Magic Cookie Bars with Shortbread Crust

They’re also have other popular names you may know: 7-layer cookies, chocolate coconut cookie bars, or  Hello Dolly bars.

The popular crust from the 1960s is made with graham crackers; I changed it up a bit, making a buttery shortbread crust instead.

The bottom starts with a simple homemade shortbread crust made with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, flour, and a pinch of salt. Once baked, it’s layered with sweetened condensed milk, shredded coconut, and a generous combination of dark and milk chocolate chips.

You can make these bars your own by adding chopped pecans, walnuts, pistachios, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips.

They’re wonderfully adaptable, which makes them perfect for holidays, cookie trays, bake sales, parties, or simply keeping a batch on hand when you want something sweet.

Why You Will Love Magic Cookie Bars with Shortbread Crust

• Buttery shortbread crust: The brown sugar gives the crust a deeper, richer flavor.
• Chocolate lovers’ dream: Using both dark and milk chocolate creates the perfect balance of rich and sweet.
• Coconut adds texture: The shredded coconut becomes deliciously toasted as the bars bake.
• Easy to customize: Add your favorite nuts or baking chips.
• No complicated decorating: Everything is layered right in the baking pan.
• Perfect for sharing: Cut them into small squares because they’re rich and satisfying.

Topping Alternatives

1. peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips
2. mint chocolate chips
3. toffee chips
4. substitute chopped pretzels for nuts
5. not a coconut lover? add dried fruits like cranberries
6. for Christmas, add chopped maraschino cherries and white chocolate chips for color
7. white, milk, and dark chocolate chunks
8. chopped peanut butter cups
9. 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup chopped pistachios 
10. combine two different additions for an extra-loaded bar
11. Andes candies chopped
12. chopped unwrapped caramels
13. pumpkin seeds for nut allergies

Tips

• Use softened butter. It should be soft enough to mix but not melted.
• Measure your flour correctly. Too much flour can make the crust dry and crumbly.
• Don’t overload the pan. Keep the layers relatively even so everything bakes together properly.
• Let them cool completely. The chocolate and condensed milk layers need time to set.
• For cleaner slices, chill the cooled bars briefly before cutting with a sharp knife.
• Cut them small. These are rich dessert bars, so a little square goes a long way!

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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

• Can I use only milk chocolate chips?
  Absolutely. The combination of dark and milk chocolate gives you a nice balance, but using all milk chocolate works beautifully if that’s what you prefer.
• Can I use all dark chocolate?
  Yes. All dark chocolate will give the bars a richer, less-sweet chocolate flavor. 
• Can I leave out the coconut?
  Yes, although the coconut adds wonderful texture and flavor. If you aren’t a coconut fan, you can leave it out and add additional chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
• Can I use different nuts?
  Definitely. Pecans, walnuts, and pistachios are all delicious choices
• Can I use a graham cracker crust instead?
  Yes! The graham cracker version is an easy alternative and does not require prebaking the crust. Simply mix the crumbs with melted butter, press into the pan, layer the toppings, and bake for about 25 minutes.

Magic Cookie Layered Bars

If you’re looking for a dessert that tastes homemade, looks impressive, and is easy to customize, these Magic Cookie Bars with Shortbread Crust are definitely worth making.

The buttery crust alone is delicious, but once you add the sweetened condensed milk, coconut, and layers of chocolate, it becomes something really special.

Make the classic version the first time, then have fun creating your own favorite combination of nuts and baking chips!

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Shortbread Magic Cookie Bars

Yield: 20

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Buttery crust layered with coconut, chocolate chips, and a creamy topping that melts in your mouth delicious! These have so many names, 7 layer cookie bars, hello dolly bars just to name a few!

Ingredients

• Shortbread Crust:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2-1/4 cups flour, leveled and fluffed so it’s even
• Pinch of salt
• Topping:
• 1 – 14 – ounces can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 2 cups mixture of dark and milk chocolate chips
• Optional Additions: 1 cup  chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios,1 cup peanut butter or butterscotch chips ( you can use 1 cup of each)
• Note: Graham cracker crust alternative:
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• Mix together, press into the pan (the crumbs do not need prebaking; just layer the same way and bake for 25 minutes)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper.
2. The paper makes them easier to remove from the pan, or you can use 2 9x 9 pans and make different cookie bar toppings for variety.
3. In a medium-size bowl, add the softened butter and brown sugar; beat using an electric mixer until creamy and light, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the vanilla and combine, then slowly mix in the flour.
5. Press into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven.
7. Pour the condensed milk on the crust.
8. Sprinkle the crust with coconut; add the nuts in this step also. 
9. Top with chocolate chips, any flavor you prefer. (I used milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips)
10. Place the pan in the oven and bake at the same 350-degree temperature for 25 minutes.
11. Cool completely.
12. I usually refrigerate mine for around 20 minutes before scoring.
13. Keep bars in an airtight container.

Sodium (milligrams)

195.79

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2020/09/shortbread-magic-cookie-bars.html

7 layer cookie bars, magic cookie bars, shortbread magic cookie bars, condensed milk bars, coconut bars

cookies, bars, dessert, cake squares, cookies squares

American

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More Cookie Bar Recipes To Try

No-Bake Buckeye Bars
Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
Magic White Chocolate Bars
Oatmeal Pumpkin Spice Bars
Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Raspberry Pistachio Linzer BarsPumpkin Zucchini Bars