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These magic cookie bars are an old-fashioned favorite. This recipe is easy to make with chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, and condensed milk set on a graham cracker crust.
This classic magic cookie bar recipe has stood the test of time for good reason: It?s quick, it?s easy, and it?s absolutely irresistible.
What Are Magic Cookie Bars?
Magic cookie bars are incredibly decadent, yet shockingly easy to make. The dessert consists of a graham cracker crust topped with layers of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, flaked coconut, and chopped nuts.?
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
You?ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below ? but here?s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make magic cookie bars at home:?
- Make the crust and press it into a prepared pan.?
- Layer the ingredients according to the detailed recipe.?
- Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned.?
- Cool and cut into bars or diamonds.?
Magic Cookie Bar Variations
Shake things up with one of these fun twists on classic magic cookie bars from Eagle Brand:??
- Magic Peanut Cookie Bars: Substitute 2 cups of chocolate-covered peanuts for semisweet chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
- Magic Rainbow Cookie Bars: Substitute 2 cups of plain candy-coated chocolate candies for semisweet chocolate chips.
- 7-Layer Magic Cookie Bars: Substitute 1 cup of butterscotch-flavored chips (or peanut butter-flavored chips or white chocolate chips) for 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips.
How to Store Magic Cookie Bars
Store the magic cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.?
Can You Freeze Magic Cookie Bars?
Yes, you can freeze magic cookie bars (tightly wrapped in storage wrap and aluminum foil) for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.?
Cookdap Community Tips and Praise
?This was great,? raves Bethany. ?To take it over the top, try crushing some peanut butter pretzels into the graham cracker crust. No need to substitute, just add.?
?I substituted crushed Oreos for graham cracker crumbs because that is what I had on hand,? says karen orrison. ?It turned out great!?
?The easiest and original way of doing the crust is to melt the butter in the pan first in the oven, then sprinkle the graham cracker over that, according to Gracie M. ?Been doing it like this for 30 years. Works like a charm.?
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter or margarine, melted
- 1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If using a glass dish, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 2
Mix graham cracker crumbs and butter in a bowl until well combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press onto the bottom.
Step 3
Pour sweetened condensed milk on graham cracker crust. Sprinkle with an even layer of chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts. Press toppings down firmly with the back of a fork.
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Cool completely, then cut into 36 bars or diamonds.
Tips
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 36 | |
| Calories 167 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat10g | 13% |
| Saturated Fat5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol11mg | 4% |
| Sodium64mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate14g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars11g | |
| Protein2g | |
| Calcium8mg | 1% |
| Iron1mg | 3% |
| Potassium64mg | 1% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
Powered by the ESHA Research Database ? 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved
source by allrecipe
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I’ve been making these for years and they are always a huge hit-
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These bars are fabulous and oh-so rich!! I have been making these for years and my family just loves them! They are best with 1 bag each of butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. Yum!
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I have been making this for years…with a little twist. Instead of using graham wafer crumbs, I use Oreo cookie crumbs. This gets rave reviews whenever I make it!
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My mother used to make these all the time growing up. This recipe is so easy–everything layered in one pan, and they are delicious!
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My mother used to make these all the time growing up. This recipe is so easy–everything layered in one pan, and they are delicious!
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These are great! When my husband was in the Marine Corps I used to make these and send them out with him when he went into the field. All his friends begged me to make extras for them too.
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We didn’t care for this one at all. It just tasted like melted chocolate chips stuck on top of a buttery layer (which is pretty much what it was). Over the top rich and nothing special to us.
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These are very good. I’ve been making these (minus the nuts) for years. We call them “power bars” 🙂 The only thing I did diff is mix the margarine with the graham crumbs and make it a packed down layer on the bottom (then add the rest of the layers). Great recipe!
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Yummy!!! Magic Cookie Bars have been a family favorite ever since I can remember. We’ve always stuck to the original recipe (as opposed to the variations listed), and we’ve never put the nuts in. These are guaranteed to be gone in less than a day, if the sweet tooth in your family runs as strong as it does in ours.
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A cookie swap must! These go faster tban lightening!! Variations: use white choclate with dollups of raspberry preserves, or I use an oreo cookie base with peppermint oil added. Another, use bittersweet chips to play off the richness and add depth to chocolate flavor.
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I have been dying to make these and I finally did with a bit of disappointment. My graham cracker crust didn’t really form a solid layer and kind of crumbled apart. Maybe I should have mixed it with melted butter and then pressed it into the bottom of the pan. The taste was good because of the chocolate but nobody commented on them (except my husband who didn’t really like them) or returned for seconds.
