Caramel Coconut Magic Bars - The Carefree Kitchen

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These Caramel Coconut Magic Bars are an irresistible cookie bar, perfect for any party or family gathering. They're made with a layer of oatmeal cookie bars, coconut filling, caramel drizzle, melted chocolate chips, and another layer of oatmeal cookie topping.

how to make coconut caramel magic bars recipe. These are the best caramel coconut cookies.

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Coconut Caramel Magic Bars Recipe
Coconut Magic Bar Ingredients
How to Make Caramel Coconut Magic Bars
Recipe Variations for Coconut Magic Bars
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing and Freezing
Caramel Coconut Magic Bars Recipe
More Of The Best Cookie Bar Recipes

Coconut Caramel Magic Bars Recipe

Don't be intimidated by these layered Caramel Coconut Magic Cookie Bars. These are actually really easy, especially with a couple of shortcuts that can help the process go even quicker.

Bar cookies are definitely the way to go when you need a delicious cookie and you don't want to bake batches. I love this option for holiday baking or whenever I need a dessert for a crowd.

melted caramel in a glass bowl, a layer for these coconut magic bars, Caramel in a glass bowl ready to melt to make 7 layer coconut caramel cookies, aka Coconut Magic Bars.

Coconut Magic Bar Ingredients

Butter - make sure your butter is softened at room temperature or by slowly warming the in the microwave.
Light Brown Sugar - I like the flavor of the brown sugar as well as the chewy texture.
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - make sure to use old fashioned rolled oats as opposed to instant oats or steel cut oats.
All-Purpose Flour - any kind of all purpose flour will work great.
Baking Soda - this keeps the cookie layer soft and chewy.
Salt - sea salt works great.
Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
Shredded Coconut - you will need a 14 oz bag of sweetened shredded coconut. You can toast the coconut to bring out the flavor even more.
Sweetened Condensed Milk - you will need a 14 oz can for this recipe.
Coconut Extract - just a little bit will give a major boost in flavor to the coconut layer.
Caramel Candies - you can use caramel candies for the caramel layer or a caramel sauce such as Mrs. Richardson's brand. If you use the caramel candies, we'll show you below how to melt them in the microwave. If you plan to use Mrs. Richardson's, you will use about ⅔ of the jar. Save the rest for an ice cream Sunday!
Evaporated Milk - this is to help melt the caramels and create more of a caramel sauce. If you like your caramel sauce a little thinner consistency, just add another teaspoon of evaporated milk.
Chocolate Chips - I personally love Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips but any other kind will work.

How to make Coconut Oatmeal Cookies Magic Bars.

How to Make Caramel Coconut Magic Bars

Make the oat cookie mixture. In a mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the oats, flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and slightly crumbly.
Bake for 8 minutes. Pat ¾ of the oatmeal cookie mixture into a 12 x 17" baking pan. Set the remaining cookie dough aside. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool.
Melt the caramels. Melt caramel candies by unwrapping, placing into a microwave safe bowl with 1 teaspoon of evaporated milk, and heating on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir, then heat again for 30 seconds on 50% power and repeat until completely melted.
Mix the coconut layer. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut extract. Stir until combined.
Assemble the layers. When the cookie bars have baked for 8 minutes, take them out of the oven. Drop the coconut mixture in small spoonfuls, or with your hands evenly on the baking sheet. Drizzle the caramel on the coconut layer, sprinkle the chocolate chips on the caramel layer, then sprinkle the remaining ¼ of the cookie mixture on the top.
Bake the magic bars again. Return to the oven to bake for an additional 20-22 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown.
Cool and serve. Let the cookie bars cool to room temperature before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Coconut Caramel Magic Bars on a cutting board. Also known as 7 layer cookies or coconut caramel dream bars.

