RECIPES SIMPLE WITH FAMILY: Vegan Magic Bars!
Chances are you’ve probably seen at least one version of this traditional potluck favorite dessert, which goes by many names: Hello Dolly Bars, Coconut Dream Bars, Seven Layer Bars, Magic Cookie Bars, Coconut Magic Squares…
Over the years, these bars have been one of the most frequent recipe requests I’ve gotten from readers, and it’s not hard to see why the recipe is so popular! A soft graham cracker crust topped with layers of coconut and chocolate makes the bars truly as magical as their title suggests. And while traditional magic square recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and at least a third cup of butter, I’ve cut all of that out in this new healthier and vegan recipe… and absolutely no one I’ve ever served them to has noticed a difference!
My family makes these “magic bars” every year during our big holiday-baking party.
I’m pretty sure that the recipe came from the wrapper of a sweetened condensed milk can, but over the years we’ve made it our own by eliminating butterscotch chips (seriously, ew) and generally adding just way more chocolate and nuts than need to be in a cookie bar.
Every so often throughout the year I get an insatiable craving for this cookie bars and absolutely have to whip up a batch for myself my friends. This can be… problematic. Magic bars are SO good, but they are also SO guilt-inducing.
Chocolate, coconut, walnuts, and crushed graham crackers make these cookie bars a family favorite. Make your own dairy-free sweetened condensed "milk" by simmering coconutmilk on the stovetop!
With just five main ingredients, the magic bars are ridiculously easy to prepare.
The question of what to make for your Super Bowl party this weekend?
Solved – you should definitely make these Winking smile
Challenge accepted!
The first decision I made was to swap out butter for coconut oil. Both become more solid at cooler temperatures, so I knew it would work just fine as a replacement. Plus, COCONUT. My great love.
Replacing regular milk chocolate chips with dairy-free chocolate chips was a no-brainer. You don’t even need to buy special “vegan” ones, just check the ingredient list at the store (or do some googling ahead of time). The real issue was how to replace the sweetened condensed milk.
What you need:
For the bars:
What you do:
Over the years, these bars have been one of the most frequent recipe requests I’ve gotten from readers, and it’s not hard to see why the recipe is so popular! A soft graham cracker crust topped with layers of coconut and chocolate makes the bars truly as magical as their title suggests. And while traditional magic square recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and at least a third cup of butter, I’ve cut all of that out in this new healthier and vegan recipe… and absolutely no one I’ve ever served them to has noticed a difference!
My family makes these “magic bars” every year during our big holiday-baking party.
I’m pretty sure that the recipe came from the wrapper of a sweetened condensed milk can, but over the years we’ve made it our own by eliminating butterscotch chips (seriously, ew) and generally adding just way more chocolate and nuts than need to be in a cookie bar.
Every so often throughout the year I get an insatiable craving for this cookie bars and absolutely have to whip up a batch for myself my friends. This can be… problematic. Magic bars are SO good, but they are also SO guilt-inducing.
Chocolate, coconut, walnuts, and crushed graham crackers make these cookie bars a family favorite. Make your own dairy-free sweetened condensed "milk" by simmering coconutmilk on the stovetop!
With just five main ingredients, the magic bars are ridiculously easy to prepare.
The question of what to make for your Super Bowl party this weekend?
Solved – you should definitely make these Winking smile
Challenge accepted!
The first decision I made was to swap out butter for coconut oil. Both become more solid at cooler temperatures, so I knew it would work just fine as a replacement. Plus, COCONUT. My great love.
Replacing regular milk chocolate chips with dairy-free chocolate chips was a no-brainer. You don’t even need to buy special “vegan” ones, just check the ingredient list at the store (or do some googling ahead of time). The real issue was how to replace the sweetened condensed milk.
What you need:
- For the sweetened condensed milk:
- 1-1/2 cups vegan milk, plus more if needed
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1/2 cup coconut or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the bars:
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, melted
- 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1-1/3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Vegan Milk (recipe above)
What you do:
- For the sweetened condensed milk, into a slow cooker, place milk, butter, and sugar, and stir well. Cook on high for 1-1/2 hours, uncovered, stirring every 30 minutes. Add vanilla and mix. Pour in a measuring cup to ensure you have 14 ounces, adding more milk if necessary.
- For the bars, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, pour melted butter and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, chocolate chips, and coconut. Evenly drizzle condensed milk over top to cover entire pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes, and let cool in pan for 15 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.
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