“Magic Layer Cookies” are a popular classic recipe from Eagle Brand, using a crust of graham cracker crumbs topped with layers of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. They're easy and quick to make. My mom and grandmother made them at Christmas almost every year.
Many years ago in a “Favorite Brand Name” cookbook I came across the original recipe that also listed many flavor variations; a few years ago I tried this chocolate-macadamia variation and really liked it. Because the macadamias and chocolate wafers are pricier than the everyday original ingredients it’s more expensive to make these, but they’re a nice treat for a party.
Below is the original recipe, with the variations following (‘mix and match’ the layers to create whatever you might like).
Magic Cookie Bars
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
a 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk (such as Eagle brand -- NOT evaporated milk)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees for a glass baking pan). Place the butter in a 9x13 baking pan and place it in the oven to melt the butter. Remove pan from oven; sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, then pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crumbs. Sprinkle with a layer of chocolate chips, then coconut, then nuts; press down firmly (this will press the toppings down a bit, into the sticky milk layer). Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. After cooling, cut into bars and store at room temperature.
Variations:
For the crumb layer, substitute any of the following for the graham cracker crumbs: vanilla wafer crumbs, chocolate wafer crumbs (such as the thin, round Nabisco 'Famous Chocolate' cookies that are usually on the top shelf at the grocery), gingersnap crumbs, quick-cooking oats, wheat germ
For the toppings, substitute any of the following for the chocolate chips: peanut butter-flavored chips, plain M&Ms (regular or mini-sized), raisins, chopped dried apricots, almond brickle or toffee chips, dried banana chips, chopped candied cherries, small gumdrops, miniature marshmallows
For the nuts, substitute any of the following for the pecans: walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamia nuts
For flavor variations, stir flavoring into the sweetened condensed milk: for mint flavor, stir in 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract (and 4 drops green food coloring, if desired); for mocha flavor, stir in 1 Tbsp. instant coffee and 1 Tbsp. chocolate-flavored syrup; for peanut butter flavor, stir in 1/3 cup peanut butter; for maple flavor, stir in 1/2 to 1 tsp. maple flavoring.
To make Seven-Layer Magic Cookie Bars, add 1 cup butterscotch-flavor chips to the original recipe, layering the chips after the chocolate chips.
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
a 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk (such as Eagle brand -- NOT evaporated milk)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees for a glass baking pan). Place the butter in a 9x13 baking pan and place it in the oven to melt the butter. Remove pan from oven; sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, then pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crumbs. Sprinkle with a layer of chocolate chips, then coconut, then nuts; press down firmly (this will press the toppings down a bit, into the sticky milk layer). Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. After cooling, cut into bars and store at room temperature.
Variations:
For the crumb layer, substitute any of the following for the graham cracker crumbs: vanilla wafer crumbs, chocolate wafer crumbs (such as the thin, round Nabisco 'Famous Chocolate' cookies that are usually on the top shelf at the grocery), gingersnap crumbs, quick-cooking oats, wheat germ
For the toppings, substitute any of the following for the chocolate chips: peanut butter-flavored chips, plain M&Ms (regular or mini-sized), raisins, chopped dried apricots, almond brickle or toffee chips, dried banana chips, chopped candied cherries, small gumdrops, miniature marshmallows
For the nuts, substitute any of the following for the pecans: walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamia nuts
For flavor variations, stir flavoring into the sweetened condensed milk: for mint flavor, stir in 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract (and 4 drops green food coloring, if desired); for mocha flavor, stir in 1 Tbsp. instant coffee and 1 Tbsp. chocolate-flavored syrup; for peanut butter flavor, stir in 1/3 cup peanut butter; for maple flavor, stir in 1/2 to 1 tsp. maple flavoring.
To make Seven-Layer Magic Cookie Bars, add 1 cup butterscotch-flavor chips to the original recipe, layering the chips after the chocolate chips.
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