It is easy to make this traditional holiday treat gluten free by switching out the graham crumbs.  Magic Cookie Bars were always on our Christmas dessert trays growing up so this year I decided to add them to mine!

These dessert bars are loaded with flavour, colour and texture.

Top them with your favourite holiday fruit or fruit mix and they will be pleasing to the eye as well as the palate.

This recipe can yield 24 to 30 squares depending on how you cut them up.  The size will depend on your occasion.

Enjoy every mouthful of this delicious dessert square.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!

To begin I dumped some softened butter and gluten free graham crumbs into a mixing bowl and mixed them together well. 

Next I lined a 9″x13″ pan with parchment paper and sprayed it with cooking spray.

I scraped the graham crumbs into the prepared pan.

I pressed the graham crumbs down into the pan with a fork.

Then I chopped up some maraschino cherries.

For the next layer I poured sweetened condensed milk over top of the graham crust.

I followed this up with some semi sweet chocolate chips.

Then I sprinkled some unsweetened shredded coconut on top of the chocolate chips.

For my last layer I sprinkled on the cut up maraschino cherries.  You could also use a mixture of red and green cherries or use some mixed fruit instead.

Some people may like to add their favourite chopped nuts on top as well.

Once my layers were complete I baked the squares in a preheated 350F oven for 30 –  35 minutes or until it was starting to brown.  Some people might like tto brown the whole square but we prefer it brown around the edges.

After removing the squares from the oven I allowed them to cool completely in the baking pan.

Once cooled I lifted the bars out using the parchment paper.

Cut up this dessert recipe to suit your needs.  I usually get between 24 and 30 squares.

Magic Cookie Bars are a delicious finish to any meal or add them to a dessert tray for your next festive gathering.

Maybe next time I will add some green or mixed chopped fruit…you are only limited by your imagination!

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Here Are More Squares and Bars For You To Enjoy…

PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make these Magic Cookie Bars:

• Base:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups gluten free graham crumbs
• Top:
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (I used unsweetened)
• 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries (red, green or a mixture)

How to Make Magic Cookie Bars:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 9″x13″ inch square pan with parchment paper.  Grease. Set aside.
2. Chop us the maraschino cherries. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter and gluten free graham crumbs.
4. Press this mixture into bottom of the prepared baking pan.
5. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the base.
6. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the milk.
7. Sprinkle the shredded coconut evenly over the chocolate chips.
8. Spread out the chopped cherries over top of the coconut.
9. Bake in the preheated 350F oven for 30 – 35 minutes or until beginning to brown.
10. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the baking pan.
11. Once cooled use the parchment paper to lift the Magic Cookie Bars out of the pan.
12. Cut into squares. 24 – 30 pieces.
13. Serve and enjoy!