Healthier magic cookie bars made grain-free, gluten-free and vegan with homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk.
Last month I went to Isaac’s school for a holiday celebration and as luck would have it a parent had brought in Magic Cookie Bars for the teachers. Remember those bad boys? Some people call them Seven Layer Bars but they have a graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, coconut and sweetened condensed milk… so rich and delicious! My mom used to make them and they were one of my favorite holiday baked goods.
At Isaac’s school that day, I couldn’t resist having a bite (or two). It was just as a good as I remembered it: before long the wheels started turning in my head and I had my mind set on making a version of my own. I can’t really call these healthy because they’re still decadent, but they’re made with wholesome ingredients and a bit healthier.
Having tasted the classic version only a day or two before I made this variation, I can honestly say they look and taste like the real deal. You could easily take them to a party, not tell anyone that they’re grain-free, dairy free and made with sweetened condensed coconut milk and people would go crazy for them.
Healthier Magic Cookie Bar Ingredients
almond flour
unsweetened shredded coconut and unsweetened flaked coconut
full fat coconut milk
coconut sugar
chocolate chips – I like using Enjoy Life or Lily’s chocolate chips to keep this recipe dairy-free.
chopped pecans
coconut oil
maple syrup
vanilla extract
sea salt
How to Make Magic Cookie Bars
Make the crust – Combine the almond flour, shredded coconut, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and sea salt in a large bowl. Press firmly into a 8×8 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350ºF for 12-15 minutes or until your crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Make sweetened condensed coconut milk – While the crust is cooling, combine the coconut milk and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture has reduced by about half. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Pour the condensed milk over the crust and spread to the edges.
Add toppings – Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the condensed milk, then add the flaked coconut and then the pecans. Use your hands to press the mixture down slightly until the milk soaks upward into the toppings.
Bake – Bake the bars for 30 minutes at 350ºF until edges are browning a bit. Remove from the oven and let cool for 30-60 minutes on a cooling rack. After cooling a bit, place the pan in the refrigerator to let them set up for at least two hours. If you’re in a rush you can freeze them for an hour instead.
Cut and enjoy – After cooling, lift the parchment out of the pan and place the bars on a cutting board or other flat surface. Cut the bars into 16 squares and dig in!
How to Store Magic Cookie Bars
Any leftover bars should be wrapped or placed in an airtight container. They will keep for a couple days on the countertop but I recommend storing in the fridge or freezer for longer storage.
If you make these healthy magic cookie bars please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how they turn out. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers!
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a square (8×8) glass baking dish with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients for the crust in a large bowl and press firmly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until your crust is golden brown in color. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
While crust is cooling, in a saucepan over medium heat bring coconut milk and sugar to a low boil, reduce heat and simmer for approximately 45 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture has reduced by half. The coconut milk mixture should be thick reduced to about 3/4 cup. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Pour the sweetened condensed coconut milk over the crust and spread to the edges.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the condensed milk, then the flaked coconut, and then the pecans. Using your hands, press the mixture down a tiny bit until the milk soaks upward into the layers.
Place in oven (still at 350°F) and bake for about 30 minutes, until edges are browning a bit. Remove from oven and cool for 30 to 60 minutes on a cooling rack. Once the bars have cooled a bit, place the pan in the refrigerator to allow the bars to set-up for at least two hours (or overnight). If you’re in a rush you could put the bars in the freezer for an hour instead.
After cooling, lift the parchment out of the pan and place bars on a cutting board or other flat surface. If the bars are coming from the freezer, you may need to let them thaw for a few minutes before cutting as they will be pretty firm. Cut bars into 16 squares and dig in! Any leftover bars should be wrapped or placed in a sealed container. They can be left out for a couple days or stored in the fridge or freezer for longer storage.
