These five- to seven-layer magic bars have been a family favorite for decades.
With just a handful of simple ingredients, Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars are easy to make and wonderfully gooey. A can of sweetened condensed milk finishes these bars, creating the classic, ooey-gooey texture that makes them so irresistible.
Reader Cindy said: “My grandson liked them so much a new batch was being made the day after he ate the last one. These are exactly as I remember from years ago.”
Reader Denni said: “Quick and super easy to put together in no time! Yummy!! This was the first time I poured the milk over the crust and then topped with the remaining ingredients. I found the bars to be much better, not so hard. I’ll continue to use this recipe.”
Easy Magic Bars Recipe
Start with a thick graham cracker crust made from crushed graham crackers and melted butter. Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over the crust, then sprinkle layers of semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, shredded coconut and chopped pecans. Bake until the top is golden and the edges begin to brown.
These bars are tempting when warm, and some of us admit to eating them with a spoon right from the pan. For the best slices, let the pan cool before cutting into neat bars. They travel well and are always a hit at potlucks and holiday cookie trays.
Eagle Brand Milk Magic Bars
This recipe uses a can of high-quality sweetened condensed milk, which pours over the top and helps bind the layers into a rich, chewy bar. The recipe is very flexible: adjust the crust thickness, use half or full bags of chips, or skip the coconut and nuts if you prefer a simpler five-layer version.
Adding coconut and nuts balances the sweetness and gives the bars more depth, but they’re delicious even without those extras. These bars are a farmhouse favorite in our family and especially popular at Christmas.
Customize your bars to taste: make the crust thinner or thicker, swap butterscotch for peanut butter chips, or vary the amount of chips you use. Experimenting is part of the fun.
Ingredients Needed:
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Butter
- Can of sweetened condensed milk
- Butterscotch chips
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flaked or shredded coconut (optional)
- Chopped pecans (optional)
Also Known as Hello Dollies or Seven Layer Cookies
These bars are often called Hello Dollies or seven-layer cookies. The recipe’s roots and the brands used may connect to larger cooperatives and dairy suppliers, but at home they feel simple and comforting—perfect for sharing with neighbors and friends.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use 1 to 2 cups graham cracker crumbs depending on how thick you want the crust: 1 cup with 1 stick of butter for a thinner crust or 2 cups with 1 1/2 sticks of butter for a thicker crust.
- Press the crust firmly and evenly so it bakes into a stable base.
- You can use from half to a full bag of each kind of baking chip—adjust for your desired sweetness and chip distribution.
- Coconut and pecans are optional but add flavor and texture that balance the sweetness.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust before adding the chips so it distributes as the bars bake.
- Reserve a few chips to sprinkle on top after baking if you like a decorative finish.
- Substitute peanut butter chips for butterscotch if you prefer.
- If you don’t have pre-ground graham cracker crumbs, pulse whole crackers in a food processor or use a rolling pin in a sealed bag.
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a 9×13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, mix well, and press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Pour a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crust. Sprinkle semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips across the top. If using coconut and pecans, add them in an even layer.
Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. If desired, top with a few extra chips in any bare spots immediately after baking. Allow the pan to cool before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
More Easy and Delicious Cookie Recipes:
- Best Sour Cream Cookies are classic cut-out cookies that are moist and delicious for the holidays.
- Buckeye Cookie Bars start with shortbread and add layers of peanut butter and chocolate.
- Devil’s Food Cookies from a cake mix are an easy, chocolatey treat.
- No-Bake Orange Peanut Butter Cookies add a twist to classic no-bake peanut cookies.
Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 12 ounces butterscotch baking chips
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup shredded coconut (optional)
- 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, mix well, and press evenly into the pan.
- Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the unbaked crust.
- Sprinkle semi-sweet and butterscotch chips, coconut and pecans evenly over the milk.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
- Let cool before cutting into bars. Enjoy.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 32 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 23 g
Nutrition information is an estimate and can vary depending on the specific products used.
Originally published December 16, 2017 with photos updated June 8, 2022.
