These easy Vegan Magic Cookie Bars are twice as enchanted, made without sweetened condensed but still all the same delicious sweet layers!
There are many recipes I consider magical…
Cake with just TWO ingredients and no baking? Magic.
Breakfast food turned dreamy ice cream base? Magic.
Crave-worthy cupcakes without flour/sugar/oil/nuts/gluten? Magic.
Color changing pancakes? Magic.
And there was undeniably magic involved here.
But this time I’m not just making it up, the word magic is actually part of the official title of these bars. Although my version might as well be called Magical Magic Cookie Bars because they have a fruity secret ingredient that makes them easier and healthier and sweetened condensed milk free.
If you are not familiar with Magic Cookie Bars, allow me to play google for a moment and get you up to speed.
It starts with a buttery crust (usually graham cracker). The crust is topped with chocolate chips + chopped nuts + shredded coconut. Then all of that goodness is drowned with sweetened condensed milk and baked so everything mixes and melts and then sets in an almost cream-cheese-brownie-like top layer. Oh and let’s not forget about the browning/caramelization that happens on top thanks to the sweetened part of condensed milk.
They are meant to be really rich and gooey–the magic part perhaps referring to how easy but decadent they are? I’m not actually sure. They go by other names too, like 7 Layer Bars (beats me, I only count 5) or Hello Dolly Bars.
So taking that delicious concept I put a healthier vegan spin on it with a few minor ingredient swaps and one big fruity twist!
Graham cracker crust → oil-free oat OR almond crust.
Tracking down a box of gluten-free and vegan graham crackers is quite the treasure hunt, so I skipped them completely and came up with two homemade crust options 1) oat based and 2) grain-free made with almond flour. Both are really easy and oil-free, using maple syrup as the binder.
The almond flour version is my personal favorite because it browns and tastes so buttery-rich like a shortbread crust. Plus it’s grain-free. But the oat version has wonderful texture and flavor too, and makes for a good low-fat nut-free option.
Chocolate chips + shredded coconut + nuts.
Nothing much to change here, I just swapped in my favorite brands/varieties. For the chocolate chips I used Enjoy Life minis (or full-size works too). For the coconut I used Let’s Do Organic unsweetened coconut shreds, although looking back the toasted kind might have been even yummier. And for the nuts I opted for pecans, but feel free to use any kind you like.
Sweetened condensed milk → BANANA!
The biggest swap surprise of the entire recipe, and it worked even better than I expected even. Same texture, same color, and the sugars even caramelize as the bars bake making that top layer extra sweet as it should be.
There are many vegan recipes out there for Magic Cookie Bars that call for boiling coconut milk and coconut sugar for 15+ minutes to create homemade dairy-free sweetened condensed milk. But that sounds like a lot of work for what is supposed to be an easy dessert. Blending up 3 ripe bananas is much faster and naturally sweetened too.
The pan may seem like a banana soup mess of mix-ins when you slide it into the oven, but after 40 minutes of baking and chilling overnight, the banana sets perfectly making for a sturdy slice-able bar.
Important tip! Be sure to pour your banana puree on top of the crust and then add the chips and nuts and coconut, not the other way around. Been there, done that, big mess. Because getting the mix-ins to sink into the banana is a messy mission, while getting the banana puree to rise to the top of the mix-ins by gently pressing is much easier.
Happy Magic Magic Cookie Bar making!
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Vegan Magic Cookie Bars
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 8 bars 1x
Description
These easy Vegan Magic Cookie Bars are twice as enchanted, made without sweetened condensed but still all the same delicious sweet layers!
Ingredients
Oat Crust Option
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
Almond Crust Option (grain-free)
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 2–3 tbsp maple syrup
Top Layer
- 3 ripe bananas
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts ((I used pecans, but any will work))
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- For the oat crust, blend the oats on low speed to break into small pieces. Slowly pour in the maple syrup with the blender on until it clumps to form a sticky chunky texture.
