These Fall Millionaire Magic Bars are a cross between a Millionaire Bar and a Magic Bar. They have a shortbread cookie crust, layers of toffee, chocolate chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and are finished with a layer of fall M&M’s on top.
My sweet friend Carol fell in love with The Merchant Baker’s Millionaire Magic Bars and emailed me a slightly adapted version of the recipe. She said she took them to a party and everybody raved about them. I had a food blogger pot luck lunch on my schedule, so I decided to make them and take them to the pot luck.
One of the changes Carol made was adding caramel filled chocolate chips. She had some in her pantry she wanted to use up. When I went to my pantry, I had some leftover coconut, so I decided to add coconut to my bars.
I lined my pan with parchment paper so the bars are easy to remove from the pan. You can also use tin foil. Ramona and Carol used a piece of plastic wrap to press the dough evenly into the pan. I used the paper wrapper from the stick of butter I used in the recipe. There’s always a little bit of butter left on the wrapper and it’s non-stick.
Magic bars typically have a graham cracker crust but Millionaire bars have a shortbread crust. The sweetened condensed milk bubbles and browns as it bakes and gets a nice caramel flavor like the middle of a Millionaire bar.
I initially wanted to make a Halloween bar, so I stopped by the store to buy some Halloween orange and brown chocolate chips to top my bars. The store didn’t have any in stock, so I decided to buy fall colored M&M’s instead. I think the M&M’s look so fun and festive, it may have been a better addition.
Carol was right, these Millionaire Magic Bars are something special. They were a hit at the food blogger pot luck. Since they’re so rich and decadent, a 9×9-inch pan makes 36 bites. Enough for the pot luck and my family to enjoy.
Thanks so much Ramona, The Merchant Baker. for creating the original recipe, and to Carol for sharing her version with me. You should definitely try them too.
Fall Millionaire Magic Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup toffee bits
- ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup shredded coconut
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup fall colored M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray 9×9 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour and salt and mix on low speed just until blended. Spread the dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Layer the toffee bits, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans evenly over the crust. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire surface of the bars. Finish with a layer of M&M’s on top.
- Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until top is bubbly and a deep golden brown over the entire surface. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting.
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Heidi Marletto
Was I supposed to add salt to the dough? I just realized it’s in the ingredient list but isn’t in the instructions. The coconut also isn’t in the instructions but I figured out where to put that.
Barbara Schieving
Hi Heidi – sorry for the confusion, yes, add the salt with the flour (although you probably won’t notice that you didn’t add it because there are so many flavors on top) and add the coconut before the pecans. I’ve updated the recipe. Thanks!
Joy reeves
There looks like there is coconut, but I don’t see it in the recipe.
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Joy – I did leave it off the ingredient list. I’ve updated the recipe now.
Joy reeves
Thank you, can’t wait to make it.
Platt College
Anything with M&Ms I will eat it. Have to try this recipe too!
Grace
I’m going to have to dig around in my files because it seems like I made the Millionaire Bars before. Or maybe I shouldn’t bother and should just make these! 😉
Barbara Schieving
Hi Grace – I’ve never made the Millionaire Bars before, but it sounds like I should. Let me know if you find your recipe. 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
I’m so tempted to make these! We love bars and they’re so lunchbox and group friendly too! 😀
Kalpana
Hello Barbara ! Looks tasty and flavorful. I am a chocolate lover and this magic bar is a boon for me. Thank you and keep sharing with us delicious recipes 🙂 🙂
2 Sisters Recipes
We love magic bars and these are heaven !! Great recipe!
Marcellina
What a great recipe! Impressive with not too much effort! Thanks for sharing, Barbara.
Betty
So many reasons to love these! I’d have to take them to a pot luck or risk eating them all myself. 🙂
Ramona @ The Merchant Baker
Happy to hear that my Millionaire Magic Bars are a hit with so many! It’s a wonderful recipe that lends itself to plenty of creativity. Love the colors in your fall version 🙂
Barbara Schieving
Thanks again Ramona!
Betsy Scotto
Can I freeze these bars??
Barbara Schieving
Hi Betsy – I haven’t tried it, but I assume they would freeze very well.
Cyndy
I agree, these look fanstastic and Carol is a sweetheart and has found some amazing recipes and she loves to share her finds. I’ve been blessed to be a friend of hers for many years. I love that you’ve shown each step and that makes it so much easier to see the process. Thanks Barbara, I have everything I need to make these and they are on my very short list of recipes to try this week along with the Malasadas! I miss going to Maui and can’t wait to get back there and visit with my friends. And Thank You to Ramona as well for the recipe
Letty | Letty's Kitchen
These were so good–and decadent!
Carol
Your bars are so pretty, Barbara! Aren’t they good? I love your addition of coconut too.
What a great idea using the wrapper from the butter to press the crust in the pan. Next time I won’t be so quick to toss it.\
So glad they were a hit at the pot luck-I’m not surprised at all. Thanks for sharing your terrific sounding version and thanks again Ramona for the recipe-it’s in my favorites file and will be made many times I’m sure. They’re so good and very versatile too!
Carol
Just want to add-my husband Bob put some leftover bars in the refrigerator…..ohhhhh my stars, are they heavenly COLD. The crust gets a little crispy, the top is sort of chewy-almost sort of a candy bar-like consistency. I don’t know which version I like more-room temperature or cold. Boy oh boy, you can’t go wrong either way! 😉