Nothing could be easier or more delicious than these Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Bars. Just 3 ingredients, then a coating in powdered sugar, is all it takes to make these popular rich, decadent bars.
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Yummy Bars for the Holidays and Beyond
Easy bar cookies are a delicious treat that can be enjoyed not only during the holidays but all year round. Cookie bars are the perfect addition to any dessert spread, and their ease of preparation and minimal prep time make them a favorite for hectic days.
During the holiday season, bar cookies are a popular addition to cookie tins, party platters, offered as hostess gifts, and especially liked for their ability to survive packing and shipping to your favorite relatives and friends.
Classics like Pecan Pie Bars and Chocolate Mint Bars evoke the holiday spirit, while creative variations like Crème Brulee Cheesecake Bars and Gluten Free Lemon Bars add a unique twist to traditional flavors. Whether you're baking for a special occasion or simply satisfying your sweet tooth, bar cookies are a delightful treat that will have you celebrating the holidays and savoring sweet moments all year long.
Why You'll Love These Graham Cracker Cookie Bars
You can't get easier than this recipe. Believe me, these graham cracker bars are the simplest bars you'll ever make! I've passed this recipe on to numerous people who told me they can't bake at all, and they're amazed when they actually turn out so good.
This is a tried and true recipe that has been in my family for years. It was originally called Bicki cookies, as it was given to my mom by her favorite aunt, yep you guessed it, Bicki.
Versatile: These are great bars to mail to relatives and friends, put in a cookie tin, or serve on your cookie trays. Graham bars are also perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges.
Simple ingredients: All of the ingredients are ones you can keep in your pantry so you can make these cookie bars at a moment's notice. There are no refrigerated ingredients or ones that go bad quickly.
So if you're looking for an easy recipe for cookie bars with sweetened condensed milk, you've found it!
Ingredients
- Graham Crackers or Graham Cracker Crumbs
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Chocolate Chips - Milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate.
- Powdered Sugar
How to Make Graham Cracker Bars
If you can stir, you can make these graham cracker dessert bars. Here are the simple steps:
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk in a bowl.
- Mix well. The dough will be stiff.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it evenly into the bottom of the dish.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Place the baking dish on a wire rack and let it cool completely.
- Invert the dish over a cutting board to remove the graham cracker bars from the pan. Cut it into rectangles for bars or squares.
- Place the bars and powdered sugar in a large zip-top bag.
- Shake to coat the bars with powdered sugar.
- Repeat with all remaining bars then store in an airtight container.
You have successfully made the most yummy, chocolaty bars of goodness ever! You might want to get your piece now as kids and big kids alike will gobble them up.
Recipe Notes and Tips
When you take the graham cracker cookie bars out of the oven you might not think they are done, but after 20 to 25 minutes, believe me, they are.
Important: Do not try to remove the bars from the pan until it has cooled completely. Otherwise, they will be gooey, may fall apart, and you'll have a big mess.
The powdered sugar coating is optional. They are quite delicious with or without it. See the section below for other toppings.
Recipe Variations
Another great thing about this recipe is how simple and easy it is to customize in different ways. Here are some ideas:
- Crusted animal crackers instead of graham crackers.
- Butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.
- Coconut flakes - adding about ½ cup will do nicely.
- M&M's instead of chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips. Or use both.
- Toffee chips instead of chocolate chips.
- White chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips.
Other Toppings
You can put a little extra something on top of these bars for more flavor or texture!
- Chocolate - Sprinkle an even layer of chocolate chips on top and they will melt as it bakes.
- Marshmallow - Spread marshmallow cream over the top of the cooled bars before cutting and serving them.
- Nuts - Sprinkle chopped pecans or other nuts on top to give the bars a little crunch.
More Delicious Cookies for Christmas
- Almond Shortbread Cookies are buttery almond-flavored melt-in-your-mouth cookies with a dark chocolate filling.
- Brazil Nut Snowball Cookies are nutty shortbread cookies covered with powdered sugar that look just like little snowballs.
- Pistachio Shortbread Cookies - are melt-in-your-mouth, buttery cookies filled with pistachios and white chocolate chips.
- Eggnog Cookies have all the rich flavors of eggnog wrapped up in a soft, chewy cookie.
Find lots of easy cookie recipes for Christmas and other occasions here on 2CM!
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Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 ¾ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour an 8 or 9-inch square baking dish.
- Mix ingredients except for the powdered sugar and press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in dish on a wire rack.
- When cool, turn out of the pan onto a cutting board and cut into squares.
- Place the squares and powdered sugar in a large zip-top bag. Shake the bag to coat the bars with powdered sugar.
- Store the bars in an airtight container or cookie tin.
Notes
- Crusted animal crackers instead of graham crackers.
- Butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.
- Coconut flakes - adding about ½ cup will do nicely.
- M&M's instead of chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips. Or use both.
- Toffee chips instead of chocolate chips.
- White chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and more helpful information. It was first published on December 23, 2013.
