Magic Bars Recipe with Shortbread Crust (2024)

These shortbread crust bars are loaded with chocolate and toffee chips, sweet coconut, and crunchy pecans - they're the best seven layer bars without graham crackers you've ever tasted!

🧂 Ingredients

This is meant to be a brief overview of themagic barsrecipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.

• Unsalted butter
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Pecans
• Coconut
• Toffee chips
• Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips

🔪Instructions

These shortbread magic bars are sure to be a new family favorite. I know I can't get enough of them!

1. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees, line a 9×9 square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Add butter and brown sugar a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, mix to combine.
3. Next, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the flour slowly, with the mixer set on the lowest speed.
4. Press the mixture it into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
5. Remove from the oven and cool.
6. Sprinkle the crust with chopped nuts and coconut.
7. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top. Top with chocolate chips, toffee chips and dark chocolate chips.
8. Place the pan back in the oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes.
9. Remove from oven, cool completely.
10. Refrigerate before using the parchment paper to remove the bars from the pan.

Equipment

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• Baking Pan - see notes
• Measuring Spoons
• Dry Measuring Cups
• Large Mixing Bowl

Do magic cookie bars need to be refrigerated?

No, these do not need to be refrigerated. If they had eggs, I'd say yes but they will keep well as long as they are well-sealed.

Do magic bars freeze well?

They freeze very nicely! If you decide to make a double batch and freeze half you'll be glad you did!

How long do these bars last?

Technically they will last 2-3 weeks when well sealed BUT I've never had them last longer than a couple of days in our home! 😋

How do you know the bars are done baking?

You can test them with a toothpick, or keep an eye on them. When they are done they will just begin to pull away from the side of the pan.

📖 Variations

We recommend that you try ourmagic bar recipefor the first time just as it is written for the best results because that is how the recipe has been tested.

However, the next time you make it, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.

Swap out the toppings if you like. Here are some ideas:

• Chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts
• Love white chocolate? Use that instead of dark chocolate.
• Add butterscotch chips instead of toffee or peanut butter chips.
• Hate coconut? Leave it out.
• Add your favorite candies like chopped Rolo's or peanut butter cups.
• Sprinkle in dried cranberries (delicious with white chocolate chips).
• Add a sprinkle of sea salt to the top for a little salted caramel flavor.
• Drop on some pretzel pieces for a little crunch and salt.

If you love it, there's really no wrong combination for toppings!

⏲️ Storage

To Store:Be sure to store them in an airtight container. (These are my favorite containers.) They do not need to be refrigerated but they are delicious when chilled.

To Freeze:Allow your magic bars to cool completely. Wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or freezer paper and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

To Thaw:Remove the magic bars from the freezer and unwrap them. Place them into an airtight container and allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge.

See more Brownies and Bars →

😋 Similar Recipes

Next time, try one of these tasty recipes:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars - this one is a family favorite
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake Balls - such a fun treat
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies - chocolate perfection
• Decadent Mocha Truffles - decadent and amazing
• Oatmeal Fig Bars - better than any store-bought fig cookie

Our delicious magic cookie bars, and all of the recipes above, would be a great addition to Christmas cookie trays!

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