Caramel Apple Magic Bars are easier than apple pie and have an oatmeal crust that will remind you of the BEST apple crisp in a bar cookie! Plus they have all the chocolate chips, apples, and caramel you can handle!
If there is one dessert you make this fall, it has to be Caramel Apple Magic Bars! It’s such an easy, no measuring, no mixing, no fuss kind of recipe!
Besides that, there’s just something so warm and comforting about magic bars with sweetened condensed milk drizzled all over them!
Honestly, my favorite part is the oatmeal crust that makes them taste like apple crisp bars!
What are magic bars?
Magic bars are often referred to as Magic Bars, 7 Layer Bars, 5 Layer Bars, or Hello Dolly Bars. They are all basically a variation of the same dessert.
These dessert bars have several layers, typically beginning with a graham cracker crumb crust. That’s followed by chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, chopped pecans, or other toppings of your choice. The final layer is decadent and amazing; a can of sweetened condensed milk drizzled over the cookies creating a gooey caramel layer!
Tips for making magic bars
My mom used to make Magic Bars when I was little and truth be told, I never really liked them! Sorry, mom! I’ve finally figured out why.
First of all, I don’t really like graham crackers, unless I’m making smores. Second, the recipe she used said to pour sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker crust, then top with all the goodies. Here’s what I’ve learned.
- Experiment and get creative with crust options! Think crushed Oreo’s, Vanilla Wafers, peanut butter sandwich cookies, or in this case I used an oatmeal crust because magic bars with oats are so stinking good.
- Regardless of what crust you settle on, bake it for 5 minutes before adding all the toppings. This helps the crust to set a little bit and keeps all the sweetened condensed milk from making the crust soggy.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk over all those goodies (once again get creative). It makes everything extra gooey!
- Want to know how to get magic bars out of the pan? Line the baking pan with aluminum foil, then spray with nonstick baking spray. Let the magic bars completely cool before lifting out of the pan. Then cut into squares with a knife.
How to make magic bars
- Press crust into greased pan.
- Bake crust for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle toppings over crust.
- Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over toppings.
- Bake.
- Cool. Cut into squares.
What kind of apples are best for baking?
Every baking recipe is a bit different depending on the length of time the apples will be baked. It also varies depending on the desired sweetness.
My favorite kind of apples to use in baking these cookies is dehydrated apples {affiliate link}. They are my favorite for a couple of reasons.
- I always have them on hand
- They don’t have any moisture and add extra moisture to the magic bar cookies.
If you would like to use fresh apples check out my Simple Apple Tart recipe for a list of my favorite baking apples. Simply peel, core, and dice apples then add to magic bars.
Caramel Apple Magic Bars Recipe
Can you freeze magic bars?
Yes! Magic bars can be frozen! Cut them into squares before freezing them.
How to store magic bars?
Store magic bars at room temperature in an airtight container.
Do I need to refrigerate magic bars?
Most magic bars don’t need to be refrigerated, although it would help them stay good longer.
What’s happening on the farm?
My kids are out of school on a two-week “potato harvest” break! I love having them home and will take a break from school every chance I get! Although we don’t have potatoes to harvest we have plenty of other work to finish up before the winter sets in.
We’ve been building a new feed bunk for some of our cows. That means they’ve been pouring about four loads of concrete every day! The boys have to set up forms for pouring the concrete in, wet the ground so the dry dirt doesn’t leech all the moisture out of the wet concrete too fast, rake, tamp, and float the concrete.
The other day I took lunch to the crew and got roped into helping finish the concrete. Before my kids were big enough to really help it was my job to finish all the concrete. It’s really similar to frosting a cake! What can I say…food is always on my mind!
Once the project is finished we will be able to feed about 400 cows in that manger space! I can’t wait until we have this job crossed off of our to-do list because it’s consuming all our time, and it’s expensive!
Here’s a few other apple recipes you will love!
Apple Dessert Recipes
Apple Salads and Dips
Check out my these other easy bar cookie recipes, and these Halloween recipes!
Caramel Apple Magic Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. butter
- 1 c. flour
- 3/4 c. oats
- 3/4 c. brown sugar
- 1 c. dehydrated apples chopped
- 1 c. white chocolate chips
- 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 c. shredded coconut
- 1/2 c. walnuts chopped
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9″ x 13″ baking pan with aluminum foil, then spray with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- Cut butter into 8 pieces. Add butter, flour, and brown sugar to food processor. Pulse until it resembles course crumbs. Add oats and pulse to combine.
- Press oat crumb mixture into the bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle chopped apples, white and semi-sweet chocolate chips, coconut, and walnuts over the top of baked crust.
- Mix sweetened condensed milk and apple pie spice together. Drizzle it evenly over the baking pan. Don’t worry about stirring or spreading it.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Watch it close and don’t over bake or it will be dry.
- Cool. Cut into squares. Serve.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Paula says
These look AMAZING!!! I want to crawl through my computer and eat one!
Amy Engberson says
I wish you could crawl through your computer and come hang out for awhile! We’d definitely eat these cookies while we chatted!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Oooh, these look heavenly! These look so fun and tasty!
Amy Engberson says
Thank you! It’s one of my favorite new twists on caramel apples! So yummy and easy!
Dee says
These look irresistible! I can’t wait to take a bite of them!
Amy Engberson says
They are irresistible! I couldn’t stay out of them!
Abeer says
These cookie bars have all the ingredients I love. I need to make them for my kid’s lunch box.
Amy Engberson says
My kids were thrilled to come home to these cookies! I can’t wait for your kids to try them!
Chrissie Baker says
Wow, how amazing does that look! I’m sure this is incredibly delicious! Now, this recipe will be one of my favorites.
Amy Engberson says
You just can’t go wrong with caramel and apples! I can’t wait for these to join your list of favorites!
Melanie Bauer says
Wow looks awesome! Seriously these are mouth watering, can’t wait to try this!
Amy Engberson says
They are the BEST fall treat ever! They are a much easier way to enjoy caramel apples than making traditional caramel apples!
Demeter says
Loving all the tips and tricks to getting this right! These look fantastic!
Amy Engberson says
Not all magic bars are the same! They have to be oh so gooey to be out of this world! Enjoy!