Everyone has their holiday family cookie traditions. Some people love Gingerbread boys, others love fudge, Christmas Crack, you name it. And just like everyone else, the Kellys have their own list of holiday cookies! Last week I shared a non-traditional cookie recipe, so today I am going deep and sharing one of the most special family traditions in our household – Magic Cookie Bars. I don’t even know why they are called Magic Bars, but they do taste like magical sweet goodness in your mouth!

My guess is the magic is the condensed milk. I mean how many recipes do you know that have condensed milk in it? Feels very Southern to me. And instantaneously reminds me of my grandmother. So next time you see a can of condensed milk, grab it and give this one a try!

In my late-pregnancy haze, I inadvertently bought 4 cans of condensed milk. I kept forgetting I already had it and kept throwing a can in my cart everytime I was at the store. So given the lack of recipes I make that use the ingredient, I had to make A LOT of Magic Cookie Bars this year. I don’t think Nick was ready for how many sweets I was going to make this year. I guess our attempts on not gaining superfluous baby weight right at the very end is going down in flames. Delicious flames. 

This recipe is so easy, you’d be hard pressed to mess it up. Sourcing the GF graham crackers may be the hardest. I used Pamela’s from Whole Foods. But have also used Simple Mills Cinnamon Crackers which are almost identical (and my preferred graham cracker alternative when just snacking plain!). Once you have the ingredients in hand, there is no excuse not give these a try. And you can use any nuts you wish given the plethora of nut allergies out there. I prefer pecans but my mom is allergic so I used almonds (and a small handful of peanuts) this time. You do you!

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cup butter

1 ½ cup GF graham cracker crumbs 

1 can (14 oz) condensed milk

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup nuts (almonds and peanuts shown here)

½ cup flaked coconut

Serving Size: 12

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350F. 
• In a 13×9 inch baking dish, melt butter in the oven. 
• Remove dish from the oven and gently press graham cracker crumbs into the bottom, making a base. 
• Pour condensed milk over the crumbs. 
• Then layer chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts on top. Press down to make sure the toppings attach to the condensed milk/graham cracker.
• Bake for 30 minutes. 
• Cool, cut, and enjoy!