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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(NO Flour Required!)
I love the combination of coconut and chocolate. I’ve seen magic bar recipes in the past, and they’re always packed with so much sugar and butter. This looks like a much tastier and healthier alternative.
omg i CANNOT wait to make these (hopefully this weekend for a superbowl party!) – my boyfriend and i love magic bars, but i can’t bring myself to make them for us because i know how much garbage is in them usually. i love that this recipe is the opposite of that!! thanks for sharing and have a great week 🙂
Love these alternative Hello Dolly bars!
xo,
Em
Omg yes Hello Dolly! My mom made them all the time!!!
I don’t what I did wrong but at 39 minutes into the baking- the coconut milk is still on top as a solid mass and has not allowed the chocolate or coconut layer to reveal themselves. Do you have any advice for what I should do?
These look amazing! I totally need to give them a try!
Paige
AHH SO GOOD!!! Are there any substitutes for the full-fat coconut milk?
Not really, as taking out the coconut would change the flavor of the bars and not make them magic squares. Magic squares are, by definition, a coconut recipe. But Katie has a ton of other coconut-free bars on her site that might work better for you if you want something coconut-free: https://lett-trim.today/category/healthy-blondies-and-bars/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Would it work to use reduced fat coconut milk?
No you need the full amount of fat or the bars will not firm up.
Hmm… I’ve used full fat coconut milk and also manged to drain part of the water out before using it.. maybe I used too much coconut milk still. It’s pretty wet still after 33mins in the oven and resting over 15 mins. Any ideas how I can save this? Thank you! 🙂
Easy save! Just put them in the fridge. Coconut solidifies when chilled! 🙂
These sounds perfect. I love that I have everything in the house to make these. Definitely making them for Super Bowl!
I have everything in the house as well! My last can of coconut milk will go towards this.
Mmmm, what a fun recipe! I think these would be perfect for a Super Bowl party. Then again, I don’t know if I’d be THAT willing to share these! LOL!
Oh gosh you’d BETTER share with me!
Okay to be honest, after making tons of your recipes, this one might be the one I’m most excited about EVER!!! I love these things and now I can have them again. I’m a very, very happy person right now!
I jyst made them for Super Bowl and they were so flippin amazing! I like them even better than the originals because they are not as sugar coma sweet, they’re just right! Another very very happy person over here 🙂 🙂
Just, not jyst
I am making these tonight. What a great idea. Thanks so very much.
Hi Katie, I just want to take an opportunity to say thank you. I am a mom of two and have been struggling with autoimmune issues for almost three years. I am on a autoimmune diet. I am not always able to follow your ingredients exactly but generally can sub in ingredients that work with my diet and get a decent result. It can be a bit depressing being put on strict diets for health reasons. Your blog and recipes inspire me to get creative and still enjoy food. My family thanks you for being so generous with your recipes!!!
Hi Crystal! Thank you so much for such kind words… and for making the recipes. I’m glad they can help, even if in a small way. Sending good thoughts and hugs 🙂