Holiday Baking Memories – Magic Cookie Bars

Disclosure: This post about shopping for ingredients for holiday baking that reminds me of my childhood (Magic Cookie Bars!) has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias

Whenever I think about the holidays and baking, I remember making Magic Cookie Bars with my mom or my cousin April. Before you say it…yes, I know…the recipe comes from the label on a can of condensed milk. That may be true but it is still my favorite treat. They are so easy that I’m not sure why we didn’t make them all the time. All I know is that we didn’t. They were saved for times when the house was full of people, sitting around, playing cards or chatting. That’s when we would decide to bake.

While I have most of the ingredients to make Magic Cookie Bars in my pantry, I didn’t have them all so off I went to the store. To be honest, I was already heading to WalMart to pick up a birthday present for one of Evan’s friends so I decided to buy my supplies there.

I think there were a lot of people who had the same idea as I did because the name brand condensed milk was sold out other than reduced fat. I’ve used it before so I snagged a can. Later that afternoon, we left town to visit our cottage. I spent most of the day decorating for Christmas and I didn’t get around to baking until late. As I layered the ingredients together, it reminded me that growing up we often baked late at night. I am eleven years older than my little brother. My mom and I often waited until after he and my sister went to bed so that we didn’t have to share with them. Weren’t we evil?

Even though it was so late, I had to sneak one small bar. While they were still hot, I ran the spatula around the edge of the pan. If you let them cool without doing this, they stick to the pan like concrete never to be removed in one piece again.

Oh MY! It’s holiday memories in a pan.

Perfect for an after snowmobiling snack for the family. Today was Evan’s first ride.

Want to make your own pan of Magic Cookie Bars? Here’s the recipe!

Magic Cookie Bars

Yield: 24

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Holiday baking brings back great memories for me. Especially making Magic Cookie Bars with my cousins at my grandparents home.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 can condensed milk
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix melted butter and graham cracker crumbs together and press into the bottom of an 11X13 baking dish.
3. Pour the can of condensed milk evenly over the cracker crumbs.
4. Layer chocolate chips, coconut and pecans evenly over the condensed milk.
5. Press down gently on the top to combine ingredients.
6. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.
7. Loosen the edges from the pan while still warm. Cool fully before cutting (If you can wait that long).

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 267Saturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 3g

What holiday baking brings back memories for you?

Looking for more great bar cookie recipes? Try out these!

Scrumptious Raspberry Chocolate Oat Bars

Reese Cup Stuffed Cookie Bar Recipe

Mint Stuffed Sugar Cookie Bars

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars