This magic cookie bars recipe is an absolute favorite of ours. Growing up, it was the most requested recipe in our house and one that my Mom always made during the holiday season. It’s definitely not a holidays-only recipe though. This sweet bar recipe is super easy and the perfect treat anytime!
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
To make this magic cookie bars recipe, you’ll need cornflakes, white sugar, and butter to make the crust.
You’ll also need semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaked coconut, chopped walnuts, and sweetened condensed milk for the toppings. {Full measurements and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card further down in this post.}
To make the crust, combine the cornflake crumbs {pulse the cornflakes in a food processor or put them in a plastic bag and roll them with a rolling pin to crush}, sugar, and melted butter, and pat it down into a greased 9×13 pan, making sure there aren’t any bare spots. It may seem like the ingredients are sparse to fully cover the pan but the crust layer should be fairly thin.
Sprinkle the cornflakes crust with a layer of chocolate chips, a layer of flaked coconut, and a layer of chopped walnuts or walnut pieces. Be sure to sprinkle the toppings fairly evenly across the pan.
Drizzle the entire pan with a full can of sweetened condensed milk {the store brand or fat free version works perfectly}.
Bake the cookie bars until they’re golden brown and let the pan cool completely before cutting and serving. If you cut them too soon, the bars will fall apart.
Cut the bars into squares, approximately sixteen, to serve and be prepared for them to disappear quickly. This recipe is a family favorite and easy enough to bring to a party or potluck.
What’s your favorite sweet treat recipe? Do you like to bake?
Magic Cookie Bars Recipe
A quick and easy layered bar recipe with chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cornflake crumbs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- To make the cornflake crumbs, pulse the cornflakes in a food processor or place them in a large plastic bag and roll them with a rolling pin.
- Grease a 9x13 pan.
- Combine the cornflake crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in the bottom of the pan, using a fork to mix the ingredients well, then press the mixture flat on the bottom of the pan, using the back of a spoon.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the crust.
- Sprinkle the coconut evenly over the chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the walnuts evenly over the coconut.
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Let cool completely before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 223Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 130mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g
PJ @ Planned in Pencil says
any recipe that starts with cornflakes is good in my book!
"bigcanadiangirl" says
Hmmm, looks like a “square” to me.
barb says
Oh… I’ve never tried it with cornflakes. I have always used graham crumbs instead. I’ll have to try the cornflakes.
Tonia L says
There you go…letting things slide at the end of the year! 😉
FeeFee says
Is that 1 1/2 Cups corn flakes or crumbs?
Randi Dukes says
Crumbs. You probably need about double that before crushing them.
Tessa says
Thanks for posting this recipe! This was made often when I was a kid, but I haven’t made it in years. Now that I’m vegan I’ll use Earth Balance butter, non-dairy (Good Life) chocolate chips and coconut sweetened condensed milk – should be great! We always made them with cornflake crumbs too – never with graham crackers.
Are the coconut flakes sweetened or unsweetened? I thought we used to use the sweetened ones, but I can’t remember.
Randi Dukes says
I always use unsweetened because there’s so much other sweetness in the recipe! This was such a childhood recipe for me too … I love that you have the same memory!
Debra says
I am so glad to have found this, exactly as Mom used to make. I remember them being made this way when I was young, but all the recipes with Graham crackers had my convincing myself I’d misremembered.