Those Chocolate Things My Mother Would Make


I just baked a "healthier" chocolate cake. As I cleaned up the mixing bowls, I found myself thinking about all the treats my mother made while we were growing up. 

She wasn't really a baker. She was more of a delicious meal preparer. Somehow, she could put together a meal that made everyone feel welcome and well-fed. Still, her desserts were always satisfying.

 There is one recipe that my mother did make. I think she got it off of the back of a can of condensed milk.  For years, I didn't know the real name of these bars.

To me, they were simply "Those Chocolate Things My Mother Would Make."

Whenever they appeared in the kitchen, I knew they wouldn't last long. They were rich, sweet, and somehow seemed a little magical. As a child, I never wondered what they were called. I just knew that Mom made them, and that was enough.

I developed my love of baking when I was about twelve years old. I would spend hours experimenting in the kitchen while my family happily served as taste testers. Cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, cakes, cobblers—if there was a recipe, I wanted to try it. Looking back, I realize that my love of baking probably began by watching my mother in the kitchen. 

Getting back to the cookie bars, years later, I discovered they have an official name: Magic Cookie Bars.

The name fits.

Not because of the chocolate, coconut, nuts, or sweetened condensed milk. The real magic is how a simple recipe can transport us back in time. One bite can bring back a kitchen, a voice, a holiday gathering, or someone we loved.

My mother has been gone for many years now, but recipes like this remind me that love has a way of lingering. It shows up in old recipe cards, favorite meals, family traditions, and memories that are as sweet as the treats themselves.

Today I'm sharing the recipe—not just because it's delicious, but because some recipes deserve to be passed along.

 

Magic Cookie Bars

  • Servings: dozen bars
  • Serving Size: 2
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

  • Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

  • HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
  • COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with fork.
  • BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. Cut into bars or diamonds.

 

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