- For the almond crust, combine the almond flour and maple syrup in a bowl. Mix to create a sticky and clumpy dough that holds together when pressed. Add 1 tbsp water if it seems too dry.
- Press the crust into a baking dish lined with parchment paper (mine was 8×4″). Bake for 15 minutes at 350F. Remove from the oven and cool for at least 15 minutes.
- While the crust is cooling, blend the bananas until smooth.
- Pour the banana puree on top of the crust.
- Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut. Gently press down until the banana puree rises up covering everything.
- Bake for 40 minutes at 350F.
- Cool then chill overnight.
- The next day, slice and enjoy! Keep leftovers in the fridge.
[nutrifox id=”10995″]
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Do you put both crusts into the pan at the same time – do you mix them together? Thanks!
Oh sorry for the confusion! It’s just one or the other, I wanted to give a grainfree option but I knew I have some readers who would want the oat version too. So you can pick, I personally prefer the almond flour version😊
These are seriously magical! But I’m pretty sure all of your recipes are <3 always beautiful tooooo!
I've never actually had a magic cookie bar, but they always look so dreamy. These ones even more so knowing how much goodness is up in there!! I have had the new Ben and Jerry's coconut layer cookie ice cream sooooo I think one of these belongs in some ice cream 😉 😉
I like the way your brain works girly, making the coconutty connection from bar straight to BJs🤗 That sounds like a VERY good plan! Magic cookie bar inspired ice cream or just a few of these crumbled up on top of a big ol’ bowl😋😋
Thanks for clarifying – these look amazing!
You literally make my day overtime you post a recipe! How freakin’ insane are these thick, gooey bundles of joy!? I am obsessed with 7 layer bars but I’m 1093809732589 Percent sure that these are 1 million times better…..and healthier!
Still confused about the SEVEN part of that name (are they trying to be seven layer dip in dessert form, maybe?) but regardless of names that is the best description ever!!! Thanks Rachel😘
7 layers:
1. Butter
2. Graham crackers
3. Sweetened condensed milk
4. Chocolate chips
5. Butterscotch chips
6. Coconut
7. Pecans/walnuts
Ahh the crust counts as two…very tricky. And yes I did see a few recipes that use the butterscotch chips too. Thanks for explaining Karen!
I’m Canadian and 7 layer bars/hello dolly bars are very popular in Canada! I grew up with these bars at every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think each person makes them a little differently but my grandma’s 7 layers included butter, graham crackers, pecans, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Delicious!
I’m plant-based now and have been dying for a good 7 layer bar recipe. I tried one with a non-dairy coconut milk caramel, but didn’t love them so I will definitely be trying your recipe this year! Thank you!
They do seem to have slight variations in name and ingredients depending on where you are from and who you ask 🙂 Well I hope these hit the mark Danielle, can’t wait to hear what you think!
Oh-em-eff-gee. I’m leaving work to bake these. If these are truly magical, I won’t get fired. Oh, who cares?
★★★★★
I know it took me a while to reply, but I read this yesterday and legitimately laughed out loud😂😂 Thanks for making my monday! And I hope you like them too😊
I loved how this post started out! If there’s one thing that Mondays need, it’s MAGIC! 🙂 I, too, consider all of those exceptional FoF recipe magic. 🙂 And obviously these magic cookie bars are magical in more ways than we could begin to count. And YES on the GFV graham crackers… they are ridiculously hard to find. Meanwhile, it’s so cool, but totally not surprising that you were able to skip the whole condensed milk/boiling anything bc honestly who wants to do that part. 🙂 These bars are just the perfect thickness to get me through a case of the Mondays! Now what can I do about getting an extra large (i.e. double) batch of these beauties? 🙂 xoxo
Double batch–of course!! Hey maybe just for funnsies I’ll make it a double LAYER batch, there are two crust options after all and I want you to be able to try both so…🤔 That would only take like 3 hours to bake thoroughly😂 #magicalmondays <- that should be a thing, am I right?! Thanks sweet friend <3
Have you made these with any other type of gluten free flour. I can’t do almonds and my son can’t do oats. 🙁 They look super yummy! I guess I can make both. One batch for the kids and one for me 🙂
Oh no, and I thought I’d covered everything with those two options! I haven’t tested any others, but I can tell you that any nut flour/meal will work just fine in place of the almonds if you can handle other nuts. That would be my best recommendation. Otherwise quinoa flakes in place of the rolled oats would work too. I hope one of those ideas could work for you, let me know if not and I can brainstorm further!