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I do more coconut and walnuts. And omit the chocolate chips. For variation.
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This recipe calls for WAY too many chocolate chips. Otherwise it is a excellent recipe. Use only 1 cup (6 oz) chocolate chips and you will have a winner. Also make sure to press down the graham cracker crust layer before adding the sweetened condensed milk. These bars are great – I have make them twice so far for the holdiays!
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A sorority sister made these for our annual cookie swap. They were wonderful. I had to beg for the recipe. They are easy to make and only use one pan, so not alot of clean-up. They are now one of my faves.
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Wow … These bars are MEGA sweet and I agree that the recipe calls for WAY TOO MANY chocolate chips. These are just a bit too rich. I will try the other recipe next time, Magic Cookie Bars II.
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Very sweet, but easy to make and always a big hit!
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My Mom has been making these cookies since I was little. I’m 22 now and I make them myself. They’re always requested at family gatherings!
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I have always made these bars since I started baking. Recently I made them for my in-laws they had never had them. They were a big hit. I always use the chocolate chips plus I put candy-coated chocolate candies on the top for whatever the season!!! I love them!!!!!!!
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These are great! I made them for a 4th of July party and everyone raved about them. I didn’t use all the chocolate chips called for and they were still plenty chocolaty. I will be using this recipe again and again. Maybe try some different combinations. I think peanut butter chips and chopped peanuts sounds yummy too.
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These are the best ever!!! Always a favorite growing up–mom made them for the bake sales and htey always went the fastest!! haven’t met a person who doesn’t like them!
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I give it 5 on pure nostalgia alone… these were a childhood favorite, and are still on my list of favorite sweets!
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These go over well at school parties, but I use Oreo crumbs, since they are “nut free” (and graham crumbs are not). I prefer the grapham taste, but rules are rules! I always mix the butter and crumbs together for a better crust.
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Pretty good. Next time I will mix the butter and crumbs together and press into the pan to prevent it from crumbling. I also should have waited until they had chilled before slicing into them, they would have held their shape a little better.
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This cookie recipe is now my new favorite!! So EASY to make! They are sooo yummy. I made the suggested variation of adding butterscotch chips. Simply the best. I am going to bring it to the next cookie exchange!!
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This has always been a favorite of mine since I was young. When I left the States in 1974 and settled in Australia my biggest problem was that I couldn’t get graham crackers, so I substituted a “Coffee” biscuit. This worked fine. The only other change I make is to pour the condensed milk over all the layers just before I put it in the oven. This seems to bind everything together and the top then turns a lovely golden brown when cooked. This is always a hit at any gathering.
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These are always a hit at holiday parties! A favorite of mine since I was a kid. At parties, I tend to get “what are these?” and “mmmmmm…” immediately following. I like to use peanut butter and chocolate chips.
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Awesome! I haven’t had these in years! My family couldn’t stay away from them! So easy, quick, and soooo good! I made them in a disposable foil pan, and took them away for the weekend. No mess or clean up! So happy to have this recipe!
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My mom has made this for years, and now I make it for my little ones (minus coconut). It is an awesome “kid” cookie, but my husband likes to take it to work. They are a little gooey, and caramelly-sweet. I love these!
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yummy…we like to add toffee chips in it too which makes it even better.
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It’s perfect the way it is!!
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This is the old standard from the back of the Eagle Brand Can. It gets better every time you have it! Great recipe!
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We’ve been making and eating Magic Cookie Bars for approx 30 years and it’s my all time favorite.
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This was good i would like a thicker crust so next time I may add more grahm crust.
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I make these cookies every year for Christmas. I double the recipe and use a 11 x 15 jelly roll pan, and cut them into small triangles. This is a great recipe, make sure you cut them pretty small, as they are very rich!
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Easy to make and very yummy!!
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I volunteered to bring something for our annual Christmas bazaar for church – even though I don’t bake much any more. These were so easy to make! I used the version with 1/2 chocolate chips and 1/2 butterscotch. The ladies in the kitchen that were packaging the baked goods tasted them and said they were great. It seems that a lot of people know what they are because they sold right away. If you want better directions for the same recipe look for the site that says 7 layer Magic Bars by Eagle brand – they seem to have improved the directions for that recipe.
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I love coconut and these really hit the spot! Be aware- they are VERY rich and sweet! They actually hurt my teeth. Everyone thought that they were divine though, and I will be making them again this year for a company holiday party…
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LOVE THEM and ALWAYS HAVE!!:) They are delish!
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This is so easy to make and tastes like you spent hours on it.
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Very easy recipe, but have had better. Next time I will mix butter and graham cracker crumbs together first and then press into pan. Also, found it to be a little too much chocolate for my taste, as the chocolate overpowered the nuts and coconut. Will try recipe again with less chocolate.
