Easy Gingerbread Magic Cookie Bars
Gingerbread Magic Cookie Bars take a classic cookie and elevate the flavor for the Christmas season with festive spices already in the mix.
These Easy Gingerbread Magic Cookie Bars are the perfect addition to your holiday baking! Sweet and spicy gingerbread paired with butterscotch chips, dried cranberries, coconut, and crunchy pecans makes these bars truly magical.
If you’ve never made a magic cookie bar, you’re truly missing out!
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Ingredients needed for Gingerbread Magic Cookie Bars
The flavor of gingerbread is the star of the show in these easy-to-assemble holiday bars. It starts with a seasonal cookie mix that you’re probably going to want to stock up on!
- Gingerbread Cookie Mix – I used Betty Crocker.
- Butter, Water, Egg called for on the cookie mix package.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Not evaporated.
- Butterscotch Baking Chips – A great way to use up leftovers.
- Pecans – It’s totally fine to omit them if there are nut allergies.
- Coconut – Flaked and sweetened.
- Dried Cranberries – They add a delightful burst of tartness.
Don’t spray the pan but rather line it with aluminium foil. When ready to cut the bars, gently lift the foil overhang and place on a cutting board to cut into bars.
Other names for magic cookie bars
You may know of this classic treat by another name such as Hello Dolly bars, 7 Layer Bars, or 5 Layer Bars.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This recipe starts with a seasonal cookie mix making it easy.
- You can totally customize it for your tastes. Scroll to the Substitutions.
- It’s so easy for kids can help with pressing the dough and scattering the toppings.
- Your house smells wonderful while they bake.
- The flavor of gingerbread really shines and makes this a holiday treat.
Pro Tip:
Gently press the toppings into the sweetened condensed milk so they don’t fall off when you cut the bars.
How do you store magic cookie bars?
I personally store magic bars on the counter. It is perfectly OK to refrigerate them too.
Tips and Substitutions
- Use your hands to press the cookie dough into the prepared pan. It’s the easiest way to get it even.
- If you’re not a fan of butterscotch chips you can substitute white chocolate chips.
- Use walnuts instead of pecans or you can omit nuts altogether.
- Substitute dried cherries for the dried cranberries.
Magic Cookie Bar Recipe Variations
Magic cookie bars can have just about any crust but the most popular varieties are shortbread or graham cracker.
Toppings run the gamut from chocolate chips to white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, and butterscotch chips. Nuts, coconut, dried cherries, or dried cranberries are also great options.
Coconut is often a standard in these types of magic cookie bars.
These gingerbread magic cookie bars have next-level flavor over the traditional variety.
More tasty magic bar recipes
- Magic Coconut Bars – This recipe has a traditional graham cracker crust.
- Fall Magic Bars – Fall flavors in this classic treat.
- Salted Caramel Apple Magic Cookie Bars – Serious Autumn Yum!
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Gingerbread Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 pouch 1 lb 1.5 oz gingerbread cookie mix
- Butter water, and egg called for on the cookie mix package
- 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
- 1 1/2 cups butterscotch baking chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup flaked coconut
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom of a 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, water, and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough evenly in the bottom of the pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Pour condensed milk evenly over the surface.
- Sprinkle butterscotch baking chips, pecans, cranberries, and coconut evenly over top.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until bubbling along the edges and the coconut is lightly toasted.
- Cool completely on a cooling rack, for about 2 hours. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.
Meet Ellen
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Hi, I’m Ellen and welcome to Family Around the Table where I share recipes the whole family will enjoy. They are also easy to make. With 20 years of experience in food writing and recipe creation, you will surely find something for everyone. Read more by clicking About Ellen below.
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I love these Gingerbread Magic Bars so much! I want to make these again for Christmas and gift them to our friends!
Just look at all of those goodies! How could anyone resist???