by Kelly J. Larson

Do you believe in magic? What about Magic Cookie Bars, also known as Hello Dollys and sometimes Seven Layer Bars — except mine just have six? It is nothing short of magical when someone who doesn’t consider herself or himself a baker, and she or he can grab a few ingredients, layer one on top of the other and create such a bombdotcom cookie. It’s so easy, even a well behaved child could make them.

Whether you make a full pan of cookie bars and cut them into squares or individually proportioned minis, this will surely make your wildest sugar rush dreams come true.

Magic Cookie Bar Minis

• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup pecan pieces
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter. (Graham cracker crumbs can be crushed in a food processor, squished and pounded with your bare hands or purchased at the grocery store in a box already crushed.) Using a small stainless steel scoop, fill silicone mini muffin tray wells with 1 scoop each. No need to press the crumbs down. Next sprinkle on a layer of pecans, then coconut, then chocolate chips. Transfer sweetened condensed milk into a squeeze bottle, then drizzle on top of each Magic Cookie Bar Mini. Bake for about 18 minutes. Cool briefly, then serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 32 cookies, 152 calories each.

These can also be made as cookie bars in a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan (that has been buttered on the bottom and sides), baked for about 25 minutes, then cut into squares.