Made this recipe a few times and have read a lot of comments about the milk and sugar taking a while to thicken up…definitely takes a while but it helps a lot to let the rim of mixture in the saucepan thicken up and then just keep pushing the mixture into the middle every few minutes! Regardless of how long it takes its worth the wait!! Can’t wait for my family to try these on Christmas!
Made these last night for our vegan holiday cookie baking and the bars turned out amazingly! I love the coconut-pecan-chocolate combo and the texture is nice and crunchy. Definitely will be a repeat for me. Thank you!
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad these bars turned out for you. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear. So glad these bars turned out for you. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
The base of mine came out very crumbly. When I put it in, I thought that was ok because it looked crumbly on the video too, but it did not hold together when I took it out like hers did. My syrup took about double the time that it said to cook down, but that could be because I used a low heat and lite coconut milk instead of full fat. The portions are also only about bite-size if cut into sixteen slices. That being said, they are definitely delicious! A great appeaser for a sweet tooth that isn’t as unhealthy as the real version.
I’m glad you enjoyed these bars, but sorry to hear that they were difficult for you to make. Did you change anything about the recipe? It sounds like the crust was too dry which caused it to crumble. 🙁
Recipe is very good, decadent. Yes it’s a little time consuming, but usually good things are. Took me about an hour to reduce my coconut milk (not 45min). For me it’s a little too much on the chocolate chips, I’d probably 1/2 or 2/3 it if I made them again…couldn’t really taste the condensed milk later because of all the chocolate. My only other gripe really is I would NOT label these “healthy” at all. The recipe calls to cut it into 16 bars- which makes it a two bite tiny desert. If you cut into 9 bars (like most 8×8 inch pan desserts are cut) then you have nearly 500 calories and 40g of fat per bar 🙈🙈
Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Amanda. I’m so glad these bars were a hit with your family. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Unfortunately even 20 minutes at 350 burnt it to a crisp. I’m sure it would have been lovely but that was a very long recipe and expensive ingredients to have it be ruined. 10 minutes would be enough to melt the chocolate and toast the pecans. So disappointed.
Are about 3 squares of these tonight! I hated I had to let them cool for so long- haha. I had a hard time getting the condensed milk mixture thick enough but probably because I had an electric stove instead of gas like I’m used to. Wonderful recipe!
You have got to be kidding me, this recipe was so long in the same amount of time it took to make it a could’ve grown a tree. Not to mention the ingredients, Who in their right dang mind would spend 100$ on the ingredients to make this long crazy recipe. Who do you think I am, do I have all the time in the dang world. I mean seriously what the heck
This was a very simple recipe. To leave that kind of comment is a bit unfair. Many of us who follow this site have those ingredients on hand. I have grown many trees and I can assure you the was much more simple. Lol I made this the first time following all directions and didn’t like the taste of the coconut condensed milk so I buy ready made now. Makes everything easier….for me. Lol either way, fabulous recipe.
Made them. Love them. I too, grew up with the traditional Magic cookie bar with eagles brand sweetened condensed milk. I saw this recipe and said, oh, trying this one. And, true to your word…..who could tell the difference. And, actually, I like your version better! Thanks again for doing what you do! Much appreciated.
shelley
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Shelley! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
My kids and I made these yesterday and the bars are delish — they say they taste just like Girl Scout Samoas! Thanks for another yummy, healthier, sweet treat recipe I don’t feel guilty about giving my kiddos.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Tina!! I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Hey Christine – Do you have a granulated sweetener like brown sugar or cane sugar? I would go for one of those options as the consistency is more similar to that of coconut sugar. Using maple syrup might work, but it also might make the condensed milk too liquidy.
I tried brown sugar and my first try came out grainy and burnt at 45 minutes. I tried again and stirred for 30 minutes on low heat until it was carmel color and runnier than the video provided. It seemed to work fine, just a bit runnier. I also chopped up dates since I didn’t have enough chocolate chips. It’s in the oven now! Looking forward to trying this yummy desert!
