Are you ready to embark on a delicious adventure? Today, I’m beyond excited to share a recipe that’s going to make your taste buds dance with joy: Cranberry Magic Bars.

Picture this: layers of rich dark chocolate, tart cranberries, and a heavenly mix of coconut and pecans, all nestled on a buttery crust.

Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s about to become your reality!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Cranberry Magic Bars Ingredients
How to Make Cranberry Magic Bars
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Helpful Tips & Substitutions
Try Some of our Other Favorite Recipes

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

The rich, dark chocolate perfectly balances the tangy zest of cranberries, while the coconut and pecans add a delightful crunch and depth.

It’s a dance of textures and tastes that’ll have you reaching for seconds. Easy to make and impossible to resist – what’s not to love?

Cranberry Magic Bars Ingredients

Unsalted Butter
Powdered Sugar
Flour
Dark Chocolate Chips
Dried Cranberries
Shredded Coconut
Pecans

*Scroll to Printable Recipe Card below for detailed amounts!

How to Make Cranberry Magic Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
Make the Crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cold, cubed butter, powdered sugar, and flour. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press the Crust: Transfer this mixture to your prepared pan. Press the crust evenly into the bottom of the pan using your hands or the back of a spoon.
Bake the Crust: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
Layer the Ingredients: Sprinkle the dark chocolate chips over the crust. Follow with a layer of dried cranberries, then shredded coconut, and finally the chopped pecans.
Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the layers, making sure to cover the entire surface.
Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. For best results, chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to set the layers properly
Cut the Bars: Once chilled and set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place on a cutting board and cut into desired sizes.
Serve: Serve your Dark Chocolate Magic Cranberry Bars at room temperature or chilled, as preferred.

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

How to Store Cranberry Magic Bars:

To keep these bars tasting fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

How to Reheat Cranberry Magic Bars:

They’re best enjoyed at room temperature, but if you find yourself in a chilly room, a quick zap in the microwave for 10-15 seconds will bring back that melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Helpful Tips & Substitutions

Can This Be Frozen?

Absolutely! If you want to save some magic for later, these bars freeze beautifully. Wrap them individually and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to indulge, just thaw them at room temperature for an hour or so, and they’ll be as enchanting as the day you made them.

Can This Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can! These bars are perfect for making ahead. Simply prepare and bake as instructed, then once cooled, cover them and keep them in the fridge.

They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to a week, ready to be served at a moment’s notice. Talk about convenience!

Substitutions & Variations

Not a fan of pecans? Swap them for walnuts or almonds.
For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour in the crust with your favorite gluten-free blend.
Looking for an adventure: Throw in some white chocolate chips or a sprinkle of sea salt on top for an extra flavor dimension!

Helpful Cooking Notes

Perfect Crust Tips: Ensure your butter is cold and cubed for that perfectly crumbly crust.
Layering Like a Pro: Layer the ingredients evenly to ensure every bite is as magical as the last.
Bake to Perfection: Keep an eye on the oven as these bars bake; they should be golden but not overdone.
Chill for Best Results: The chilling time is crucial for setting the bars, so don’t skip it!

Try Some of our Other Favorite Recipes

Cranberry Magic Bars

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Chill Time 2

Total Time 2 45

Servings

Calories 620 kcal

Cranberry Magic Bars are a perfect blend of chocolate, cranberries, and nuts. Indulge in these yummy bars that are sure to become a favorite.

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust:

1 cup Unsalted Butter, cold and cubed
⅓ cup Powdered Sugar
1 ¼ cup Flour

For the Filling:

12 ounces Dark Chocolate Chips
1 cup Dried Cranberries
1 ½ cups Shredded Coconut
1 cup Pecans, chopped
14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
Make the Crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cold, cubed butter, powdered sugar, and flour. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press the Crust: Transfer this mixture to your prepared pan. Press the crust evenly into the bottom of the pan using your hands or the back of a spoon.
Bake the Crust: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
Layer the Ingredients: Sprinkle the dark chocolate chips over the crust. Follow with a layer of dried cranberries, then shredded coconut, and finally the chopped pecans.
Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the layers, making sure to cover the entire surface.
Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. For best results, chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to set the layers properly
Cut the Bars: Once chilled and set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place on a cutting board and cut into desired sizes.
Serve: Serve your Dark Chocolate Magic Cranberry Bars at room temperature or chilled, as preferred.

NOTES