Magic Eight Bars

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I used to beg my mom to make Seven Layer Bars when I was growing up.  They were a staple.  We called them Seven Layer Bars, not Magic Bars, but in googling I’ve found out that Seven Layer Bars and Magic Bars are one in the same.

Magic Eight Bars

My new twist on an old favorite will make you do the happy dance.

Magic Eight Bars

I am not sure if my  mom used nuts in her bar recipe or not.  I really dislike like nuts in baked goods so I omitted them from what I’m calling Magic Eight bars.

Magic Eight Bars

Well, I should clarify that statement about the nuts a bit because in many of my raw or no-bake desserts balls and bites, such as High Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, have cashews in them.  A nut. And in raw unbaking, cashews really are the cat’s meow because of their versatility and fat content and how they can create authentic and amazing raw vegan desserts.

High Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

But don’t put walnuts in my chocolate chip cookies or slivered almonds in brownies.  I despise that. And there are no nuts in these bars. I did add white chocolate chips which Seven Layer Bars don’t have.  Now there’s eight layers.

Magic Eight Bars

And when you sink your teeth through each and every sweet, chewy-but-with-a-touch-of-crunch-layer from the white, dark, and butterscotch chips, you will be glad for all eight layers.

Magic Eight Bars
As if the can of sweetened condensed milk wasn’t enough, the addition of white chocolate chips makes the bars even sweeter. Too bad we don’t have dental insurance for all those cavities that we’ll probably get.  But they’ll be well worth it.

Magic Eight Bars

Even if you don’t “love” coconut, you should try these bars.  They are not overpowering in terms of being “too coconutty”.  Which is nice, actually, because in addition to the coconut flavor, the great flavor combos of all the chips: butterscotch, chocolate, and white shine through.  Heavenly.

Magic Eight Bars

 

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Magic Eight Bars

1/2 c butter, melted

1.5 c graham cracker crumbs

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 c chocolate chips

1 c butterscotch chips

1 c white chocolate chips

1 1/3 c coconut flakes (either sweetened or unsweetened)

1/2 c Heath Bar toffee bits (or use chopped nuts)

Directions:

Melt butter in microwave-safe bowl and add the graham cracker crumbs to it.  Stir to combine and press crumb mixture into a foil-lined and cooking sprayed 9 x 13 pan (foil is optional but will really save with cleanup time)

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.

Layer evenly with half the chips, i.e. 1/2 c of each kind of chip, then top with half the amount of coconut, i.e. about 3/4 c.  Then add the rest of the chips and rest of the coconut.   I did this so that the chips were evenly dispersed within the fluffiness of the coconut.  But you don’t have to be so precise.

After the chips and coconut are layered in, add the the toffee bits (or nuts) to the top.

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, or until top is barely browning.  Start checking on it after 25 minutes.  Allow to cool and slice.  You can store extras in the freezer in case you want to make these ahead for unexpected company.  Or unexpected munchies.

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The ingredients

Ingredients for magic eight bars

Melt the butter, add the graham cracker crumbs, and stir

graham cracker crumbs

Press mixture into a foil-lined and cooking sprayed 9 x 13 pan

graham cracker crumbs in foil lined pan

Add the sweetened condensed milk

sweetened condensed milk poured over crumbs

Add everything else and bake

Remaining ingredients added to pan

After 30 minutes at 350F, get ready to get your Magic on

Finished Magic 8 bars out of oven

These are the kind of bars that you bring to potlucks, baby showers, graduations, and everyone asks you for the recipe and they think they’re way more complicated than they really are.  Which is all of about 5-10 minutes of active prep time, bake them, and you’re done.

Magic 8 bars stacked on white plate

 

Or just make them even if you don’t have somewhere to bring a dessert if you have random bags of chips, toffee bits, and graham cracker crumbs to use up.

Bags of butterscotch, white and semi-sweet chipsChips, Bits, and Crumbs. That should be the name of a restaurant.

A restaurant where they serve these bars.  With 8 Ingredients, not 7.

Close up of Magic 8 Bars stacked

And yes, they are Magic.

Overhead of three plates of Magic 8 Bars

Even though I wished all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day in my last post, I’ll repeat that sentiment.  And it’s nice to know that many of you were able to spend the day with your dad.

I loved hearing the stories about your dads, and the stories about your husbands or partners if you have children of your own.  So much love in the air.  Fun comments to read!

Questions:

1. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?