Recipe Variations for Coconut Magic Bars

If you love these coconut bar cookies, you may also love one of these easy recipe variations.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Magic Bars: Use peanut butter chips or swirl in creamy peanut butter for a peanut buttery layer. Add chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and chopped peanuts for the classic layers.
M&M Magic Bars: Incorporate colorful M&M candies into the layers for a fun and festive twist. Mix in chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.
White Chocolate Raspberry Magic Bars: Substitute white chocolate chips for regular chocolate chips. If desired, you can also add dried or freeze-dried raspberries.
Oreo Magic Bars: Crush Oreo cookies to create a cookie crust. Add layers of white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.
Salted Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars: Use crushed pretzels as the crust for a sweet and salty combination. Drizzle caramel sauce between the layers and sprinkle sea salt on top.
Toffee Almond Magic Bars: Add toffee bits and sliced almonds to the layers for a crunchy texture. Use caramel chips or butterscotch chips for extra sweetness.
Pumpkin Spice Magic Bars: Mix pumpkin pie spice into the graham cracker crust. Add layers of white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, and sweetened condensed milk.
S'mores Magic Bars: Crush graham crackers for the crust, then add layers of chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers for a s'mores-inspired treat.
Nutella Banana Magic Bars: Swirl Nutella into the layers, then add sliced bananas and chopped hazelnuts for a delightful combination.
Candy Cane Magic Bars: Crush candy canes into the layers for a peppermint kick. Add layers of white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best chocolate chips to use in Magic Bars?

I used Guittard Chocolate chips in this recipe. They are the biggest and creamiest chocolate chips I can find. You can certainly use dark chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips. Basically, you really can't go wrong here.

Are Magic Cookie Bars 7 layer bars?

These Coconut Magic Bars are basically 7 layer bars, just without that 7th layer. If you added one more layer, such as slivered almonds, they would be.

Can you freeze Magic Cookie Bars?

Yes! Just let them cool completely then transfer to a freezer bag or another airtight container and store frozen for up to 3 months. Side note: they also taste great straight out of the freezer.

Coconut Caramel Magic Bars in a baking pan with chocolate chips over the top. These are the best coconut caramel cookies.

Storing and Freezing

Room Temperature: store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Refrigerator: these can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: transfer cooled Magic Bars to freezer bags or another airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Coconut Caramel Magic Bars stacked on top of each other

Caramel Coconut Magic Bars Recipe

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings people

Calories 365kcal

Author The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

Oatmeal Cookie Bar

2 cups Butter room temperature
2¼ cups Light Brown Sugar
3 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Coconut Mixture

1 14-oz bag Shredded Coconut sweetened
1 14-oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ teaspoon Coconut Extract

Caramel Layer

1 lb Caramel Candies melted
1 teaspoon Evaporated Milk

Other Ingredients

16 oz Chocolate Chips Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips are the best but just about any will do

Instructions

For The Oatmeal Cookie Bar Layer

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the oats, flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and slightly crumbly.
Pat ¾ of the oatmeal cookie mixture into a 12 x 17" baking pan. Set the remaining cookie dough aside.
Bake in your preheated oven for about 8 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool.

For the Caramel Layer

Melt caramel candies by unwrapping, placing into a microwave safe bowl with 1 teaspoon of evaporated milk, and heating on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir, then heat again for 30 seconds on 50% power and repeat until completely melted.

For the Coconut Layer

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut extract. Stir until combined.

To Assemble

When the cookie bars have baked for 8 minutes, take them out of the oven. Drop the coconut mixture in small spoonfuls, or with your hands evenly on the baking sheet.
Drizzle the caramel on the coconut layer, sprinkle the chocolate chips on the caramel layer, then sprinkle the remaining ¼ of the cookie mixture on the top.
Return to the oven to bake for an additional 20-22 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown.
Let the cookie bars cool to room temperature before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition

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These Coconut Caramel Magic Bars are irresistible! They are oatmeal cookie bars with a layer of coconut filling, caramel drizzle and another layer of oatmeal cookie topping. They are an incredible cookie bar, perfect for any party or family gathering!

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