You could try oat or gluten-free AP flour. I haven’t tried it, so I’m not 100% sure if the ratios should be the same, but let me know what you end up trying and how it turns out!
It was a disaster. I did everything to the directions and the liquid did not reduce down. I had no idea what spreading meant. In my case it means you pour over the crust. They did not turn out. Wish I had a video I could have referred to.
Hi Diane. I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t turn out for you. Were you using regular canned coconut milk to make the sweetened condensed coconut milk? Did you change anything with the ingredients?
I have a complaint. These are too delicious and my boyfriend demands them too frequently. It’s straining our relationship. Please, think twice before posting such an amazing, easy, and adaptable recipe again. Jk, never stop.
Haha!! You had me worried for a second. 🙂 I’m so glad you guys are loving these bars, Katherine!! I so appreciate you taking the time to come back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me!
Hi Brittany, thank you for all of the delicious recipes! I was wondering if for the crust, you could just use vegan Graham crackers and coconut oil, and if you would happen to know roughly how much that would require?
I am soooooo excited to try these, haven’t had these bars in YEAAARSSS!
Thank youuuu :))
You’re so welcome, Morgan!! I’m sure you could, I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how many graham crackers you would need, but I’d just experiment with it. 🙂 Let me know if you try it and how the bars turn out!!
The recipe is good, all the flavours are delicious. However, realistically this makes 9servings. 16 servings in an 8×8 is 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch…
I also would do 1.5x the crust recipe to make it thicker, it barely went to the edges of an 8×8 pan.
Absolutely delicious! I took one shortcut and used a can of sweetened condensed coconut milk but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Yum, my husband and I loved these. Love all of the recipes we’ve tried from your site!
Ahh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kaitlyn. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it!
This was so frikin’ good! I never comment on recipe blogs but for this one I just had to. My husband requested magic squares like the ones he grew up eating but minus all the crap. And here we are! So so good!
Ahh this makes me so happy to read, Sarah! 🙂 I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it.
Just made these. First the sweetened condensed coconut milk- omg just sipping it with a spoon! I did have to use regular sugar as I was out of coconut sugar. The milk took a while to make but I just did other cooking while it reduced. I baked and refrigerated them. We have already eaten like half the pan! OMG dangerous- I keep telling myself it’s mostly good fat😆
Ahh this makes me so happy to hear, Julie!! I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for tying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment. I so appreciate it!
Aren’t they sooo good?! I’m glad they were a hit! Thanks for trying this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Stacey. I so appreciate it!
Hey Alexandra – I’m not sure, I’ve never tried it! It might not turn out the same, but you can certainly try it. Let me know if you do and how the bars turn out!
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I have made these several times now, they are a family favorite! One of my go-to desserts. Thank you for this awesome recipe! <3
★★★★★
Yay!! So glad this recipe is a hit with your family! Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it, Julia!
Question – could you just use a can of sweetened condensed coconut milk & skip the simmer/reducing process part? Or would that be too runny?
Yes! You can totally use canned sweetened condensed milk. I’d use 2/3 – 3/4 cup.
Made this recipe a few times and have read a lot of comments about the milk and sugar taking a while to thicken up…definitely takes a while but it helps a lot to let the rim of mixture in the saucepan thicken up and then just keep pushing the mixture into the middle every few minutes! Regardless of how long it takes its worth the wait!! Can’t wait for my family to try these on Christmas!
★★★★★
Ahh yay, so glad you loved this recipe!! I hope your family did too. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I used OAT Flour instead of almond flour, it was a success! Definitely on the top of my healthy dessert recipes. Delicious!!
★★★★★
So glad these worked with oat flour!! Super helpful to know. 🙂
Made these last night for our vegan holiday cookie baking and the bars turned out amazingly! I love the coconut-pecan-chocolate combo and the texture is nice and crunchy. Definitely will be a repeat for me. Thank you!
