Sharing some AMAZING magic bars today! My Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Shortbread Magic Bars are sinfully delicious. They’re such a gooey, tasty and comforting dessert for any day of the year!
The Best Magic Bars
I had this bright idea last week to make a gooey shortbread recipe. One thing lead to another in my science lab I mean kitchen and I ended up with these fabulous marshmallow topped sweetened condensed milk smothered shortbread magic bars. They are literally one of my favorite treats yet. I know I say that all of the time, but these really are to die for. Try these for yourself and let me know what you think of my magic bars!!
Try my Peanut Butter Shorbread Bars too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for recipe inspiration.
What You’ll Need
- butter– For most of my recipes I use salted butter. Unsalted works too.
- granulated sugar– This fine white sugar adds sweetness to the bars.
- all-purpose flour– Flour is the main dry ingredient in the bars.
- kosher salt– Kosher salt is a course salt commonly used in cooking and baking. I prefer it over table salt.
- mini chocolate chips– If you can’t find mini chocolate chips, milk or semi sweet is generally what I use. White chips and butterscotch would be good substitutions too.
- sweetened condensed milk– Find sweetened condensed milk in the baking section of the grocery store.
- large marshmallows– You’ll use the marshmallows on top when the bars melt.
How To Make Magic Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line an 11 x 7 inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Place softened butter and sugar into a stand mixer, beating until creamy. Add flour, salt and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips beating until dough forms. Transfer dough to prepared baking dish and press evenly. Bake for 30 minutes then remove from oven. Drizzle evenly with sweetened condensed milk then remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Top with halved marshmallow then bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely, for a good 2 hours before cutting into squares.
What Is Shortbread?
Shortbread is a type of crumbly, sweet cookie which is commonly produced in Scotland, a nation with which the dessert treat has become associated. Traditionally, shortbread is made with three ingredients: butter, sugar, and flour. These cookies are made all over the world, and often appear as a winter holiday treat in the United States. Dense, sweet, and highly rich, shortbread is adored by many consumers and bakers for its excellent and crisp flavor and ease of manufacture. It has been made since the 1700s, when butter as a cooking fat began to enter common use, especially in dairy-heavy areas like Scotland.
Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over shortbread dough and top with mini chocolate chips and halved marshmallows.
When baked, marshmallows will be slightly toasted on top.
Enjoy! One of our favorite desserts!
How To Serve Magic Bars
Serve bars room temperature or slightly warmed in squares. A side of fresh fruit goes great with them.
How To Store Shortbread
Store shortbread in an airtight container room temperature for up to 4-5 days.
Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Shortbread Magic Bars
Equipment
- Oven
- mixing bowl
- 11 x 7 inch baking dish
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 2 sticks softened butter unsalted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips divided
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 10 large marshmallows halved
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 11×7 inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Place softened butter and sugar into a stand mixer, beating until creamy. Add flour, salt and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips beating until dough forms. Transfer dough to prepared baking dish and press evenly. Bake for 30 minutes then remove from oven. Drizzle evenly with sweetened condensed milk then remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Top with halved marshmallow then bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely, for a good 2 hours before cutting into squares.
Nutrition
Pin Magic Bars To Your Favorite Recipe Board
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Should these be stored in the fridge or on the counter?
I would store then in an airtight container on the counter 🙂
I made these following the recipe, and they were swimming in butter. Are you sure 2 sticks is accurate?
I must make these tonight! Thanks for the recipe!
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This recipe sounds so good… But I have a question. I keep seeing recipes for bars, etc that call for sweetened condensed milk poured over top. I have never baked with sweetened condensed milk before. What exactly does that do (other than just keep the bars gooey wet)? And for those of us who are slightly frightened by sweetened condensed milk, will this recipe work without it (just not as gooey?)?
These are really delicious! They’re unique, which I really like. Not your typical berry or peanut butter or caramel bar that you see everywhere (which are all awesome, don’t get me wrong! Love them. But it’s really refreshing to see something work so well that’s so different, AND so easy).
My mom basically refuses/hates anything marshmallow, and she said these were delicious. I actually followed the recipe (for once, haha) and they’re really good as-is! I bet different kinds of chocolate would be great too, or some appearance of graham cracker…
I only had mini marshmallows, though. And I had to cook mine closer to maybe 18 or 20 minutes for the second bake. The marshmallows still barely browned, but I didn’t want to overcook the bar. They still were perfect ^_^ Great idea and recipe!
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So gooey!
I made these yesterday, cut the recipe in half and put white chocolate chips into the shortbread layer and the minis on top. They were absolutely to die for. Hands down one of the best desserts/bars I’ve ever tried! The white and regular chocolate balanced sooo nicely. Maybe you can try that altered version some day! Love your recipes 😀
I made these today. 🙂 I let them cool for a loooong (and very difficult) time like you said in the recipe and just tried them. OH. MY. GOODNESS. These are insanely delicious!!!! Highly recommend!!!!! You have an amazing talent!! Thank you so much for sharing!! 🙂
Next to chocolate, shortbread is my favorite. And you just married two of my favorite things. And then added marshmallows. And then turned it into magic cookie bars. OMG. Help me, I’m dying. Love, love, love!
Dying right now over these. DYINGGGG!!
Do the marshmallows not burn even if they’re in for ten minutes? I’ve put marshmallows on top of sweets before and they usually only last a minute in the oven before burning!
Oh man, what a fab combination!!! These are definitely magic bars!!
How much brown sugar?
Um-wow!!!!!
These look so good and since shortbread is my favorite I will have to try these. Thanks!
gah, these look INSANELY good.
Good lord those do look magical! Yum! 😀
How much brown sugar? These look amazing and I will make this this week for sure!
Hi Liz, no brown sugar, it’s been edited 🙂
The directions say brown sugar, but that’s not in the ingredients. I NEED to make these soon! 🙂 please advise!
HI Sue, no brown sugar, I removed it from the recipe, it is correct now 🙂
Jenny, these chocolate chip shortbread bars look so perfectly gooey! And those toasted marshmallows on top… Your ideas are the best!
How much brown sugar?
Hi Kay, no brown sugar in the recipe, it’s been edited 🙂
These look totally dreamy Jenny!!
These look dreamy Jenny!!
OMG. Indeed these look like magic bars!!
Ooey, gooey deliciousness! Gotta have these!
Perfect after school treat for my kiddos. And me, of course! 😉
This looks epic!!
You’re killin’ me, smalls!! Need, need, need.
Insane! I want the whole pan!
Shortbread with the mini chocolate chips is such a great idea and a can of sweet cond milk to keep these extra soft and juicy and delish…I love the way your mind works, Jenny! And the marshmallows! Pinned 🙂
These bars are dreamy!
Mmmm….I will never say no to a gooey chocolate chip treat! Love!!
Gooey was definitely the first word that came to mind when I saw these. Also? Yummmmmm!
The amount of delicious going on it that title is incredible. You know what is insane? I have no tried a magic bar! We never made them in Canada where I grew up. But, shortbread bars are my favorite so this looks like the perfect way to introduce myself! Pinned!