Add some extra magic to your holiday season with these irresistible Christmas magic bars topped with festive red and green M&Ms! These gooey treats feature a buttery graham cracker crust and layers of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and coconut flakes, all topped off with a colorful M&Ms. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or simply enjoying with your loved ones, these Christmas magic bars will become a new favorite tradition.
When I was growing up, magic bars were always a staple at my family’s holiday gatherings. As an adult, I wanted to put my own spin on this classic recipe by adding a festive red and green touch, and what better way to do that than with red and green M&M’s?
These magic bars combine the nostalgic flavors of the original recipe with the fun, whimsical spirit of the holiday season. Plus, I really like the slightly crunchy candy’s added texture to these bars.
This recipe is incredibly easy to follow, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal preparation time. Using sweetened condensed milk as the binding agent creates a rich, gooey filling without the need for any complex techniques or special equipment.
These bars are so darn delicious you’ll be fighting off your family and friends for the last bite. And you might find yourself making them long after the Christmas season has ended! After all, you can find themed M&Ms for almost any holiday now, so make these with pastel-colored candy for Easter or red, white and blue for the 4th of July.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the simple process of creating your own batch of Christmas magic bars. I’ll also share tips for customizing the recipe and storing your magic bars. Embrace the magic of the season!
Looking for more Christmas treats? Make toffee cookies, cherry cheesecake cookie cups, or chocolate kiss cookies!
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Graham crackers
- Butter
- Shredded coconut
- Chocolate chips: I usually opt for semisweet chocolate chips, but dark chocolate or milk chocolate are great, too.
- Butterscotch chips: These add a delicious caramel-y flavor. If you can’t find butterscotch chips at your local grocery store, you can swap some peanut butter or white chocolate chips instead.
- Mini M&M’s: I love using the red and green M&M’s for this recipe because they add a festive pop of color and a little extra crunch.
- Sweetened condensed milk
🥣How to Make Christmas Magic Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Make the crust. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or in a saucepan on the stove. While the butter is melting, crush your graham crackers. You can do this in a food processor or put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. When you’re done, you want about 2 cups of crumbs.
- Mix the butter and graham crackers in a bowl. Then, press the mixture into the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Now it’s time to layer on the toppings! Start by sprinkling the shredded coconut over the crust. Then, add the butterscotch and chocolate chips, making sure to distribute them evenly.
- Next, grab your can of sweetened condensed milk and drizzle it all over the chips. Make sure you cover as much of the surface as possible—this is what will hold everything together.
- Finally, sprinkle the M&Ms over the bars.
- Bake in a 350-degree F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the edges begin to brown and the center is set.
- Let the bars cool completely before slicing them into squares.
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve made a batch of these delicious Christmas Magic Bars, you might be wondering how to serve them. These bars are perfect for any holiday cookie tray or dessert spread.
You can’t go wrong with serving them up on their own with a cold glass of milk. Or go for the ultimate holiday pairing – Christmas Magic Bars and a mug of hot cocoa. Cozy up by the fire with a warm, gooey bar in one hand and a steaming mug of cocoa in the other.
If you’re hosting a holiday party, get creative with your presentation. Cut them into small, bite-sized squares and arrange them on a festive platter with some holiday-themed decorations.
💭How to Store
If you’re planning on eating your magic bars within a day or two, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want your bars to last longer, you can store them in the fridge for up to a week.
Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out. When you’re ready to eat them, let them come to room temperature for a few minutes.
You can even freeze these bars for up to 3 months. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to eat them, just let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- While the recipe calls for graham crackers, you can swap in vanilla wafers or crushed Oreos if you want to mix things up. Just ensure you have about 2 cups of crumbs, and you’re ready.
- Try other mixins, like nuts. Pecans, walnuts, or even macadamia nuts would all be delicious additions. Just sprinkle them over the top before baking for an extra crunch and flavor.
- Swap out other types of chocolate chips for semisweet or butterscotch chips. Dark chocolate and peanut butter chips make a fantastic combo.
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Christmas Magic Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Graham crackers crushed
- ½ cup butter melted
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips milk chocolate or semisweet
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup mini M&M's
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt the butter and crush the graham crackers. You can crush them in a food processor or put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.8 Graham crackers, ½ cup butter
- Combine the butter and graham cracker crumbs. Press them into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the coconut over the top. Then, add the butterscotch and chocolate chips, distributing them evenly.½ cup shredded coconut, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top.1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Finish the dessert off with a layer of Christmas M&M’s.1 cup mini M&M's
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.
- Let cool before slicing into squares.
Video
Notes
- While the recipe calls for graham crackers, you can swap in vanilla wafers or crushed Oreos if you want to mix things up. Just ensure you have about 2 cups of crumbs, and you’re ready.
- Try other mixins, like nuts. Pecans, walnuts, or even macadamia nuts would all be delicious additions. Just sprinkle them over the top before baking for an extra crunch and flavor.
- Swap out other types of chocolate chips for semisweet or butterscotch chips. Dark chocolate and peanut butter chips make a fantastic combo.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
I do not like coconut! Are there any swaps for that? Thanks!
Coconut is tough to substitute for. I’d try ground walnuts, but probably only half the amount of coconut called for. You can also just leave it out.