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Home Recipes Cookies and Bars

Quick and Easy Gluten Free Magic Bars

Published: Jun 8, 2022 by Sandi Gaertner · 24 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you love magic bars, these caramel gluten free magic bars are going to be a treat for you! These creamy, gooey magic bars have a gluten free graham cracker crust and lots of layers of yumminess. I also include a dairy-free version!

a stack of two gluten free magic bars
Jump to:
  • Why These Bars Are Great:
  • Ingredient Notes:
  • How To Make Gluten Free Magic Bars:
  • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • More Gluten Free Cookie Bars Recipes:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Fearless Dining
  • 💬 Comments

Don't these gluten free magic bars look good! You may recognize these as 7 Layer Bars, but many call them magic bars too. If sweet desserts are your thing, grab a pan because you will want to eat these gluten free bars!

We are crazy for cookies in the Fearless Dining household. If you are a gluten free cookie fanatic too, please check out all of my delicious gluten free cookie recipes.

Why These Bars Are Great:

  • This recipe yields gooey magic cookie bars. Your family will love them!
  • They are made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
  • This recipe is easy to customize with different nuts and types of chocolate and mix-ins.
  • There is a dairy-free option! If you are looking for gluten free dairy-free magic bars, you will love using these simple recipe substitutions (see the FAQ below for specific product recommendations to make them dairy-free.)

If you love chocolate and coconut, try my easy Gluten Free Coconut Macaroons recipe too!

Ingredient Notes:

gluten free magic bars ingredients
  • Gluten Free Graham Crackers - I love to use Pamela's Honey Graham's best as they crumble better than some of the other brands.
  • Condensed Milk - Use the regular dairy version, or for dairy-free, use coconut condensed milk.
  • Chocolate Chips - Use any flavor you like. I love using dark chocolate and bittersweet to offset some of the sweetness.
  • Shredded Coconut - Make sure to use unsweetened. Shredded coconut comes in many sizes of shreds. Any will work fine, but the super fine may not have the same texture.

Are you ready to give this easy magic bars recipe a try?

How To Make Gluten Free Magic Bars:

adding gluten free graham crackers to a bag

Step 1: Add your gluten free graham crackers to a large plastic Ziplock bag. Use a rolling pin or food processor to crush the crackers into little crumbs. You can also buy gluten free graham cracker crumbs.

Step 2: Place the graham cracker crumbs in a large mixing bowl and add melted butter. Use a large spoon to mix the ingredients together.

spreading the graham cracker crust

Step 3: Dump the graham cracker crumbs mixture into a prepared greased 8x8 pan and spread them out evenly with a spoon to cover the bottom. I use a coconut oil spray to grease my pan. You can also use parchment paper to line the bottom of the pan.

Use the back of the spoon or flat bottom glass to press the crumb mixture down flat. Try to get it really compacted down so that your magic bar crust is solid and can support the layers on top.

spreading condensed milk over the crumb crust

Step 4: Next, add your condensed milk layer. You can use either regular condensed milk or dairy-free condensed milk made from coconut. Both have the same level of sweetness.

adding caramel chips

Step 5: Add a layer of caramel chips or Kraft Caramel Bits. You will love the flavor that the caramel adds!

spreading the coconut layer of the magic bars

Step 6: Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the caramel chips. Use a large spoon to spread the shredded coconut layer. If you love coconut as much as we do, you should check out these Gluten Free Almond Joy Cookie Bars!!

add lots of chocolate chips

Step 7: Add lots of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks!

Add the sliced almonds layer

Step 8: Add sliced almonds, chopped pecans, or another nut type that you love. Feel free to substitute walnuts, pecans, or any other type of nuts you like!

Step 9: Bake the gluten free magic bars at 350º F for 25 minutes. You will notice the top gets a slight golden color when they are finished baking.

Allow these cookie bars to completely cool before cutting. Use caution when taking them out of the oven, they are HOT. These will be very soft when they are hot, they will firm up as they cool.

baked magic bars in an 8x8 pan

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you freeze these gluten free magic bars?

These magic bars freeze really well. In fact, I recommend freezing them to help the gooey ingredients mesh together. It also makes cutting them a LOT easier!

Is condensed milk gluten free?

Yes, condensed milk is gluten free. As always, you want to read the label in case a manufacturer changes its ingredients.

What kind of condensed milk is best for magic bars?

