Healthy Magic Cookie Bars (Paleo)

These sweet and decadent healthy magic cookie bars are tiny squares of heaven. The bars have an almond flour graham cracker crust and layers of chocolate chips, coconut flakes, pecans, and sweetened condensed coconut milk. Perfectly chewy and totally paleo + gluten free!

Year after year, magic cookie bars are at the top of my holiday cookie list. They’ve got a little bit of everything: chewy, buttery, chocolatey, sweet, and a little crunchy. And while I love a good almond flour sugar cookie, it’s just not the holidays without a little magic (cookie bars) in your life!

I’ve taken these paleo magic cookie bars to just about every holiday celebration, and wherever they go, they’re the star of the show. No one has any clue the magic cookie bars are healthier or gluten free! Which is always a secret goal of mine.

When I first started experimenting with healthy dessert recipes back in the day, this was actually the first recipe I tried. I had no clue how to make sweetened condensed milk with coconut milk, but I was determined to nail it. I’m excited to share that while it may seem a bit intimidating—making your own condensed milk couldn’t be easier. I’ve included many tips and tricks below so you nail it on the first time.

What Makes These Healthy Magic Cookie Bars?

I love figuring out ways to make healthy swaps in desserts without sacrificing texture or flavor. While this magic cookie bar recipe is made with healthier ingredients, it’s everything you’d want and more—a buttery crust with a sweet and chocolatey filling! This recipe is:

• Made with whole ingredients: The base of this magic cookie bar recipe is an almond flour crust, and the filling is just coconut milk, nuts, and dark chocolate chips!
• Gluten free: This paleo magic cookie bar recipe is made with almond flour and coconut flour. It’s sweetened with a little raw honey to give it a graham cracker flavor.
• Dairy free: This magic cookie bar is completely dairy free! It is SO easy to make your own condensed coconut milk. And bonus—it tastes better, too!
• Naturally sweetened: Honey is the only natural sweetener used in the magic cookie bars.

Ingredients for Healthy Magic Cookie Bars

These magic cookie bars are fairly easy to make and contain simple and easy to find ingredients. So, let’s get to baking!

For the Filling:

• Coconut milk
• Honey
• Vanilla extract
• Dark chocolate chips
• Pecans
• Almonds
• Coconut flakes

For the Crust:

• Almond flour
• Coconut flour
• Cinnamon
• Sea salt
• Coconut oil or ghee
• Honey

How to Make Healthy Magic Cookie Bars

Ready to make the best healthy magic cookie bars on the planet? Here’s how to make them in five easy steps:

1. Make the condensed coconut milk. In a medium saucepan, heat the coconut milk, honey, and vanilla over medium heat. Once the milk starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer until it’s reduced by half, about 25 minutes.
2. Prepare the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Make the crust. In a medium bowl, whisk the almond flour, coconut flour, salt, and cinnamon until combined. Add the melted coconut oil and honey and mix everything together until a crumbly dough forms. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish until spread evenly. Bake for 10 minutes.

1. Layer the bars. Sprinkle ¼ cup chocolate chips evenly over the crust, pressing the chips into the crust. Layer the pecans, almonds, coconut flakes, and remaining chocolate chips evenly over the crust. Gently whisk the coconut milk and pour it over top of the bars. Sprinkle the bars with 1-2 tablespoons coconut flakes.

1. Bake and chill. Bake for 25 minutes, or until slightly golden on top. Let the healthy magic cookie bars cool, then place them in the refrigerator to set for one hour.

Making Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

While magic cookie bars are traditionally made with a can of sweetened condensed milk, you can easily make your own with a single can of full-fat coconut milk. You simply simmer the milk in a saucepan with a little honey, and wait for it to reduce.

If you’ve never tried making a sweetened condensed coconut milk before, don’t be intimidated. It truly couldn’t be easier! Just give it the time it needs to simmer ever so slightly, and stir consistently. The end result is a creamy and sweet milk that pair perfectly with the dark chocolate, coconut, and chopped nuts.

Paleo Magic Cookie Bars

Paleo basically means a recipe has been made without grains or dairy. So, by default, this is a totally paleo magic cookie bar recipe! Instead of graham crackers, the crust is made with almond and coconut flour. I also used natural sweeteners for the crust and sweetened condensed coconut milk filling. While I tried many different sweeteners, honey pairs perfectly with the nuts, chocolate, and graham cracker crust, and it makes the filling nice and gooey.

Can I Make Substitutions?

Sure can! However, this is where I make that special note that you won’t get the same consistent results if you vary from the original recipe. But, if you find yourself short, here’s a few swaps you can make:

• Almond flour: You can use another nut flour, like cashew flour.
• Coconut flour: You can swap this for tapioca flour, or any 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour.
• Honey: Use maple syrup instead. Note: it will be less sweet!
• Ghee or coconut oil: Use unsalted butter. Just make sure it’s melted.

Baking Tips and Tricks

• The best way to make good use of time is to start the sweetened condensed coconut milk, then work on the crust while the milk is simmering. Make sure to keep stirring the coconut milk every 3-4 minutes.
• Make sure to use unsweetened coconut flakes, not shredded coconut. You can chop the larger flakes if needed. It’s what makes the bars thicker, decadent, and crunchy.
• If you don’t have almonds, you can use another nut like walnuts or cashews.
• Press 1/4 chocolate chips into the crust before layering the remaining ingredients to help the chocolate solidified into the crust (trust me, it’s good!)
• Let the coconut condensed milk cool for 10 minutes before pouring it over the magic cookie bars.
• Check to make sure the crust is cool to the touch before you start layering the filling.

How Do I Store Magic Cookie Bars?

I personally love these healthy magic cookie bars in chilled in the fridge. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also keep them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days. If you want to freeze the bars, just cut them into squares and store them in a freezer-safe container or storage bag. They’ll last in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat a bar, just lay it out in the fridge to thaw.

Stocking the Pantry

I personally use Thrive Market for most of my pantry needs because it saves me some cash—especially when it comes to commonly used items like blanched almond flour, coconut milk, and coconut oil. For a complete list of my recommend pantry items and what I use in my home, check out my favorite kitchen tools and pantry items.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• 4-Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce
• Paleo Chocolate Banana Bread
• Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (Paleo, Grain-Free)
• Gingerbread Coffee Cake (Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo)
• How to Make Coconut Whipped Cream

Have any questions about this healthy magic cookie bar recipe? Ask away in the comments below!