The Domestic Rebel

Everyday Ingredients, Extraordinary Desserts

Samoa Magic Bars

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samoas magic bars

So, as you may know, I recently returned to California from my long-weekend trip to NYC.

Needless to say, I’m glad I’m back but I super miss New York. It’s AMAZING there. Truly incredible!

But as I was there (and spending 6 hours of my life staring outside of an airplane window headed home while a large-headed man snored next to me), I got to thinking that New York and California are a looooot different. And in my head, I was hypothesizes all of the complications New York would have for me if I were to move there from spending 22 years in the Golden State.

First of all, I’d have to sell my car which gives me a bittersweet mixture of giddiness (no more car payments!) and fright, because I’d have to rely on public transportation for.. everywhere. In my current town, we don’t even really HAVE a bus-line. And anytime I go into the downtown Sacramento area, the buses freak.me.out. What if I take the wrong line and end up somewhere super sketchy? Or what if I have to pee and the bus doesn’t come in time? Or what if I sit in someone else’s pee on the bus? IT COULD HAPPEN.

Also, I’d have to get an apartment which is pretty impossible since I’d also have to get money in my bank account consistently (and uh, keep it there). This is pretty impossible because A) New York is jam-packed with stores I love, stores I covet, and stores I have no emotional connection to but because they’re in New York I feel obligated to shop there to achieve the “true New Yorker” persona; and B) because I recently discovered Wafels & Dinges on my trip and have not been able to shake the taste of those sweet, crispy, caramelized liege waffles out of my head for a week. It should also be noted I ate four on my trip to NYC. In three days.

And while it isn’t like, a huuuuge deal or anything, I’m pretty sure New York City doesn’t have raccoons. I know what you’re thinking: “who cares if New York has raccoons or not? Who needs raccoons? They’re evil little scavenging devils and they’re so mean and awful!” because you’re an animal racist. But on the off-chance you’re not an animal racist, I’m kind of bummed NYC doesn’t house raccoons because next to dogs, they’re my favorite animal. And if I moved there, it’d defeat my life-long goal of having a pet raccoon named Raphael. And I can’t give up on Raffie that easily, you guys.

So basically I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or between endless waffles or the prospect of one day having my own raccoon as a pet. Life can be so cruel sometimes, don’t you think? UGH.

But I guess no matter where I move to, there will always be access to Samoas, aka one of my fave cookies of all time. Who doesn’t enjoy that crispy, nutty toasted coconut, the smooth, chewy caramel, the soft, milky chocolate and that crunch from the cookie embedded underneath? I know I can’t (and am now wearing the fat pants to prove it).

And I also super love blondies, which I’m convinced are the tastiest dessert in all the land. Don’t believe me? Then slap on the flavors of a Samoa onto a blondie base and challenge me to a dual. Winner gets a swanky NYC pad complete with Raphael (hint: I will win).

samoas magic bars

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Samoa Magic Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Bars
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 15
 
Mortals and immortals alike will not be able to resist the incredible gravitational pull toward these unrelentingly gooey bars.
Ingredients
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 & ½ cups Kraft caramel bits
  • 1 & ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Samoas cookies, roughly chopped (I used Keebler brand)
  • 2 cups shredded coconut, divided
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup caramel sundae sauce
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil and mist the foil lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, egg + butter until a soft dough forms. Press the dough evenly in the bottom of the pan. Bake for approx. 10 minutes.
  3. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle evenly with ONE (1) cup of the shredded coconut, the caramel bits, semi-sweet chips, and Samoas cookies. Drizzle the top of the bars with the sweetened condensed milk.
  4. Return to the oven and bake for approx. 15-20 minutes or until center appears set and top is golden. Reduce your oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
  5. On a large baking sheet lined with foil, spread the remaining ONE (1) cup of coconut in an even layer. Place in the oven and toast 5 minutes. Stir gently, then bake for another 5 minutes. Stir, then bake for another 5 minutes or until coconut is lightly golden and toasted. Allow both coconut and bars to cool completely.
  6. Drizzle the tops of the bars with the caramel sundae sauce and immediately sprinkle with the toasted coconut. Allow the bars to set at room temperature, about 10-15 mins, before cutting into bars. Store leftovers room temperature in an airtight container, for several days.
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samoas magic barsLOOK AT HOW GOOEY IT IS. I can barely contain myself from licking the freakin’ screen. These are SO unrelentingly chewy, crunchy, gooey and sweet, and you’ll go bananas over the different textures and flavors of this classic cookie-turned-into-a-magic blondie-bar. My favorite is the toasted coconut topping–you MUST toast the coconut for that authentic, nutty flavor. It really elevates these bars from a regular ol’ magic bar into a Samoa magic bar. In short, toasted coconut is pure magic in itself! You’ll super heart these, I promise!!

Have a great weekend!!

xo, Hayley

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Comments

  2. OMG yummmyyyyy these look amazingggg. Coconutty!

    Also-there are raccoons. I have friends in Brooklyn who complain about them being in their trash cans.

    Aren’t ya happy now? 😛

    Reply

  6. OMG Hayley. these bars are everything I love in life and MORE!!! Samoas are only the best cookie ever, right?! I love all of your samoas desserts! PS: gorgeous photos of these!

    Reply

  7. Oh my gosh. You’re killing me… I still haven’t tried a gosh-darn Samoa cookie and now you’ve made them into MAGIC BARS?! Haha… I’ll definitely be trying your recipe. They look amazing!!

    Reply

  8. You’re totally right Hayley. Gotta have raccoons where you live. Can’t not have the furry little guys! And, uh, then you’d be too far away to share these bars with me. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Holy cow girl! Those look insanely delicious!! I am loving all the flavors and textures in these awesome magic bars! So ooey and gooey and perfect!!!

    Reply

  10. Oh man, Samoas are the best! This looks crazy-good. You know, it surprises me that with all your magic bar and funfetti recipes, you don’t have a funfetti magic bar (unless I missed it in your archives…I saw lots of funfetti bars, but no official magic bar). Just a thought…I’m sure you would make something AWESOME! 😀 P.S. Raccoons are so cute. You want one like Pocahontas’s Meeko (spelling?), right? 😉

    Reply

  16. I love samoas AND blondies.. needless to say this looks crazy epic and delicious!

    Ps. Totally had a pet racoon when I was younger. It was an abandoned baby, but we had to give to a wildlife shelter to re-release it when it was a year or so old because they get very violent after adolescence

    Reply

  17. I’m reading Aimee’s comment above mine and sort of relieved that I’m not the only one who has never made magic bars. What’s wrong with me?!? Also, I’m thinking you should send me like an entire pan of these so I can test ’em out. Mmkay? These are gorgeous!!!!

    Reply

  20. These are like the Red Velvet C&C Magic Bars right? I’m so obsessed with those! My husband even let me make them as cookies, but I totally prefer the Gooeyness of SCM. Do you have any other magic bars recipes? (:

    Reply

  21. So not related to this recipe – which looks great – but being a New Yorker I must inform you that New York (including NYC) does indeed have racoons. Hell, a year or two ago we even had a coyote in midtown. They’re here – you just have to know where to look. Although you’re way more likely to see a rat.

    Reply

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