Name: Potato Chip–Crusted Magic Bars
Yield: Makes one 9x13" pan of bars
Ingredients: 1 (10-ounce) bag plain salted potato chips, preferably not thick-cut; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour or rice flour; 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted; 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk; 1 (12-ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1 cup large unsweetened coconut flakes, such as Bob’s Red Mill, or sweetened coconut flakes; 1 cup salted smoked almonds, or your nut of choice, roughly chopped

Potato chipcrusted magic bars on a wire cooling rack.

Photo by Yossy Arefi

Whether you call them magic bars or seven-layer (or sometimes five-layer) cookies, you probably know these treats. Chunky bits—like chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut—get layered over sticky condensed milk and a crisp cookie crust. The bars are perfect for potlucks because they're portable and super-easy to make. The problem is (for me!) that they're always way too sweet. In this version, you'll find a potato-chip crust, unsweetened coconut flakes, and salted smoked almonds. The bars are just as chewy, crunchy, and appealing as the usual but taste less sugary.

Potluck Prep

The bars can be served right from the pan, if desired. They can be wrapped in foil and held at room temperature for up to 3 days. They can also be cut into bars, individually wrapped in plastic, and frozen. They make for a chewy sweet treat right from the freezer.