magic cookie bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1  1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (6 oz package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1  1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for a glass dish). In a 13x9 inch baking pan, melt the butter in the oven. When melted, tilt the pan to spread the butter around evenly.  Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter; mix together, and press into the pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the crumbs. Top evenly with chocolate chips. Then sprinkle coconut and nuts over the top. Press down firmly with a fork.

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Loosen from the sides of the pan while still warm. Cool thoroughly before cutting into bars.

For these cookies, sometimes called 7-Layer Bars, you can use a variation of other ingredients. You can add a second cup of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips. I’ve also seen layers made of candy-coated pieces, dried cranberries, raisins, and mini-marshmallows.

I didn’t include nuts in this particular batch. Also, don’t be scared of the coconut. I’m not the biggest coconut fan, but it is just a small part of the overall taste. Mmm!