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My mom used to make this when I was a kid, and I loved it despite the fact I don’t like walnuts. I recently substituted pecans and it was even better.
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I made this recipes with 1/2 chocolate chips and 1/2 reeses peanut butter morsels mix and it was outstanding. I also found it helpful to press down on the bars with a spatula before baking, this makes it settle better. For a quick clean up, line the pan with aluminum foil and spray the foil with PAM.
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These are the best cookie bars and are practically impossible to mess up.
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I mixed the crumbs into the butter before patting it into the pan. Also, I wish I had added the nuts before the coconut so the nuts wouldn’t taste roasted. Other than that, this was a simple recipe and it was a good combination of flavors. The sides didn’t stick much to the pan, but next time, I’ll try the foil and spray as suggested for easier cleanup.
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I’ve been making these for years. They’re always a crowd pleaser – even for those who don’t like coconut.
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I love this recipe it is so easy and so good. I always add more nuts.
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Very good! My family enjoyed these! Very sweet, so adding the nuts to off-set the sweetness is a must.
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So yummy. I only had chocolate grahm crackers so mine tasted a little like an almond joy. Mine was a little gooey too, but still delicious.
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I use butterscotch chips instead of nuts.
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I didn’t like this cookie. First of all you need to do the butter and graham cracker bits like a cheesecake crust. If you don’t you have some places where the graham cracker doesn’t make a bottom crust for the cookie. Overall I thought the cookie was terrible.
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There’s no way to go wrong with this recipe, it is just a holiday staple.
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I substituted chocolate graham crackers for regular. Cookies were a big hit.
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My kids went crazy for these, very sweet and chocolately. The crust was a little tricky for me though, I don’t understand why the butter needs to be melted in the oven? Next time I’ll just put it in the microwave, mix in the crumbs and press into the pan:)
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It is a tradition for me to make these every year during the holidays. The butterscotch chips really make it taste the best. I use half chocolate and half butterscotch. I use pecans for the nuts. So easy and so, so yummy!!
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I can not stand these bars! They are way too sweet, but my husband likes them. So I always make some for him and to put in the baskets I make up for friends. The crust never holds together real well. I always have cut after cooled, then refrigerate till crust hardens a little, then remove from pan
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This is a holiday must for my family. They are soooo good! Rich, gooey, and decadent!
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These are a favorite from my childhood. I remember helping my mother make them (just the chocolate chips, coconut, and chopped walnuts variation). I make a batch for my brother every Christmas. Make sure to allow to cool completely, even refrigerate, before cutting.
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Very tasty! I like to change up the crust sometimes and use crushed wafers or make a simple shortbread crust. I use both white and dark chocolate chips, and have also used butterscotch chips as well before. A chewy, easy-to-please, chocolatey snack.
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Really delicious cookie bar and great to send to school with the kids. Quite easy to make also.
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These are DELISH!!! Once you start to eat them you cannot stop. I make them and then try to give them away. Very rich and addictive.
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I use pecans – just like my mom does! 🙂
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These were a bit sweet for my taste (which is saying a lot). My husband does not like nuts or coconut, so he of course was not a fan. I did get some compliments from guests.
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You cant go wrong with these bars. I have been making them for years. Sometimes I will change it up a bit and use peanut butter, butterscotch, white or whatever morsels I happen to have in the drawer.
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Have been making these delicious cookies for years. They are wonderful.
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Fantastically good!!!
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I was looking for another cookie to add to our family’s list for Christmas gifts. This one rocks! Very easy and very flexible.
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This is a classic. I love it. Its really fun to vary up the type of chip or flavor of graham cracker crumbs for an exrta special treat.
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These bars are so simple & everybody loves them. I take them to everything! By the way, I don’t like coconut but don’t notice it in these.
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I JUST LOVE THIS RECIPE.ITS SO EASY AND TASTES WONDERFUL.I USED FAT FREE EAGLE BRAND MILK,DARK CHOCO.CHIPS,BUTTERSCOTCH CHIPS,CHOPPED HAZELNUTS.I COULD NOT WAIT FOR IT TO COOL AND IT STILL HELD TOGETHER.TOO YUMMY!
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Love it!!
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ALWAYS one of my favorite cookie recipes! I make these every holiday season and there are never any leftovers! I add butterscotch morsels as well to mine, and it only adds to them. An A+ recipe!
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The easiest cookie bars to make and so delicious! I’ve make these almost every few months and they disappear within hours at the office. I usually add only a little bit of coconut because some people don’t like it, but I love them with or without!