★★★★★
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad these bars turned out for you. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
I used coconut sweetened condensed milk and it came out perfect!
Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Definitely a keeper!!!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear. So glad these bars turned out for you. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
The base of mine came out very crumbly. When I put it in, I thought that was ok because it looked crumbly on the video too, but it did not hold together when I took it out like hers did. My syrup took about double the time that it said to cook down, but that could be because I used a low heat and lite coconut milk instead of full fat. The portions are also only about bite-size if cut into sixteen slices. That being said, they are definitely delicious! A great appeaser for a sweet tooth that isn’t as unhealthy as the real version.
★★★
I’m glad you enjoyed these bars, but sorry to hear that they were difficult for you to make. Did you change anything about the recipe? It sounds like the crust was too dry which caused it to crumble. 🙁
Recipe is very good, decadent. Yes it’s a little time consuming, but usually good things are. Took me about an hour to reduce my coconut milk (not 45min). For me it’s a little too much on the chocolate chips, I’d probably 1/2 or 2/3 it if I made them again…couldn’t really taste the condensed milk later because of all the chocolate. My only other gripe really is I would NOT label these “healthy” at all. The recipe calls to cut it into 16 bars- which makes it a two bite tiny desert. If you cut into 9 bars (like most 8×8 inch pan desserts are cut) then you have nearly 500 calories and 40g of fat per bar 🙈🙈
★★★★
These are INCREDIBLE! I made these for a family event and no one could even tell they were “healthy”. Do yourself a favor and make these ASAP!
★★★★★
Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Amanda. I’m so glad these bars were a hit with your family. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I just made these and they are yummy! But how long did it take for the milk to get thick? Much more than 45 minutes right?
It took me 45 minutes, how long did it take you?
Is it supposed to thicken up still being on heat? Or does it thicken while it’s cooling?
It should thicken while heating.
Unfortunately even 20 minutes at 350 burnt it to a crisp. I’m sure it would have been lovely but that was a very long recipe and expensive ingredients to have it be ruined. 10 minutes would be enough to melt the chocolate and toast the pecans. So disappointed.
★
Oh no!! I’m so sorry so hear that they burnt that quickly. Did you change anything about the recipe?
Are about 3 squares of these tonight! I hated I had to let them cool for so long- haha. I had a hard time getting the condensed milk mixture thick enough but probably because I had an electric stove instead of gas like I’m used to. Wonderful recipe!
★★★★★
I know, that’s definitely the hardest part is waiting for them to cool!! So glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for making them, Danielle. 🙂
You have got to be kidding me, this recipe was so long in the same amount of time it took to make it a could’ve grown a tree. Not to mention the ingredients, Who in their right dang mind would spend 100$ on the ingredients to make this long crazy recipe. Who do you think I am, do I have all the time in the dang world. I mean seriously what the heck
★
This is the first time a complaint has made me laugh (they usually irritate me), but this one was so funny!
Of course the comment was from someone named Karen!
Typical “Karen” comment. How rude. 😂
This was a very simple recipe. To leave that kind of comment is a bit unfair. Many of us who follow this site have those ingredients on hand. I have grown many trees and I can assure you the was much more simple. Lol I made this the first time following all directions and didn’t like the taste of the coconut condensed milk so I buy ready made now. Makes everything easier….for me. Lol either way, fabulous recipe.
Thanks so much, Anne!! So glad you love this recipe. I appreciate you. 🙂
Hi Karen. Just curious… did you make the recipe?
Made them. Love them. I too, grew up with the traditional Magic cookie bar with eagles brand sweetened condensed milk. I saw this recipe and said, oh, trying this one. And, true to your word…..who could tell the difference. And, actually, I like your version better! Thanks again for doing what you do! Much appreciated.
shelley
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Shelley! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
My kids and I made these yesterday and the bars are delish — they say they taste just like Girl Scout Samoas! Thanks for another yummy, healthier, sweet treat recipe I don’t feel guilty about giving my kiddos.
