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!
You May Also Like: Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
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!)
These look awesome! I love traditional magic bars, but not all the calories that are in them! Will be trying!
Could you please tell me where you got that shirt? Its so cute! 🙂
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 🙂
Great with hot chocolate or cappuccino. Looks so delicious.
Hi these do look great. U probably hate hearing about substitutions, but Graham crackers. Not happening.
Grain free completely. Any other thoughts?
Ty!
Almond flour crust! Try this one: https://lett-trim.today/2016/04/11/girl-scout-cookie-peanut-butter-tagalong-bars-vegan/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I’m grain free as well. I use almond flour (Red Mill). Just mix the maple syrup in with the almond flour and press into the bottom of the pan.
Thanks for sharing your solution, Crystal! When you did this, did the crust hold together? Any issues with the almonds burning? I try to make almond crust pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving every year and every year my family ends up scraping the pie out of blackened almond crust :-p
those look awesome! these used to be a favorite but the thought of all that sweetness just makes me shudder. I was wondering about the dates and if i could substitute something else for those such as dried cranberries or apricots. do you think that would work? thanks
Sure they would!
I found a few more guilt free ones
First of all, I love your recipes!! I make something at least weekly! I made these today and the crust became very mushy. I guess I expected a little crunch. Are they supposed to have some substance to the crust? Maybe did something wrong or any suggestions?
Thank you! And keep up the awesome work Katie!
Hmm no the crust IS supposed to be a soft but firm crust, not crunchy, so you did it correctly. If you want it crunchier, maybe add a little oil to the graham crackers? It would up the calories though. Personally I prefer a softer crust!
Jason
Made these today and add melted vegan “butter” thinking it would form the crust
It was just a soft goo
Prebake it maybe?
I added chopped dates, dried-cherries, walnuts. has potential but crust has issues.
It’s because there’s no butter or oil like there usually is in the crumb crusts; I didn’t like the crust that much either so next time I’m going to make a regular crumb crust.
I made these the same day I got the email! They are very close to the ones we make which use Nutter Butters for the crust. These tasted the same except, of course, for the crust, so next time I’m going to do the standard graham cracker crust (with butter) and mix peanut butter or PB2 into it!
Which brand of chocolate chips do you use??
This is Katie’s go-to, and we buy in bulk on iherb for the best price. However, any brand of chocolate chips will work here, so feel free to use your favorite! https://www.iherb.com/pr/Enjoy-Life-Foods-Mini-Chips-Semi-Sweet-Chocolate-10-oz-283-g/32772?rcode=KAT9868
Jason (media relations)
Tried to make these last night as they sound amazing and Katie’s recipes have never let me down. Not sure what I did wrong (the recipe is so simple!) but this came out like mush. Didn’t really firm up at all! I was was doubtful from the start that the crust would hold
Together without butter or oil, and that the coconut milk could hold the bars together (I used full
Fat as recommended)
Hi, just refrigerate them overnight and they firm up! Let us know if that works for you!
Jason
Thanks for the tip! Mine needed a few hours of refrigeration but they firmed up and were perfect by the time I went to serve them!
Great recipe, will definitely be making it again!
Made the this afternoon and they are yummy!
I made them with the homemade graham crackers from the site (which were super easy to make) because I forgot to buy s box.
That magic bars looks tasty and easy to cook. My family love eating chocolate and I’ve been wondering on how to make it into a more healthy dessert such as cookies and I found it here, thank you so much Katie =). If you guys want to cook and eat more dessert without feeling guilty also help you to lose weight come and visit me here http://bit.ly/2DV4l0m