This recipe works really well with both regular condensed milk and dairy-free coconut condensed milk. I chose to use coconut condensed milk because I am a coconut fanatic.

Can you make these magic bars dairy-free?

If you want these bars to be dairy-free too, use the coconut condensed milk I mention above and use Enjoy Life dairy-free chips (skip the caramel chips) and use a dairy-free butter!

What chocolate chips are best for baking?

You can use any type of chocolate chip for this recipe. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or bittersweet chocolate chips all taste delicious so use the one you like best! (I will say Ghirardelli is very good for chips that are gluten free. If you want dairy-free chocolate chips, Enjoy Life makes great chips!)

How long will these gluten free magic bars keep fresh?

These magic bars will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I also love to freeze them. To freeze, add them to a freezer-safe zip-style bag. Lay them single file and freeze flat.

More Gluten Free Cookie Bars Recipes:

  • Gluten Free Pumpkin 7 Layer Bars
  • Gluten Free Cookie Dough Magic Bars
  • Irresistible Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake
  • Gluten Free Gingerbread 7 Layer Cookies

📖 Recipe

a stack of two gluten free magic bars

Gluten Free Magic Bars

Sandi Gaertner
Quick and easy gluten free magic bars that will rock your world! These caramel cookie bars make a fun gluten free dessert.
4.93 from 14 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 22 minutes mins
Total Time 37 minutes mins
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 10 bars
Calories 379 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups crushed gluten free graham crackers * see note
  • 6 tablesoons butter
  • 1 can condensed milk * see note
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • ½ cup caramel chips
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup slivered almonds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Put graham crackers in a bag and smash to crumbs.
  • Add the crumbs to a bowl and mix with melted butter.
  • Pour into an 8x8 greased baking dish.
  • Pour in the crumb mixture.
  • Pour ¾ of a can of condensed milk on top and spread to cover the crumbs.
  • Add chips and coconut. 
  • Drizzle remaining condensed milk on top of coconut. Add almonds.
  • Bake for 22 minutes until done.
  • Cool completely before cutting.

Video

Notes

  1. I like to use gluten free Pamala's Honey Grahams best because they crumble really well. You can also buy gluten free graham cracker crumbs.
  2. To make this recipe dairy-free, use vegan butter, coconut condensed milk, and dairy-free chocolate chips by Enjoy Life.
  3. These gluten free magic bars will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator. 
  4. You can freeze these bars in zip-style freezer bags. Make sure to freeze single file and lay the bag flat until the bars are frozen.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 379kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 173mgPotassium: 89mgFiber: 4gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 42IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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(*This blog post was updated from an older 7/2017 post with more information and a video.)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Gunjan

    July 10, 2017 at 6:31 am

    5 stars
    These bars genuinely looks magical. I am sure it taste out of this world too.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 10, 2017 at 11:04 am

      Thank you Gunjan 🙂

      Reply
  2. Krista

    July 09, 2017 at 11:26 am

    I love quick and easy! These look amazing!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 10, 2017 at 11:05 am

      Thank you Krista 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jen

    July 08, 2017 at 8:01 am

    I'm sure these magic bars will magically disappear once my boys see them! Yum!!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      Yup...that is the reason magic is in the title 🙂

      Reply
  4. carrie @ frugal foodie mama

    July 08, 2017 at 5:59 am

    Who needs the 7th layer anyways? These look amazing as is! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      My thought exactly. Thank you Carrie :-).

      Reply
  5. Patricia @ Grab a Plate

    July 07, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Ooooh, how I love magic bars! These look really great - I need to find those caramel chips!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:39 pm

      They are new I think Patricia. Ghirardelli makes them 🙂

      Reply
  6. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

    July 07, 2017 at 6:12 pm

    I love this gluten free option! Perfect to take to a cookout this summer so everyone can enjoy the goodness!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:39 pm

      Enjoy Dorothy 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)

    July 07, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    I can see why you call these magic bars! They are truly magical!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Aww, thank you Jocelyn 🙂

      Reply
  8. Erin @ The Speckled Palate

    July 07, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Oh my word, I just love the sound of these bars! And I adore that you can make them dairy-free, too!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 08, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Thank you Erin 🙂

      Reply
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Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, are gluten intolerant, or have a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place. With years of extensive experience in recipe development, I am dedicated to assisting you on your gluten free journey. As a seasoned gluten free cookbook author and recipe developer, I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts. Rest assured, my recipes undergo rigorous testing and refinement, ensuring foolproof results every time.

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