Ultimate Almond Joy Magic Bars for the win!  These delicious, gooey magic bars consist of a buttery, shortbread cookie crust, chopped almonds, a rich coconut and sweetened condensed-based filling and a delicious layer of dark and milk chocolate chips!

These bars have all the classic flavors you love in Almond Joy candy bars, but it’s been transformed with a modern twist! 

It’s a cookie and candy combination sweet treat, that will have all the peeps jumping for joy…like almond JOY!  Get it? 🙂

You’ve probably had these bars sometime in your lifetime.  These bars go by a few different names, like 7-Layer Bars, Magic Bars and Hello Dollies, but I’ve always known them as Magic Bars, which I love, because they really are like magic!!

So what is the ‘magic’?  

It’s the sweetened condensed milk! 

It is the magic ingredient, holding everything together, giving this cookie a quality that is like no other you’ll find.   I love using Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk in desserts. It’s always in my pantry and I’ve used it in this, this and this. 🙂

After my first bite, I was in love with these. 

They are gooey, creamy, sweet, crunchy, nutty and buttery. The coconut, chocolate and almonds are such a wonderful trifecta and with the sweetened condensed milk and the shortbread crust, it doesn’t get much better than this.  

Just thinking about them, makes my mouth water.  Mmmm-Mmmm Good!

These are really popular for potlucks, bake-sales, picnics and barbeques and if nuts aren’t your thing, leave them out! 

But give these Ultimate Almond Joy Magic Bars a try!!  Amazing!!

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Ultimate Almond Joy Magic Bars

Ultimate Almond Joy Magic Bars for the win! These delicious, gooey magic bars consist of a buttery, shortbread cookie crust, chopped almonds, a rich coconut and sweetened condensed-based filling and a delicious layer of dark and milk chocolate chips!

Cook Time35 mins

Author: Kim Lange

Ingredients

For the Crust

• 1 ½ sticks or 12 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

For the Bars

• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1½ cups coarsely chopped almonds
• 1½ cups shredded coconut
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to hang over all sides.
• Using a mixer, on medium speed, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy a couple of minutes.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine.
• Add the flour and mix on low speed until crumbly.
• Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer.
• Bake until the edges are light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and sprinkle the chopped almonds over the crust, and top with the shredded coconut.
• Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over top, then sprinkle the chocolate chips and return to the oven 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are light brown .
• Transfer to baking rack and cool completely.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Notes

The bars can be kept at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze Magic bars, just thaw the cookies for a few hours in the fridge before serving