Christmas Magic Bars - 7 Layer Bars Holiday Recipe

There is just something magical in making Christmas Magic Bars. It could be the name or it could be all the wonderful layers of ingredients combined to make a delicious cookie bar perfect for the holidays.

You've likely made or even enjoyed a bite of the Traditional Magic Cookie Bars recipe found on a can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. I like to call them Hello Dolly Bars and they are of course a FAVORITE cookie recipe.

I'm excited to share Christmas Magic Bars with you a recipe from Life Currents. This recipe is fantastic, with chocolate, peppermint, nuts and more you are sure to be in the Christmas Spirit with just one bite.

Freaky Friday is a blog hop where we make recipes from fellow blogger friends! And is hosted by Michaela from An Affair From The Heart who put it all together. Please make sure to check out the other fantastic blog hop recipes linked in the bottom of this post.

It's Freaky Friday on the Blog, which means a group of fellow bloggers and I all choose a recipe from each other to make and share. Debi from Life Currents shares wonderful recipes that are mostly vegetarian. So make sure to take a peek. I'll share more about Debi below.

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Shopping List for Peppermint Magic Bars

Crust. The crust is made from chocolate cookie crumbs. Think Oreo's but any chocolate cookies crushed will work great! Mixed with Butter and Peppermint Extract for a truly fantastic base to this recipe.

Layers. Chocolate Chips (Semi Sweet), Almond Slivers, Peppermint Bark Chunks, Coconut and of course Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Topping. Crushed Peppermints. It's an added touch that is fantastic!

Kitchen Supplies Needed

I like to use a 9x13 glass dish for baking seven layer bars or a ¼ sheet baking sheet.

How to make Christmas Magic Bars

Preheat the oven to 350 F Degrees. Spray baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Use a 9x13 baking dish or ¼ baking sheet.

Gather all the ingredients needed so you don't leave anything out and make sure to grab a medium size mixing bowl to make the cookie crust in. Some of my favorite mixing bowls are Corel Glass Mixing Bowls. I love all the difference sizes.

Cookie Crumb Crust

Add melted butter and peppermint extract to chocolate cookie crumbs. You can even substitute chocolate graham cracker crumbs if you wish. Mix these ingredients all together before pressing into bottom of prepared baking dish.

Use the back of a fork to press cookie crumbs forming a crust in bottom of the pan.

I know what you are thinking. This can't be enough for a good crust. Trust me here. I feel your pain. But this is the perfect amount for this recipe.

You don't need a thick layer and in fact the thin layer really is best here.

Layering Magic

The fun part begins by adding the layering ingredients. Start with a layer of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. A great substitution would be dark chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips.

Top the layer of chocolate chips with some Peppermint Bark Chunks. I found these from Ghirardelli. They are a smooth white chocolate chunk loaded with peppermint. Delicious.

Next comes sweetened coconut flakes and slivered almonds. Pour sweetened condensed milk all over the top. It's next to impossible to spread it evenly at this point so make sure as you drizzle you are filling in all the nooks and crannies as evenly as possible.

Layer magic cookie bars evenly so that when cut into bars each bar cookie is loaded with all the yummy flavors.

Bake Christmas Magic Bars under edges are golden and bubbly. Remove from oven and allow to fully cool. Don't try to cut these bad boys too soon. It's a hot delicious mess and next to impossible to remove the bars.

As the bars cool they will harden ever so slightly which makes it possible to lift out and actually hold like a bar cookie when eating. Garnish bars with crushed peppermint candy for an added bonus touch.

Storage

Cookie bars should be stored in an airtight container. I typically leave them in the baking dish and cover with plastic wrap and foil. Cookies will last about a week but always best if enjoyed within 2-3 days

Cookie Exchange or Holiday Party Ideas

I love a good Cookie Exchange and these Christmas Magic Bars are always a hit. It's the time of year when sharing Christmas cookies is not only acceptable, it's encouraged! So make up a batch and bring to your work Christmas Party this Christmas season.

A Cookie Exchange is where a group gathers all bringing cookies to exchange with one another. There are a variety of rules that each party host sets but essentially you bring a large amount of cookies and you swap cookies with others at the party.

You come home with a variety of Christmas Cookies or Bars or Treats which are PERFECT to making Holiday Cookie Trays to deliver to friends and family. Of course you can enjoy some of the cookies yourself too.

Substitution Ideas or Additions for Christmas Magic Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chips. Try a layer Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Dark Chocolate Chips. Even try White Chocolate Chips for fun too.

Cookie Crust. Oreo Cookie crumbs are ideal for the Oreo crust. Any chocolate cookie can be crushed into cookie crumbs and used. Graham Crackers can also be found in Chocolate flavor and used for this recipe too.

Additions. Christmas M&M candies are also a fun addition with the red and green M&M's. Or add a few Oreo Cookies pieces on top as well. Holiday Sprinkles could also be fun and great idea too.

Garnish. The recipe calls for crushed candy peppermint. I love to add a white chocolate drizzle to the cooled bars before adding the peppermint. It helps keep the peppermint pieces in place too and it's delicious.

Family’s Favorites

7-layer bars can be made in so many ways. We also love this Magic Cookie Bar recipe made with cranberries and chocolate from Devour Dinner. It has a buttery graham cracker crust for an easy holiday dessert and perfect treat you will love.

Freaky Friday Christmas Cookie Exchange

Let me tell you more about Debi from Life Currents. Debi has a love of life and food and shares all of them on her website. One of her favorite recipes is a Mermaid Cheesecake that I know my little grand daughter would adore.

She is a great resource for preserving foods, and staying healthy. She knows a thing or two about preparing fish as well. Her blog is mainly about food but she does occasionally throw in additional topics that are near and dear to her.

I hope you will hop on over to Life Currents and check out Debi's recipes. I know you will find a recipe or two that catches your eye.

See all of our 2022 Freaky Friday Holiday Cookie Exchange Recipes

Hosted by - An Affair from the Heart

1. An Affair from the Heart - Scotcheroo Pinwheels
2. Best Cookie Recipes - Christmas Magic Bars
3. Family Around the Table - Snickerdoodle Bars
4. Feast + West - Lemon Drop Cookies
5. The Foodie Affair - Christmas Oreo Balls
6. Fresh April Flours - Hot Cocoa Cookies
7. Hostess at Heart - Chocolate Bark
8. Kathryn's Kitchen Blog - Cookies and Cream Cookie Recipe
9. Life Currents - Almond Meltaways Cookies
10. The Speckled Palate - Snowball Cookies
11. Sue Bee Homemaker - Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies 
12. Take Two Tapas - Avalanche Cookies 
13. The Wimpy Vegetarian - Easy Christmas Butter Cookies