Dive into a classic dessert made with graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sweetened condensed milk, semisweet chocolate morsels, flaked coconut, and crunchy walnuts or pecans. This is the Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars experience in a nutshell!
Oh, where do I start? Every time I see the glistening of that condensed milk or the golden hue of the coconut flakes, I'm teleported back to my mom’s kitchen. Now, she wasn't the Julia Child of home bakers or anything. Far from it! She had her trusted entourage of recipes and didn’t stray far. There were the default chocolate chip cookies, the predictable brownies, and the rare peanut butter delights. But the star of the show? These Magic Cookie Bars! The origins of the recipe? Well, our dear can of Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk. Whether it was printed on its label or snipped from an old-timey magazine, who cares? For me, this bar is not just a dessert; it's a piece of nostalgia wrapped in gooey sweetness and generous chunks of memories. It's the kind of treat where every bite takes you on a trip down memory lane.
Why You'll Love Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars:
Let's break down the wizardry, shall we? Why are the Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars a treasure among treats?
First, they’re a blast from the past for many of us. Childhood delights wrapped in a bar.
Second, with their multifaceted layers - crunchy, creamy, chewy, and chocolaty - they offer a symphony of textures and flavors.
Lastly, these bars are ridiculously easy to whip up. Even if you're not the most graceful ballerina in the baking dance, you can master these!
Ingredient Notes For Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars:
- Graham Cracker Crumbs: These set the foundation, and trust me, every great dessert has a strong base. Plus, it gives that delightful crunch in every bite.
- Melted Butter: AKA the unsung hero. This binds the crumbs and adds a rich depth. Get good quality butter; it does make a difference!
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: The sweet symphony in our magical concert. It’s creamy, it’s sweet, and it’s the heart of our bar.
- Semisweet Chocolate Morsels: They melt to perfection, creating a choco-luscious layer you won’t get enough of.
- Flaked Coconut: Adds a tropical twist and an extra layer of texture.
- Walnuts or Pecans: Crunch alert! Not only do they add a nutty flavour, but they also make you feel less guilty. Nuts are healthy, right?
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How To Make Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars:
- Initiate Oven Mode: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. This ensures an even bake for your cookie bars.
- The Base Layer: Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter in a bowl. Once it resembles wet sand (beach vibes, anyone?), press it into your greased 9x13-inch baking dish. This forms the crispy base of your bar.
- Layering 101: Drizzle that can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over your crumb base. It's like painting a canvas, but yummier. Then sprinkle on your chocolate morsels, followed by the flaked coconut. Finish off with your chosen nuts and give it a gentle press down using a fork. It’s like tucking them in for a short oven nap!
- Baking Time: Pop the dish into the oven and bake till you see a light brown hue, typically around 25-30 minutes. A tip: run a butter knife around the edges after baking to avoid any sticky situations.
- Cool & Slice: Patience is key! Let the bars cool on a wire rack. And once they've relaxed, slice them into squares. Voila! Magic achieved!
Storage Secrets:
Freshly baked bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If by some miracle they last that long (because, let’s face it, they’re irresistible), you can refrigerate them for extended freshness. Oh, and pro tip: you can also freeze these bad boys! Just place them between sheets of parchment paper in a container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. When the craving hits, simply thaw and relish!
Variations & Substitutions:
Feeling adventurous or missing an ingredient? No worries! Swap the semisweet chocolate morsels for white chocolate or butterscotch chips. Not a fan of coconut? Try dried fruits like cranberries or raisins. As for the nuts, hazelnuts or almonds can join the party too! The best thing about these bars? They’re like the cool, flexible friend that's up for anything!
Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs: 1 ½ cups
- Unsalted butter melted: ½ cup
- Sweetened condensed milk: 1 14 oz can
- Semisweet chocolate morsels: 2 cups
- Flaked coconut: 1 ⅓ cups
- Walnuts or pecans chopped: 1 cup
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the oven to a temperature of 350°F (175°C). Following this, meticulously grease a baking dish, ideally measuring 9x13 inches, using a nonstick cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl of appropriate size, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Once combined thoroughly, transfer this mixture to the aforementioned baking dish, ensuring to press it evenly at the bottom to form the foundational crust.
- Proceed by uniformly pouring the sweetened condensed milk over the previously prepared crust. Upon completion, layer the chocolate morsels over the milk, followed by an even spread of the flaked coconut. Conclude this step by evenly distributing the chopped walnuts or pecans over the previous layers. To ensure a consolidated layering, press down the contents with moderate force using a fork.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and allow it to bake until it achieves a light brown hue, typically within a 25-30 minute window. Post baking, utilize a knife with a buttered edge to carefully run along the dish's perimeter, ensuring the contents are not adhering to the sides. Subsequently, position the dish on a wire rack, permitting it to cool.
- After ensuring the contents have cooled to a satisfactory degree, use a sharp knife to partition the baked mixture into individual squares. These squares are now ready to be served.
