The cookie season is upon us, and soon, if not already, the festive sweets begin to appear. One of my favorite baked goods of the season is something my mom used to make around the holidays. And no two batches were the same! Ma’s Magical Cookie Bars were magical because she brought the magic in the form of ingredients, like nuts, dried fruits, seeds, or a chocolate candy. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without a batch (or two or three) to celebrate.
Ma’s Magical Cookie Bars start from the bottom and work their way up in deliciousness. A buttery graham cracker crust is the base of the treat. And then my mom always built her layers in a very particular order.
On top of the graham cracker crust is a layer each of chocolate chips, Heath Bar bits, nuts, M & Ms, and then a layer of coconut. I believe that the true magic is in the final layer: a can of sweetened condensed milk, poured luxuriously (and evenly) over the top of all the goodies.
The dish goes into the oven and bakes for 30 minutes. I like to let it go a little bit longer (about 10 minutes) because I prefer toasty coconut flakes – but that’s a personal preference, and you can modify as you like!
Ma’s Magical Cookie Bars are a holiday staple and one that my family has enjoyed for years. I love playing with my ingredients to change up texture and flavor, but this version is pretty high on the list of favorites. It wouldn’t be a cookie season without a tray of these blissfully sweet, crunchy squares of gooey goodness.
Ma's Magical Cookie Bars
Watch How It's Made
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers
- 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup Heath Bar bits
- 1 cup mixed salted nuts, chopped
- 1 cup M & M’s (Peanut Butter M & M’s work well here!)
- 1 ½ cups shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.
- While the oven preheats, use the 1 Tbsp of butter to grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish.
- In a bowl, combine the crushed graham cracker and the melted butter and use your hands to work them together until a handful squeezed in your fist will hold its shape. Turn the mixture out into the casserole dish and press to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Sprinkle the toppings over the crust: first the chocolate chips, then heath bar bits, nuts, M & M’s, then the coconut. Finally, drizzle the condensed milk over the entire surface.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes (or 40 if you like a darker toast on your coconut). Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares to serve.