Oh, these bars stole the show!

2. Did you celebrate Father’s Day in any way?

It was just me, Skylar, and Scott and we kept things very mellow.  A couple cards and some time at the park.   I have to work later on today and so we kept things simple.  And oh yes, I took 111 pictures of Magic Eight Bars earlier.

The weather has been gorgeous all weekend here, too, which was wonderful.

High Rise buildings with palm trees

3. Have you ever had Seven Layer Bars or Magic Bars?

They were a staple growing up in my house and I think everyone should try them!  One of those life’s bucket list desserts.

The Magic Eight Bars + the Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting (No Bake) = you will use exactly one box of Honey-Maid graham cracker crumbs.

Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting stacked on white dishImagine that. Better go buy that box of graham cracker crumbs!

P.S.  Taste of Adams Avenue Giveaway is still open.

And if you’re just catching up on posts from the weekend, here are mine since Friday:

 

 

Have a great week!

 

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Comments

  1. I actually just took these out of the pan, using the foil as handles. They actually held together just fine if anyone is curious. I crushed the cookies into a crumb, then added butter and a little sugar. 😁

  2. I just took these out of the oven, so I cannot say how they turned out. I do not eat gluten, or dairy and be super limited sugar. So, these are dessert for a large meal I’m sending to teachers. I did not have any Graham cracker crumbs, so I used a rolling pin to crush up some Scharr gluten free shortbread cookies. I just added some sugar to the butter and they looked great. I’m just not sure if I should cut them before sending them, or just wrap the whole thing in foil, then place them in a large bag. I read other comments that they are messy and fall apart. Any suggestions?! These will be definitely be my go to for making for any future desserts. I also just wanted to add that I think if your short on graham cracker crumbs like I was, I think you could add whatever cookie you’d prefer and crush it into crumbs. That worked for me anyway 😁

    1. If you used a GF substitution, likely it will NOT hold together since GLUTEN is the GLUe in the crust. It’s possible it’s fine but not as likely.

      I would send the whole thing in a large bag.

      Glad this will be your go to dessert in the future!

  3. I made these today for teacher end of year gifts. I like to bake for them, and this is just one of the items.  The only issue is they are so messy.  This was my first time to make this bar… I too loved it growing up.  I see on the other recipe you add the condensed milk last, but on this one you add it first.  I added it after the graham cracker crust just as the directions said but now I’m thinking they would stay together better if I added the condensed milk last.  Any suggestions?

    I wrapped a huge bar in foil and put it in a baggy for them but I’m kinda embarrassed they are going to open up a bar that falls apart.  I let it cool all the way, too.

    1. These are definitely on the messier side! Over the years I’ve played around with when to add the sweet cond milk and I’d probably say at the end is less messy but it’s kind of a toss up. Enjoy!! :)

  4. I have a question…is the butter really considered a layer?? I mean it is mixed with the graham cracker crumbs to make a layer so I’m a bit confused. I have seen the recipe using 7 ingredients or 8 ingredient…in the 7 ingredient recipes the butter is considered a layer…not sure why though lol. In the 8 layer recipes the butter is not counted as a layer. Does this make sense? lol. I guess it’s all in your preference. =)

    1. 1/2 c butter, melted

      1.5 c graham cracker crumbs

      1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

      1 c chocolate chips

      1 c butterscotch chips

      1 c white chocolate chips

      1 1/3 c coconut flakes (either sweetened or unsweetened)

      1/2 c Heath Bar toffee bits (or use chopped nuts)

      First two lines are counted as 1, then layer 2 starts with SCMilk

  5. Hi Averie,
    I just made these today and added a couple more things. . LOVE!!! OMG! I also just put it on my blog and linked back to YOUR recipe. Hope that was ok. I will ask you in advance next time. thank you for this awesome recipe, wow!!!

    1. And I wrote you back already on your site and thanks for linking up – I appreciate that! And I love the looks of yours. It makes me crave them b/c it’s been wayyyy too long since I’ve had any!

  6. Its as if you read my mind, all my life, and took out my least favorite element of 7-layer bars (nuts) & added my ideal extra (white chocolate) and perfected the close -to -perfect dessert bar into my own personal idea of pure wunnerfulness and taste perfection….
    so that I had to keep shaking my head the whole time I was reading while muttering ‘why didn’t I think of that ‘ under my breath.
    Thank you so much! I cant wait to make.