Tap here to get 5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars

4.82 from 27 votes
|

posted: 12/09/15

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
|
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

These Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars and their brownie base are the delicious candy made into a decadent dessert! Of all the magic bar variations, this one might be the most decadent. These 7 layer magic bars are made without graham crackers and without coconut for a different twist on a classic recipe.

If you are looking for other great magic bars, make sure you try these S’mores Magic Bars, these Milky Way Magic Bars and these Strawberries and Cream Magic Bars.  Or make original magic cookie bars.

The Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars is stacked high showing the speckles of red from the cherries, chocolate chips, and a white glaze from condensed milk.

It has come to my attention in the last week that Piper isn’t a baby anymore. She’s like a for real kid. (I just want you to know that I can hear your collective “Duh.” and I really don’t appreciate it.)

She is making all of her wants and needs very clear. She is doing things in an attempt to be funny (and totally succeeding) and she wants to do anything and everything that her older brother and sister are doing. In short, she is in the thick of it.

An overhead photo of the Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars Stalk showing the bright red color from the maraschino cherry, chocolate chips, and a condensed milk glaze.

You guys yesterday we watched her take the sword from Gavin’s Knight Costume and walk up to Quinn (who was sitting at the kitchen counter on a stool), and with a huge grin, she started smacking Quinn with it. When Quinn started to whine and cry, Piper did her very familiar pucker up move, letting Quinn know she wanted to give her a kiss.

Quinn, thinking all is safe, climbs down from the stool, and gives her little sister a kiss, only to then be smacked again with the sword, but harder now because they are on the same level. And because we are horrible parents we just stood there observing the whole thing and remarking to each other that our baby isn’t a baby anymore. (Is it wrong that as someone with two older siblings, a small part of me took some joy in it??)

The Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars is stalked high with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top with a chocolate drizzle.

So the perfect thing to drown my sorrows in my baby becoming a KID? Is these amazing Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars. Guys, I legit do not do my magic bars by the book. First, I generally skimp on the number of layers, going from like 7 to like 4. And I also love to shove a layer of sugar cookie in there. But this time? This time I shoved a layer of BROWNIE in there. Sooooooo, delicious.

And if you are really sad about your baby becoming a KID? Well then you make a huge tower of them and you top it with ice cream and fudge sauce. (Okay, see that collective “Duh” I feel good about.)

The Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars is stalked high with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top with a chocolate drizzle.

TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE THESE MAGIC BARS

  • Make sure you are using Sweetened Condensed Milk and not Evaporated Milk. The containers are virtually identically and sold right next to each other so it’s an easy mistake to make, but they are very very different.
  • Make sure you don’t use extra sweetened condensed milk. You aren’t using a whole can. Just 6 ounces.
  • These need to cool and set before you cut into them. They will still be gooey, but delicious.
4.82 from 27 votes

Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars

Serves: 24 bars
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
These Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars and their brownie base are the delicious candy made into a decadent dessert! Of all the magic bar variations, this one might be the most decadent. 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purposed flour scooped and leveled – see note
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 stick butter 8 TBSPS
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 10 oz jar of maraschino cherries drained and cut in half
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk not evaporated milk

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
  • Melt together the butter and 1/4 cup chocolate chips in the microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
  • Mix the melted chocolate/butter, eggs, and vanilla into the dry ingredients until fully combined. Press into the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Top the brownie mixture with the cherries, chocolate chips, and then the sweetened condensed milk.
  • Bake for 28 to 30 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Allow to set up overnight before cutting and serving.

Notes

Make sure that when you measure the flour you scoop it into the measuring cup with a spoon and then level it off. Do not tap down the cup to make sure the measuring cup is full. This will add too much flour to the recipe.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

did you make this

Chocolate Covered Cherry Magic Bars

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you & seeing what you made!

    Rate This Recipe:




  1. Stephanie says

    Hello. These look beyond tasty. Is it possible to use less sugar in the brownie layer?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m sorry, Stephanie, I’ve only tested this was written.

  2. Linda Kirby says

    This is the wrong recipe. It was suppose to be chocolate covered cherry monkey bread

    • Lisa Longley says

      That recipe is no longer with us. If you email me, I’m happy to send it to you.

  3. Ro says

    How far in advance an you make this and how should I store them?
    Thank you!

    • Lisa Longley says

      For the best results, I wouldn’t make these more than a day in advance. They will hold up quite a bit longer than that, but you will love them most in that first day.

  4. Ernest L. says

    Only 1/4 Tsp of baking powder?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Correct

  5. Lacey says

    These look sooo good! I’m considering making them for a valentines lunch at church… Will raspberries or strawberries work in place of the cherries?

    • Lisa Longley says

      They will! And I’ve done that with strawberries in my Strawberry Magic Bars. Just keep in mind that the bars won’t keep quite as long using fresh fruit.

  6. Douglas says

    I like to share this recipe with friends at our annual Kentucky Derby party. Is there a point in this recipe to incorporate bourbon? I’d also like to change out the maraschino cherries with black cherries. Thoughts?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You could do bourbon soaked black cherries. But consider that this will add a lot of moisture to the dish and will impact baking time.

  7. Gayle Frederick says

    Can you use a brownie box mix for 9×13 pan instead of making from scratch?gp.

    • Lisa Longley says

      It will dramatically change the baking time as the from scratch recipe is a thin layer that is about half a brownie mix.

SUPER-SIMPLEFAMILY FAVORITES
Broccoli Pasta"Omg! I didn’t think anything so simple could be so good!"
overhead of skillet of Cajun Shrimp Pasta ingredients on a cooling rack with toasted bread sitting beside
Cajun Shrimp Pasta"My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters."
overhead photo of a gray skillet filled with beef and broccoli recipe, garnished with sliced green onions
Beef and Broccoli Recipe"I have made this a couple or more times. It’s easy & quick to prepare. I like this for a quick meal. It will be my go to recipe."

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!