Magic Bars

How many of you remember Magic Cookie Bars from waaaay back when?  In the past – waaaay back when, I made these delicious, gooey bars quite often, but I can’t remember the last time I made them.  That was until I stumbled across the recipe in my Loveless Cafe Desserts Cookbook.It conjured up memories from days past when this quick and easy recipe was a go to for me.  When I discovered them back in the late 70’s or early 80’s seems they were all the rage.  I spent a few minutes googling “history of Magic Cookie bars” but turned up nothing to indicate just when they were first publicized.  Any of you have an answer for that one?  I suspect it may have been before I stumbled across them.

Easy, easy, easy is what these bars are!  Another good name for these would be, “ooey gooey magic bars” because that is just what they are.  Ooey and gooey and delicious, with just the right amount of crunch from the walnuts.  Loveless Cafe throws in a handful of white chocolate chips but I left them out and opted for the original recipe version.  I’m taking a plate full to work today or my jeans are going to get a little snug.  I can’t stop eating them….

Enjoy!

Magic Bars 

Ingredients:
2 cups of cookie crumbs made from graham crackers or vanilla wafers
1 stick + 1 tbsp. unsalted, melted butter
1 cup broken walnuts
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat the oven to 350*F.  Grease an 8″ square baking pan.

In a bowl toss the cookie crumbs with the melted butter until crumbs are moist.  Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking pan.

Place the nuts, chips and coconut into a bowl and toss to mix.  Pour the sweetened condensed milk over this mixture and stir well.  Scrape the mixture over the crust in the pan.  Moisten your hands slightly and press the mixture evenly over the crust.

Bake for 20 minutes,s or until the edges are slightly browned.  Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack.  Cut bars into squares with a sharp knife.  These bars can be refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for up to one month.

*The original recipe calls for a graham cracker crust.  Loveless calls for a vanilla wafer crust.  I used the vanilla wafer version.  Either way the bars are delicious.