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My family has this every year during the holidays since we were kids. It is awesome. Very rich so I only make it on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
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These are so so good! My mother-in-law makes them all the time.
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This is it! I have finally found the exact recipe my family and I have used since I was a little girl! These are rich and yummy! And this is the BEST recipe for this cookie bar! Trust me!!!!!
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I LOVE this recipe! It’s so quick and easy and even though I’m not a huge coconut fan I really loved it! A+++
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I love this combination of flavors. They were super gooey straight out of the oven and you can eat them with a spoon before they harden! Yum! But they’re also great as bars once they’re chilled. I will keep this one in my recipe file and change it up with different types of nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts) or other additives like toffee bits.
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Mmmm. Yum! I am taking a couple of batches to a cookie swap and I’m so excited because these are DIVINE! This was so easy and quick but it delivered when it came to flavor! I made both batches in less than an hour. You can’t beat that! I used real butter,Ghiradelli chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, and ground hazelnuts.
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So simple and so good. I make a bunch of “treats” around the holidays for my family and friends. These are always in my box. Everyone loves them and they are the easiest things I make. I normally don’t worry about measuring the nuts or coconut I just make sure the pan is evenly covered. Wonderful.
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We have been making these since I was a little girl. Now it is the number one request from my brothers and dad at Christmas time. It is so easy and kids can help out all the way through. This is a great recipe
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Instead of using the graham cracker crumbs, I use Natural Cereal–the kind with the oats, nuts, raisins, etc. Very gooey, but very GOOD!
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My mom made these for us when we were growing up, and she would sometimes use butterscotch chips too. We now call these “wedding cookies” because when I brought them to work the first time, my boss sent me an email and asked me to marry him. Seven years later, we are still happily eating magic cookie bars. There must be something truly “magic” about them.
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My husband’s favorite! Easy to make and very yummy!
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These are amazingly easy to make! I suggest mixing in butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. Also, as someone else said, mix together the coconut, chips and nuts and then sprinkle over milk. It helps a lot with even distribution.
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My Mom has made this every Christmas I can ever remember, and now I make them every year. They are just oooey gooey, salty sweet bliss.
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This recipe was so yummy! I cooked mine for 25 minutes and that was about 5 minutes too long, the edges were a little hard. So I just kept those for myself.
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I use a mixture of butterscotch chips along with the chocolate chips. Have been making these for many years.Very rich and always a hit. A friend recently tried one claiming he didn’t like coconut. Now he wants a whole pan of these for himself.
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How can you not LOVE a recipe that you can put together on the morning of Christmas Eve and still have time for EVERYTHING else on your to-do list?? I’ve been making these since my first Christmas with my husband (29 years and counting!!) and they’re still a winner!! Only suggestion is put the chocolate on LAST so it gets melty all over the rest of the ingredients. Quick and DELISH!!
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Made this as instructed with the addition of a handful of butterscotch chips. I’m not sure if that is what put this over the edge for me, but it was too rich for my taste.
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These are fabulous. However, I increased the crust to 2 1/2 cups of crumbs and added a little more butter to the original recipe. I also added 1/2 cup of white choco-chips and reduced the amount of nuts. It really has to cool before being cut or it makes a mess. They freeze very well, especially if left uncut.
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Sinfully delicious – I didn’t change a thing!! Now, I wish I hadn’t made them :O)
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Great, classic recipe that’s been a huge favorite for probably millions of people for just as many years! This is a recipe you’ll go back to over and over again. It’s, quick, easy, and delicious with a fantastic blend of flavors.
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These are so easy and delicious. I used 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 butterscotch chips.
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These are one of the most delicious desserts I have ever eaten. They have a great texture, a great combination of flavors, and they satisfy nearly every sweet & salty craving I get!
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OOOhhh…these are so good! I always use the 7-layer variation with the butterscotch chips. One of the best cookie recipes ever!
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These are so good and very easy to make! After reading other reviews, I used more graham cracker crumbs and butter to make a thicker crust. I mixed them together and then pressed them in the bottom of the baking dish. I mixed the other ingredients together too before spreading them over the crust. It came out great.
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If you have any kind of sweet tooth, you’ll love it.
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Easy and delicious!
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This recipe is so easy my son loves making this just for the fun of it when he feels like eating something fun, and he brings this to his clubs he belongs to.
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These were tasty. However, I should have followed other reviewers recommendations to double the graham cracker crust layer.. the sweetened condensed milk seeped through the crust and was gooey on the bottom..kind of messy to eat. I even used a smaller pan than recommended hoping that would make the crust thicker…guess that was a mistake 🙂 I’ll definitely make these again and hopefully they’ll turn out better.
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