This was a hit with the Hubs. “What have you made ?” he said, tasting. “Holy sh#*t Moly, these are good.” What about the diet?” ” Not to worry”, I said. “These are for friends, not us”. Weeping sounds. “OK, maybe you can have just one more”, I replied.
I have to admit that these Magic Bars are something special. The recipe has been around for a long time, but I had never heard about them before. Last Christmas David bought me a cookbook at the suggestion of one of my OBFFC (Oldest Best Friend From Childhood). Thanks Lyla! She suggested the Neiman Marcus Cookbook and it has some terrific recipes in it.
The Magic Bars are nothing more than a layer of buttered graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, shredded coconut and nuts. A can of sweetened condensed milk is drizzled over the top and they are baked until the chocolate is oozy and the crust is browned.
We are going out to dinner with a group of friends Sunday night to celebrate and they will each get a box of goodies. Happy Valentine’s Day.
MAGIC BARS (Adapted from The Neiman Marcus Cookbook)
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups coconut
1 cup chopped pecans, walnuts or peanuts
Preheat oven to 350 F (325 F if using glass pan)
Melt butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs. Pat mixture into a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust, then coconut, then nuts. Pour the condensed milk evenly over pan.
Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool before cutting.
Store in fridge, or cut into pieces and freeze.
You’re right!
I remember making this for my kids; it’s been a long time. Great dessert for Valentine; I have the ingredients
Hi Penny,
They call these “Hello Dolly” (don’t have any idea how they got that name!) and 7 layer bars here. They make my teeth hurt but they are sooooo good. Thanks for sharing.
I keep trying to get through and so far no luck so I’m trying again. David gets lots of points for actually taking my suggestion. I think that cookbook is lush and am glad you enjoy it. And those bars are indeed magic! No matter whether I take them somewhere or I eat some that someone else brings, they are always a treat. And the cookbook is also a treat–with far fewer calories, but less delicious.
They sound delicious. 🙂
They are terrific. Hard to tell where this recipe comes from as I had these way back in my youth (5 decades ago).
Last time I made mine I “used up” all the half empty bags of stuff from holiday baking laying around my pantry… cashews, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, mini M&M’s, even some toffee crunch chips. So in addition to Mary janes, 7 Layer Cookies and Magic Bars you can call them “Whatever Ya Got Bars”. It’s a great leftover recipe.
Although they do sound perfect for gift giving I am not sure I would want to give them all up!
I’ve made those, but wasn’t smart enough to give them away! 🙂
We ate them all.
Hi Penny,
I have awarded you with The Versatile Blogger Award because I love your blog 🙂 For more info, check out my post: http://mdoublemcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/versatile-blogger-award.html
Have a great day,
Monica
PS – These bars look great! I tried your Chicken Teriyaki recipe and it was awesome!
I’m like Barbara…I didn’t give mine away at Christmas. They are so easy…yet so good.
Balisha
Sound Delicious! Happy Valentine’s Day Penny!