Magic Cookie Bars (aka Hello-Dolly Bars)

My sister, Julie, introduced me to these delicious cookie bars while I was visiting her in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago. I believe this is a common recipe that gets circulated throughout the Mormon community, as I've come across it many times at church functions, potlucks, and the BYU-Idaho cafeteria.

This is probably the most requested dessert from Alex. There are many variations to this recipe, but here is what I find works best.

Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (this equals about one of the packets in a box of graham crackers)
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups coconut
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• (Nuts and butter scotch chips can also be added, if desired)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8 x 11 glass pan.
2. Combine melted butter and graham crackers crumbs. Press mixture into the bottom of the pan.
3. Pour sweetened condensed milk over graham cracker crust.
4. Sprinkle coconut evenly over sweetened condensed milk.
5. Sprinkle chocolate chips over coconut (and nuts, if desired).
6. Bake at 350, for 20 minutes, or until the edges become brown. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Makes about 12-15 servings.