Great recipe, sounds yummy! I basically made this the other day but with a few tweaks. I blended almond flour with dates and a bit of sea salt for the crust. I also didn’t bake it. Then instead of bananas I made sweetened condensed coconut milk by just reducing a can of full fat coconut milk down with some maple syrup, then layed coconut and chips on top (would have done almonds too but ran out). I also did mine in a muffin tin. Then stored in the fridge to bring it all together! I will have to try your version next!
Love the dates blended with the flour and the no-bake idea in a muffin tin! So glad you shared your great ideas, Matti! Love how your recipes bring together such great comments with your tweaks, Natalie!
★★★★★
I love hearing how others tweak and adjust the recipes too, always great for ideas🤗
I think I can believe in magic again!!! , Thank you!!
Hehe love it! Happy to restore the confidence with cookie magic 🙂
SO MUCH MAGIC GOING ON HERE. And I love it! First of all, so cool that there are two crust options. I’m sure the almond is super crumbly (in a good way) and divine, while the oat is probably a little heartier but so perfectly chewy. Guess I’ll have to make two batches, ya know, just to determine which crust I prefer 🙂 But either way I’m IN LOVE with your idea of using a banana instead of the sweetened condensed milk! To play even more off the name, it is just downright magical what happens to bananas at high heat. So caramely and fragrant and altogether sweet and perfect! These look amazing, Natalie. Hope your week is as magical as these gems!!
Hehe yes I think 2 batches to thoroughly test all the options is definitely called for 😀 I thought you’d like the banana bit–they can do EVERYTHING!!!
I have to order my vegan graham crackers from Sweet & Sara they might even be GF.
I’m wondering if you have ever used the vegan sweetened condensed milk instead of banana??
Can’t wait to try this. It’s been years since I’ve had these cookies.
Oh yeah, I do remember knowing once upon a time that Sweet and Sara made graham crackers too! I think I just get too distracted by the marshmallows and rice krispy treats anytime I peruse that site to see anything else lol 😀 I have a can of coconut sweetened condensed milk in my pantry actually but have yet to try it. I see no reason why it wouldn’t work though!
Nabisco Grahams are vegan, and pretty easy to find at major grocery stores.
They contain palm oil, unfortunately, but no honey or other animal product. Also made with whole wheat.
I did not know that, thanks for sharing!
Yesssss!!! Thank you soooo much for this recipe. I actually just did a search for a good HCLF version of this. We called them Dream Bars, but I’ve heard Magic Bars also. Yum, it looks like you did another great job with this one. Can’t wait to try it. I love your site!!
Dream bars–I like that name too, need to add it to the possible names list 🙂 The world needed a healthy version of these delicious things, I hope you enjoy them too!
My absolute childhood favourite! I used to make these as a kid with my aunt and have so many wonderful memories but it’s been years and years since I’ve had one and I can’t wait to give these a go! You’re magic Nat! Thank you 🙂
Aw I love desserts that come with happy nostalgia like that! Thanks for checking them out Ashley, and I hope you have a chance to try them soon 🙂
These are all my favorite foods in one magic bar! What a dream creation, Natalie. It’s not even breakfast here and I’m already hungry for these. Love all your recipes.
Right!? Sprinkling on all the nuts/chocolate/coconut I was like no wonder these are so good! Haha the struggle to not eat chocolate first when you spend too much time on the internet early in the morning 😀 Thanks Nisha!