April 26, 2015

Almond Joy Magic Cookie Bars

These are one of the BEST magic cookie bars you will every put in your mouth.  After just one bite, you will be in Heaven.   
Explain this to me . . . why is it that on a weekday, when my alarm goes off and it's time to get up for work, I am dead tired, but when the weekend rolls around and I can't wait to sleep in, my eyes pop open (without an alarm) at the same time as the weekday and I am wide awake????  It doesn't make sense.  I just want to sleep in until at least 9 a.m. please :) 

Saturday morning, I was wide awake at 7 a.m.  Maybe I was too anxious to try out this new recipe I had been planning all week.  

We had treats at work last Tuesday and one of my co-workers brought in Magic Layer Bars.  I LOVE her Magic Layer Bars.  BUT . . . I got to thinking.  How about an Almond Joy version and use chocolate graham crackers instead of regular, almonds instead of pecans and add loads of coconut.  

I wanted a thick bar and I remembered pinning Sally's Ultimate Magic Cookie Bars awhile back.  Rather than using a graham cracker crust, she created a graham cracker cookie crust.  BEST DECISION EVER, SALLY.  The crust is thick and soft and chewy and is guaranteed to become a base of many recipes to come. 

The result is DIVINE, DECADENT, SINFUL, RICH, AMAZING, IRRESISTIBLE.  Okay, okay, so I really really loved these bars. They totally reminded me of an Almond Joy.  You need to try this recipe ASAP.        
Almond Joy Magic Cookie Bars
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

Cookie Crust:
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chocolate graham cracker crumbs (not quite 9 full-sheet crackers)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Layers:
3/4 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 3/4 c. shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 c. sliced almonds
about 12 oz. sweetened condensed milk (not quite one can)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal and spray with cooking spray; set aside.  For the Crust: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar, using a hand mixer, until smooth and creamy.  Add the vanilla and egg and mix until combined.  Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt and mix until fully combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Press graham cracker dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan.  Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with the mini chocolate chips (reserving a small amount), coconut and sliced almonds.  Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top and sprinkle with reserved mini chocolate chips.  Remember the pan is hot and return to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until set (I baked mine for about 26 minutes).  Loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil halfway through baking time to prevent the coconut and almonds from browning and rotate the pan in the oven.  

Allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes and then stick in the refrigerator to cool all the way through (the bottom of the pan will be cold).   Cut into 9-12 squares.  DO NOT cut the bars while they are still warm or the gooey filling will run all over the place.

Jenn's Notes: I cut mine into 9 bars, but since they are pretty rich, I think 12 bars would be perfect.

Base Recipe adapted from: Sally's Baking Addiction


Linked up at Weekend Potluck!


31 comments:

  1. I guess many of us have such problem in the mornings :D
    These bars definitely look like a great treat..

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    1. Just saw the recipe...my favorite food group...chocolate and coconut...not to take away from the preparation but I am going to buy a roll of cookie dough from the refrigerator section and skip part one and go right on to part two.....sorry just lazy....but outcome the same ~~!~!~!~!

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  2. These look irresistible!! Magic cookie bars are some of my favorites and I always ate them growing up and this Almond Joy twist sounds too good.

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    1. They have become one of my favorites too!! Thanks.

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  3. OH DEAR!! These sound exactly as you described!! Pinning to try!!

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  4. These bars look so amazingly good!

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  5. I love Almond Joy anything. These cookie bars look outrageously good...and I would feel the same even if they weren't called "Almond Joy". :)

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  6. Jenn, I just had to stop by and tell you, I made these for my son's 15th birthday celebration last night. OMG! Amazing! I can honestly say, as of now, this is my all time favorite Pinterest find and dessert bar recipe ever. Not kidding. I have never said that to anyone. Ha! I wish I could have taken a picture of his first bite face to share with you. It was priceless. Huge smile! We don't usually make coconut things because he and I are the only ones that like it and we are a family of 7. But I figured he should have what he loves on his birthday. It was the absolute perfect choice. Okay, I am totally rambling here. I am just so happy! Thank you!! www.flavorfare.com

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    1. OMG!!!!! That is so awesome - I am so glad you guys liked them :) Thanks for letting me know.

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    2. Amazing... Eating it now.

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  7. Oh my! I could eat an entire pan of these like it's nobodies buisness! Looks.SO.Good! Totally drooling and definitely pinning♡

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  8. So decadent! Coming from The Country Cook Link Up Party!

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  9. I will try these very soon they look so wonderful

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  10. I can't wait to try these. They sound amazing. I love anything with coconut and almond joy is one of my favorite candy bars.

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  11. These are in my oven now! I can't wait to try them.

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  12. Is there a way to double the recipe? I just know these will be gone in a hot second! :)

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  13. I made these bars yesterday and they were amazing! Thank you for the great recipe.

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  14. I couldn't find chocolate graham crackers where I live, so I'm hoping to substitute them with oreo crumbs :/ I know it won't be the same but hoping it works. Anyone else have experience with a substitute?

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    1. I couldn't find chocolate graham crackers either but I found chocolate teddy grahams... do you have those??

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  15. I wish I could pin it! Looks amazing!

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  16. How do you store them? In the refrigerator or room temperature?

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  17. I have had these pinned for a while, and have been dying to make them. Unfortunately no one in my house likes coconut :( I made them last night to bring into work and they were a hit! Thank you for the great recipe!

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    1. That's so good to hear. Thanks for letting me know!

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  18. Best recipie as it shoes in pic it's exactly same when I took it out of the oven .I brought that to my work n everyone loves it .

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  19. Best recipie as it shoes in pic it's exactly same when I took it out of the oven .I brought that to my work n everyone loves it .

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  20. I added a pin it link above the first image on the post. I hope that works . . .

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  21. I have mine in oven now cant wait to try them thank you Germaine

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