This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
Magic Cookie Bars: When you need a gooey, magical chocolate dessert…this is IT. These magic bars have a chocolate chip cookie base and are full of chocolate – no coconut! We love them more than the original seven layer bars!
Table of Contents
Chocolate Chip Magic Bars Recipe
How do you handle stress? I handle stress really well: I drink. Just kidding. You all know me better than that! When I’m stressed, I eat all the chocolate.
What is it about stress that makes you just want to eat all the things? I talk to some people and they say, “Ohmigosh, that period of my life was so stressful. I lost 10 pounds!” and I think, wow, I cannot be friends with that person.
(Kidding, obviously. #sarcasm #sortof #teachmeyoursecrets)
That’s where these bars come in!
If you’re in that moment today where you NEED CHOCOLATE or hey, maybe it’s just a random Tuesday for you and you WANT chocolate, these Chocolate Chip Cookie Magic Bars are just the thing you need.
What are Magic Cookie Bars?
Have you ever made magic bars? They’re also sometimes called Seven Layer Bars (because the original recipe has seven magical layers). I call them magic bars because I don’t always use 7 toppings and once a reader called me out.
(Yes, I have people that read this blog that actually do that. But that’s a whole other post.)
Anyway.
Magic bars have a crust of some sort, then they’re topped with things like chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, and/or candy, and then that is all topped with sweetened condensed milk.
I think God gave us sweetened condensed milk to make up for beets. #justsaying
Ingredients in Seven Layer Bars without coconut
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: You can use Pillsbury or Nestle cookie dough, or make my homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe.
The crust is chocolate chip cookie dough. I used a prepared refrigerated dough (like Pillsbury). It’s fast, easy, and I had some left over from a chocolate chip cookie emergency. You can use any brand you like, or any mix you like, or you can even use this recipe if you want it from scratch.
Toppings: You top these with white chocolate chips, semi-sweet and/or milk chocolate chips, toffee bits, and chopped nuts. I skipped the coconut for these because they’re all about chocolate chip cookie bars!
My magical layers include chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, toffee, and pecans. This is where you can get really creative with the recipe. Use your favorite chips: chocolate, white, peanut butter, butterscotch. Use your favorite chopped up candy: M&Ms, peanut butter cups, Kit Kats. Use your favorite nuts: peanuts, pecans, walnuts. Add coconut or leave out the toffee. Use whatever layers you like!
Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is what causes the magic to happen. In the oven the chocolate chips get all melty and the SCM reacts with them and creates a bar that you can slice.
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
- Press the cookie dough in a prepared pan.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips and other toppings on top.
- Then pour sweetened condensed milk all over the top.
- Bake them. And then you’ll be convinced these bars come from the heavens.
Magic Cookie Bars Variations
I have other magic bar versions on this site: oatmeal cookie, pumpkin, brownie, candy corn, samoa. I’ve even turned the concept into pie. You could say I love magic bars. I also love chocolate chip cookies. It’s a food marriage made in Dorothy heaven.
How to Store Millionaire Magic Bars
Store these in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can just sit on the counter – no refrigeration needed. You can also freeze these for up to 3 months.
FAQ about my Magic Cookie Bars Recipe
These take about 30 minutes to bake.
In an airtight container they’ll last about 3-4 days.
Magic bars don’t need to be kept in the refrigerator but they will last longer (about 5 days) if you store them in the fridge.
The traditional recipe has seven layers. This is a chocolate chip cookie variation – you can make them into seven layers by adding chopped candy or coconut.
These freeze fabulously! If stacking, be sure to place parchment or wax paper between because they’re gooey and will stick. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Other Favorite Recipes
- Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars use chocolate chip cookie dough but have the sweetened condensed milk as a filling!
- Creme Brulee Cookie Bars have toffee on top and are SUPER fudgy!
- Magic Bar Pies are a fun twist!
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @crazyforcrust on Instagram or hashtag it #crazyforcrust
Chocolate Chip Cookie Magic Bars
Ingredients
- 8.25 ounces chocolate chip cookie dough (such as Pillsbury (half of a 16.5 oz tube), see note)
- ¾ cup (128g) white chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (128g) semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (120g) toffee bits
- ¾ cup (123g) chopped nuts
- ⅔ cup (208g) sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9” square pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle all chocolate chips, toffee bits, and nuts evenly over cookie dough crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.
- Bake for 24-27 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center looks somewhat firm. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze in a single layer for up to 1 month.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Use your favorite chocolate chips – you can also swap equal amounts for M&Ms or other candy
- Use your favorite nuts, or omit and add more candy or toffee bits
- Use prepared chocolate chip cookie dough or your favorite recipe!
Recipe Nutrition
Magic Cookie Bar Recipe with chocolate chip cookies! This easy magic cookie bars no coconut but with tons of chocolate and pecans and gooey sweetened condensed milk. These freeze great too!
Last Updated on August 3, 2022
No comment yet, only a question: if I am adding pretzels to the dough (chips, m and m’s) when do I add the pretzels? Before or after baking?
Thank you.
Add them before you add the sweetened condensed milk on top
I didn’t read the instructions carefully and added the entire 14 oz can of milk. They didn’t set but I am eating them anyway with a spoon . Too bad bc they were supposed to be for Halloween. Will try again. The taste is e,excellent.
Featured In