Festive Magic Cookie Bars
If you’re looking for an easy and colorful treat to brighten up your holiday dessert tray, these Festive Magic Cookie Bars are it! They’ve got everything you love about the classic bars — a buttery graham cracker crust, gooey layers of sweetened condensed milk, coconut, and nuts — but with a fun, extra festive twist: mini M&M’s.
Every Christmas, my mother-in-law bakes a big pan of her magic cookie bars. They’re the first thing everyone reaches for after dinner. There’s just something comforting about those gooey layers and toasted coconut edges.
This version from the Eagle Brand website keeps her tradition alive but adds a fun, festive touch with mini M&M’s — they melt slightly into the top, creating little pockets of chocolate and color.
It’s the same nostalgic flavor, just a little extra for the holidays.
Whether you’re keeping an old family tradition alive or starting a new one, these Festive Magic Cookie Bars are guaranteed to spread a little holiday joy. With their gooey layers, rich flavor, and pops of color, they’ll be the first dessert to disappear from your cookie tray.
So grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and a bag of mini M&M’s — and get ready to bake up a little Christmas magic!
Why You’ll Love These Festive Magic Cookie Bars
- Holiday-perfect: The red and green mini M&M’s make these bars look so festive — perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, potlucks, or cozy movie nights.
- Just the right mix of chewy and crunchy: The layers of coconut, chocolate candies, and chopped nuts create the ultimate texture combo.
- Simple ingredients: All you need are pantry staples — no mixing bowl, no fancy tools, and no frosting required.
- A classic with a twist: This recipe stays true to the original magic cookie bars your family knows and loves, but with a fun, colorful upgrade.
What are Festive Magic Cookie Bars?
Festive Magic Cookie Bars are a holiday twist on the classic seven-layer bar. They start with a buttery graham cracker crust and are topped with layers of sweetened condensed milk, candy-coated chocolates, shredded coconut, and chopped nuts.
As they bake, the condensed milk caramelizes slightly, creating a gooey, chewy texture that holds all the colorful toppings together.
These bars are as beautiful as they are delicious — the bright candies add a pop of color, making them perfect for Christmas cookie platters, holiday parties, or edible gifts.
Best of all, they’re incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients!
Recipe Tips
- Switch up the candy: Use pastel M&M’s for Easter, red and pink for Valentine’s Day, or classic colors for any time of year.
- Nut-free option: Skip the nuts and add more M&M’s or chocolate chips instead.
- Make ahead: These bars taste even better the next day! Store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- For perfectly cut cookie bars: line entire pan with foil, extending foil over edge of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, lift up with edges of foil to remove from pan. Cut into individual bars.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze in layers with parchment paper between each for up to 2 months.
You’ll love adding these Festive Magic Cookie Bars to your holiday baking list — they pair perfectly with my Ritz Cracker Toffee and Homemade Peanut Brittle for an irresistible Christmas dessert spread everyone will rave about!
Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Butter, melted
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Mini M & M’s
- Flaked coconut
- Chopped walnuts
How to make Festive Magic Cookie Bars
Heat oven 350°F.
Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl.
Press into bottom of prepared pan.
Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.
Layer evenly with chocolate candies, coconut and nuts.
Press down firmly with fork.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack.
Cut into bars or diamonds.
Festive Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 14 oz. can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 cup candy-coated chocolate candies
- 1 1/3 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Heat oven 350°F.
- Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
- Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl.
- Press into bottom of prepared pan.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.
- Layer evenly with chocolate candies, coconut and nuts.
- Press down firmly with fork.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack.
- Cut into bars or diamonds.
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