Carrie's "Magic" Cookie Bars

These super simple cookie squares are a 

holiday favorite with family and friends.

Bar cookies and candies, that taste delicious,

 are the quickest and easiest cookies to make 

and are a great option for otherwise busy 

or inexperienced cooks.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

3 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk 

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 2/3 cups flaked coconut

2 cups chopped pecans (or walnuts)

1 1/2 - 2 cups dried cherries or cranberries (or maraschino cherries)

1/2 teaspoon rum, brandy or vanilla extract (optional)

Method:

If using dried berries, place in a small saucepan. Add just enough water to cover. Add extract and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Drain the water from the berries and set fruit aside. Preheat oven to 350* (325* if using a glass dish). Place butter in a 15x10 inch cookie sheet (with sides), or glass baking dish. Place in oven, just until the butter is melted. Sprinkle crumbs over melted butter and spread evenly in pan. Pour condensed milk over crumb mixture to cover. Top with chocolate chips, coconut, nuts and fruit. Press down onto crumbs and milk. Bake 25 - 35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on rack and then chill in refrigerator for 1 hour or longer. When thoroughly chilled, cut into squares. 

Place cookie squares into a storage container, with wax paper between each layer. Store in refrigerator. makes 48 - 60 cookie squares.

Notes:

Plumping the dried fruit improves the flavor and helps to prevent them from being too dry or burning. These make a nice gift to give or to serve at holiday gatherings. (Just remember to put pieces of wax paper between layers of the cookies.)
If you don't like nuts, omit them and use two cups of fruit. You can also use 1/2 semisweet and 1/2 milk chocolate chips. (I prefer Hershey's "Special Dark" chips, since all of the other ingredients provide a lot of sweetness and richness to the cookies.) 

Sometimes, I add a few red & green
(white chocolate) chips to make the 
cookies more festive.