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!)
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
Amazing! I actually like them better than the old recipe for magic bars because they’re less sweet. You won’t be disappointed!
These sound amazing! Do you think they’d ship well domestically? I’m looking for a vegan cookie recipe to make and ship to my sister-in-law. Thank you!
Hmm maybe not because of the chocolate and coconut, might melt.
How will these keep? Can I make them the night before a party and store in fridge ?
The recipe says you can refrigerate them overnight.
what nuts would be good to try?
Walnuts 🙂
Hi, these look amazing! Can I ask what chocolate chips are used for the vegan version please?
This is Katie’s go-to, and we buy in bulk on iherb for the best price (they ship worldwide). There are also many other brands of vegan chocolate chips. This just happens to be her favorite https://www.iherb.com/pr/Enjoy-Life-Foods-Mini-Chips-Semi-Sweet-Chocolate-10-oz-283-g/32772?rcode=KAT9868
Jason (media relations)
Thank you for this recipe!I love the taste of the “regular” bars but my body does not. These were much easier on my blood sugar and approved by the 7 year-old. I also used chocolate graham crackers! I did use reduced fat coconut milk and then put them in the refrigerator overnight and they were just fine.
LOVE, love your Eat, SLeep, Beach Repeat blue tshirt!! Where di you find it??
She got it in Rehoboth, Delaware 🙂
Jason (media relations)
I have everything to make these, but I ran out of coconut milk! ? Can I substitute it with Coconut condensed milk? Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes! Everything I’ve made has been so tasty. ?
Hmm sounds like a fun experiment. Be sure to report back if you try!
I need to male these. My kids would go crazy for them?.
Delicious!! I used GF graham crackers, maple syrup, dates, unsweetened coconut, Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips & soy free vegan butter. These taste just like Magic Bars but they aren’t to sweet like magic bars! Fantastic will make them again!
5 stars! I had a 7 ounce can of vegan sweetened condensed coconut milk so I used that in the place of the full-fat coconut milk. I didn’t think this through because the bottom of the bar was dry due to the less liquid added (my fault), but these were still absolutely delicious!!! I can’t wait to make again.
Katie, these vegan bars are absolutely heavenly… so addictive. I made it last week & they Turned out so yummy. I kept the van of coconut milk in the refrigerator first . Then I made sure I drained the water away from the cream. Then I beat the coconut cream and poured it over the base. It was so Delicious. The base was dry n crisp on the first day. Must try recipe ladies
Oops sorry, I meant ‘can of coconut milk’ not van. Thanks for another delicious recipe Latie