar is absolutely amazing.
The condensed milk, while is liquid to start, turns into this caramel-like glue that holds the graham cracker crust and the toppings. Once you bite into this magic bar, you’ll know exactly why it’s called “magic.” No special equipment needed as well! Just grab a mixing bowl and a spatula and get started!
Why You’ll Love This Magic Bar with Coconut Recipe
- The ingredients are simple: this magic bar recipe only uses 7 ingredients. Most of these ingredients you might already have in your pantry! If not, all of these ingredients are very easy to find at any grocery store.
- It’s so easy to make: these magic bars are perfect for those last minute desserts as there is no complicated technique behind it. You don’t even need any special equipment to make these magic bars. You really just need a pan to bake it in – making it a great recipe to try with your kids.
- The flavor and textures are out of this world: these coconut magic bars really hit all the spots. These magic bars are sweet, chewy, nutty, chocolate-y, caramel-y, and crunchy as well!
Ingredients for Coconut Magic Bars
- Butter – make sure it is unsalted butter.
- Brown sugar
- Graham crackers
- Sweetened condensed milk – be sure to double check that it is sweetened condensed milk. While evaporated milk looks similar, they aren’t the same!
- Chocolate chips
- Pecans
- Sweetened shredded coconut
How to Make The Best Magic Bars
Prepare the oven and equipment – Preheat the oven to 350F and spray a 9×9 pan with nonstick spray and line with two strips of parchment paper across the bottom of the pan in a cross shape.
Make the graham cracker crust – In a small bowl combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and crushed graham crackers and then lightly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Add in the sweetened condensed milk – Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust.
Combine the rest of the ingredients – In a small bowl combine the chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut before sprinkling the mixture evenly over the sweetened condensed milk.
Bake and cool – Place the pan on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the coconut is nicely browned. Remove the magic bars from the oven and allow them to cool before removing the magic bars from the pan.
Recipe Variations for Magic Bars
- Chocolate chips can be swapped for any types of chips such as white chocolate chips, caramel chips, butterscotch chips, dark chocolate chips, or any type you’d like!
- Don’t have pecans? You can swap pecans for walnuts or any chopped nuts of your choice.
- Dried fruit can also be added.
- For a more exciting crust, you can use the cookies of your choice such as Biscoff cookies, Oreo cookies (without the filling), or chocolate wafers. As long as they can be crumbled.
How to Store Coconut Magic Bars
At room temperature: magic bars can be stored in an airtight container in room temperature for 3 to 5 days.
In the fridge: in an airtight container or tightly wrapped, coconut magic bars can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
In the freezer: magic bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just be sure to wrap it carefully and tightly so it doesn’t get freezer burn. Thaw in your fridge the night before you’d like to serve it.
FAQs
Can I use pre-crushed graham crackers?
Yes! If you want to save yourself the time of crushing the graham crackers for the crust, you can purchase pre-crushed graham crackers.
Do I have to line my pan with parchment paper?
Lining it the way I describe helps you remove the magic bars so you can easily slice them into bars. Be sure to leave a bit of overhang of your parchment paper so you can grip it to lift the magic bars out.
How do I get clean slices?
As these bars are chewy and gooey, they might be a little difficult to cut straight from the oven. Allow your bars to cool down and place them in the fridge before slicing for perfectly cut magic bars!
If you’re looking for more desserts, try my Nutella Swirl Banana Muffins, Almond Joy Ice Cream, and Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Magic Bar with Coconut recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it and share it with your friends and family!
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Magic Bars with Coconut
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 12 graham crackers, finely crushed
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°. Spray a 9×9 inch pan with nonstick spray. Lay two strips of parchment paper across the bottom of the pan in a cross shape. This will help with removing the bars from the pan once they have cooled.
- In a small bowl combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and crushed graham crackers. Lightly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust.
- In a small bowl combine the chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the sweetened condensed milk.
- Place the pan on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the coconut is nicely browned.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool before removing from pan.
Notes
- Chocolate chips can be swapped for any types of chips such as white chocolate chips, caramel chips, butterscotch chips, dark chocolate chips, or any type you’d like!
- Don’t have pecans? You can swap pecans for walnuts or any chopped nuts of your choice.
- Dried fruit can also be added.
- For a more exciting crust, you can use the cookies of your choice such as Biscoff cookies, Oreo cookies (without the filling), or chocolate wafers. As long as they can be crumbled.
I made these today and the condensed milk didn’t set completely and the outside boarder pieces were really gooey.
I just wonder if the milk was combined with the other topping ingredients if that may help? Or maybe cooking longer?
Hi Katie,
Did you cook it for the full 25 minutes and use the same pan size? Cooking time may differ based on your oven. Feel free to cook it a bit longer if you feel like it’s needed. Another thing, the coconut you are using, can also make a difference. Some retain more moisture than others. You can always add more coconut to the mixture to help hold up the extra moisture you are talking about. Also let it cool completely before you cut into it. Hope that helps!