With layers of sweet coconut and chocolate, these lightened-up and secretly vegan magic bars will be devoured in seconds!
Vegan seven layer magic bars
Chances are you’ve probably seen at least one version of this traditional potluck favorite dessert, which goes by many names:
Hello Dolly Bars, Coconut Dream Bars, Seven Layer Bars, Magic Cookie Bars, Coconut Magic Squares…
Over the years, these bars have been one of the most frequent recipe requests I’ve gotten from readers, and it’s not hard to see why the recipe is so popular!
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A soft graham cracker crust topped with layers of coconut and chocolate makes the bars truly as magical as their title suggests.
And while traditional magic square recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and at least a third cup of butter, I’ve cut all of that out in this new healthier and vegan recipe… and absolutely no one I’ve ever served them to has noticed a difference!
Still craving chocolate? Try these Chocolate Truffles
With just five main ingredients, the magic bars are ridiculously easy to prepare.
The question of what to make for your Super Bowl party this weekend?
Solved, you should definitely make these.
Vegan magic bars recipe video
Watch the step by step video – above.
I first made these magic squares for a rooftop party last summer and have been holding onto the recipe ever since, waiting for the perfect time to send it out into the world.
Figured now is as good a time as any, so here they finally are…
I hope you will love them as much as we do!
Vegan Magic Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs (9 cookie sheets OR for grain free, make Keto Magic Bars instead)
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup or sugar of choice, or pinch uncut stevia
- if using stevia, add 2 tbsp water
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup finely chopped dates OR more chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts, optional
- 2/3 cup full-fat shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
- 1 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 3 tbsp oil or buttery spread, optional
Instructions
- *Some of the readers who've made this recipe have loved the bars as-is, but a few readers asked how to make the crust more like traditional Magic Square crust. If you want a crust that is less soft, just include the optional 3 tbsp oil or buttery spread with the graham cracker crumbs before pressing down.Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper going a little up each side. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a bowl, toss the graham cracker crumbs with the sweetener (and water if using stevia), then transfer evenly to the bottom of the prepared pan. Press down. Sprinkle the chocolate chips, dates, coconut, and optional nuts over top. Now evenly pour the coconut milk over top. Place in the oven. Bake 33 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit 10-15 minutes to firm up. (If still too soft for some reason, they also get much firmer if you refrigerate overnight.) Slice into bars, wiping the knife after each cut.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
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Ecfinn says
I make these but I use corn flake crumbs instead of graham crackers (tastes better, more of a salty/savory thing going on and they are naturally vegan). Also, my recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk poured over the chips and coconut, but sweetened condensed coconut milk works great. It’s a veganized version of an old recipe.
Isabella Amaya says
LOVE this recipe! I’ve made it many times. It always turns out delicious. I love that I can have a treat without having to feel guilty. A few times I’ve forgotten to add in the sweetener to the graham cracker crumbs, and it still turns out great.
Marcia says
Guess I’ll have to try the keto crust, unless you can tell me what kind of graham crackers don’t contain honey?
marilyn webb says
I have found graham crackers without honey but it’s not easy! UGH. Once, I even made my own graham crackers.
Peyton says
These were pretty good! The only thing I would do is to add a sweetener to the coconut milk because it was a little overpowering. I love them frozen!
Sue Langlois says
They are fantastic. we justv Love them. So easy to make.
Mandy says
I like to add lots of chopped nuts like pecans, cashews, hazelnuts. I also rough chop a Lindt dark chocolate bar instead of choc chips ( I’ve never found ones I like) and for a 50’s feel, mixed glace cherries in red and green!!!! So yummy. And pretty! Not healthy but a definitely easy and tasty dessert!
Jane says
I accidentally rated 4 stars because I have fat fingers and I was trying to read the recipe on my phone 😭 This recipe had 5 full stars before and now has 4.9, I am so sorry!!! I have not even tried this recipe, I was just looking at it. I’m sure it’s 5-star quality!
CCK Media Team says
Hi Jane, it actually looks like there are five stars with your rating, so no worries at all! 😁
Nicole says
I made this today and they’re amazing! It took no time to make and the results were fantastic. I’ll definitely be making these again!
Mia w says
I made These last night and put them in the fridge overnight to firm up. They are so good. Thank you for this recipe. Only change I made Was I used Pam’s gluten free graham cracker crust and they aren’t vegan but everything else I used was. I used Pecans for the nuts choice. I may Next time add a little bit of the coconut Milk to the crust vs just the top. I cant Stop eating this though which is the problem lol.
Tara says
Absolutely floored by how good these were. I figured without sweetened condensed milk they just wouldn’t compare but I needed a vegan dessert for friends. I personally eat keto and only saw just how you have a vegan keep version. I can’t wait to try that! But I did sample these and oh oh Lanta is was hard not to eat more. So good!
CCK Media Team says
This makes us so happy 🙂