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Tina!! I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Hi I don’t have coconut sugar so can I sub maple syrup? Can’t wait to try these!
Hey Christine – Do you have a granulated sweetener like brown sugar or cane sugar? I would go for one of those options as the consistency is more similar to that of coconut sugar. Using maple syrup might work, but it also might make the condensed milk too liquidy.
I tried brown sugar and my first try came out grainy and burnt at 45 minutes. I tried again and stirred for 30 minutes on low heat until it was carmel color and runnier than the video provided. It seemed to work fine, just a bit runnier. I also chopped up dates since I didn’t have enough chocolate chips. It’s in the oven now! Looking forward to trying this yummy desert!
Ohhh I’m so sorry the first batch didn’t turn out for you, but thank you for letting me know. How did the second batch turn out and taste?!
Is there a gluten free substitute for the almond flour??
Almond flour is gluten-free!
My apologies, I meant GF and nut free!!
You could try oat or gluten-free AP flour. I haven’t tried it, so I’m not 100% sure if the ratios should be the same, but let me know what you end up trying and how it turns out!
Thanks so much Brittany, can’t wait to try this! Love your recipes 🙂
It was a disaster. I did everything to the directions and the liquid did not reduce down. I had no idea what spreading meant. In my case it means you pour over the crust. They did not turn out. Wish I had a video I could have referred to.
★
Hi Diane. I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t turn out for you. Were you using regular canned coconut milk to make the sweetened condensed coconut milk? Did you change anything with the ingredients?
I have a complaint. These are too delicious and my boyfriend demands them too frequently. It’s straining our relationship. Please, think twice before posting such an amazing, easy, and adaptable recipe again. Jk, never stop.
★★★★★
Haha!! You had me worried for a second. 🙂 I’m so glad you guys are loving these bars, Katherine!! I so appreciate you taking the time to come back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me!
Hi Brittany, thank you for all of the delicious recipes! I was wondering if for the crust, you could just use vegan Graham crackers and coconut oil, and if you would happen to know roughly how much that would require?
I am soooooo excited to try these, haven’t had these bars in YEAAARSSS!
Thank youuuu :))
You’re so welcome, Morgan!! I’m sure you could, I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how many graham crackers you would need, but I’d just experiment with it. 🙂 Let me know if you try it and how the bars turn out!!
The recipe is good, all the flavours are delicious. However, realistically this makes 9servings. 16 servings in an 8×8 is 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch…
I also would do 1.5x the crust recipe to make it thicker, it barely went to the edges of an 8×8 pan.
★★★
Absolutely delicious! I took one shortcut and used a can of sweetened condensed coconut milk but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Yum, my husband and I loved these. Love all of the recipes we’ve tried from your site!
★★★★★
Ahh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kaitlyn. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it!
This was so frikin’ good! I never comment on recipe blogs but for this one I just had to. My husband requested magic squares like the ones he grew up eating but minus all the crap. And here we are! So so good!
★★★★★
Ahh this makes me so happy to read, Sarah! 🙂 I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it.
Just made these. First the sweetened condensed coconut milk- omg just sipping it with a spoon! I did have to use regular sugar as I was out of coconut sugar. The milk took a while to make but I just did other cooking while it reduced. I baked and refrigerated them. We have already eaten like half the pan! OMG dangerous- I keep telling myself it’s mostly good fat😆
Ahh this makes me so happy to hear, Julie!! I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for tying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment. I so appreciate it!
My partner and I devoured these! Absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
Aren’t they sooo good?! I’m glad they were a hit! Thanks for trying this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Stacey. I so appreciate it!
Would it be possible to use cashew milk or cashew cream instead of coconut milk?
Hey Alexandra – I’m not sure, I’ve never tried it! It might not turn out the same, but you can certainly try it. Let me know if you do and how the bars turn out!