GOURMET MAGIC BROWNIE BARS

Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars

I'm obsessed with brownies, and Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars are no exception! Similar to the Seven Layer Bars you may remember from your childhood, these rich, fudgy, chewy and dark chocolate brownies are topped with all of your Seven Layer Bar favorites - a brownie lover's dream come true!  They may look familiar, but taste so different with the fudgy brownie base rather than the traditional graham cracker crust. Incredibly rich and decadent, these are one of our top five favorite brownies.  

If you ever need something wonderful to bring to a potluck or share with a neighbor, this is the one to make!  I may need to re-name them the "Incredible Disappearing Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars" - everyone goes CRAZY for these!

Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST BROWNIES:

• If I can only share one baking secret with you, always use a DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE.  You can use measuring cups and spoons for most recipes, but using a digital scale makes for the more consistent and efficient baking.  Take this from someone that bakes A LOT!
• For a rich and robust chocolate flavor, I recommend using only high-quality chocolate for this recipe.  Since there are only a few ingredients, each one really shines through!  I prefer Ghirardelli or Lindt dark chocolate bars with at least 70% chocolate for the melted chocolate, and Ghirardelli chocolate chips. 
• If your brownie recipe calls for it, don’t skip the espresso powder! It helps enhance the flavor of chocolate without adding an intense coffee flavor. Whisking cocoa powder and espresso powder into boiling water until smooth allows the chocolate flavor to bloom - don't skip this step if called for in your recipe!
• Don't overbeat your brownie batter!  Mix your dry ingredients in with a spatula just until blended for a perfectly shiny, crispy, and crackly top - the way a brownie should be!
• Baking brownies low and slow is the way to go!  325 degrees is the perfect temp for baking the best brownies.
• Be sure you don’t overbake the brownies!  They should not be liquidy when you pull them out of the oven, but should have a little jiggle in the middle. The brownies will firm up as they cool. Over-baked brownies will not be chewy or fudgy.

• After removing from the oven, I suggest you place the brownies on a wire rack and cool completely before frosting and slicing. They usually come to room temperature within a few hours - and although waiting for this may be the hardest part, they are worth the wait!
• Don’t use glass baking dishes for brownies or blondies – the baking times and results will vary wildly, and the heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking and dryness.

FOR PERFECT BROWNIES, USE THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE:

For gourmet brownies, only the best ingredients will give you the texture, richness and depth of flavor we all crave.  Trust me on this!  For a rich and robust chocolate flavor, I recommend using only high-quality chocolate.  Since there are only a few ingredients, each one really shines through! 

• Extra Dark & Bittersweet Chocolate:  Guittard 63% Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips and Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips are my favorite.
• Unsweetened Chocolate:  Guittard and Ghirardelli 100% Unsweetened Chocolate Chips, or if you don’t mind chopping chocolate, Ghirardelli or Baker’s Unsweetened Baking Bars
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate:  Guittard and Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• German Chocolate:  Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate Bars
• Milk Chocolate:  Guittard and Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips
• White Chocolate:  Guittard Mystic White Cholate Baking Wafers (true white chocolate flavor and melt perfectly) or Lindt Classic White Chocolate Bars or Ghirardelli White Chocolate Premium Baking Bar, Ghirardelli Classic White Premium Baking Chips
• Cocoa Powder:  Always use Dutch-processed premium unsweetened cocoa for brownies!  Valrhona Pure Cocoa Powder, Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa, Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa or Ghirardelli 100% unsweetened Ground  Cocoa
• Black Cocoa Powder:  King Arthur Black Cocoa will give you an intense, dark colored and unsweetened chocolate flavor – use sparingly for the darkest chocolate cake, cookies and brownies (think “Oreo” dark)

Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars

MAGIC BROWNIE BAR RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Peanut Butter Magic Brownie Bars:  Substitute peanut butter chips for the butterscotch chips.
• Butterscotch Magic Brownie Bars:  Stir ½ cup of butterscotch ice cream topping into the sweetened condensed milk before drizzling over Magic Layer Topping.  Increase bake time by 5 minutes. 
• English Toffee & Pecan Magic Brownie Bars:  Add 1 cup of chopped English toffee bits to the Magic Layer Topping.
• Dulce de Leche Magic Brownie Bars:  Mix 1 can (13.4 ounces) of dulce de leche and 6 tablespoons of warm water.  Drizzle over Magic Layer Topping in place of the sweetened condensed milk.
• Chocolate Macaroon Brownie Bars:  Mix 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk with 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup sliced almonds, 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips and 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream in a small bowl.  Spread mixture on top of brownies in place of the Magic Layer Topping. Drizzle top with melted semi-sweet chocolate after baked brownies reach room temperature.
• Magic Turtle Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips and coconut with 2 cups of Kraft Caramel Bits and increase chopped pecans to 2 cups.  Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk and bake as usual.
• Snickers Magic Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips and coconut with 2 cups of chopped Snickers bars in the Magic Layer Topping. Or make it 3 cups – it will be our secret!
• Tropical Magic Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips with white chocolate chips, and use chopped macadamia nuts.  I like to add 1 cup of chopped dried cherries to this variation as well – SO GOOD!
• Nutty Brownie Magic Bars:  Replace the pecan pieces with your favorite nuts – walnuts, almonds, macadamia, cashews, peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts all work well!  Just make sure to use fresh roasted nuts and NOT dry roasted! 
• Fruity Magic Brownie Bars:  For a burst of fruity sweetness, try adding 1 cup of dried craisins or dried cherries to the Magic Layer Topping.
• Pomegranate Magic Brownie Bars:  Add a pop of fresh fruity color and sweetness by adding 1 cup of fresh pomegranate seeds to the Magic Layer Topping.

Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars

GOURMET MAGIC BROWNIE BARS

Similar to the Seven Layer Bars you may remember from your childhood, these rich, fudgy, chewy and dark chocolate brownies are topped with all of your Seven Layer Bar favorites - a brownie lover's dream come true!  They may look familiar, but taste so different with the fudgy brownie base rather than the traditional graham cracker crust. Incredibly rich and decadent, these are one of our top five favorite brownies!   
​

Gourmet Magic Brownie Bars

INGREDIENTS:
BROWNIES:
5 large eggs (room temperature)
10 ounces (2-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
¾ cup (4 ounces) unsweetened chocolate (Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips)
1-¼ cup (7.5 ounces) 63% extra dark chocolate chips
1-¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1- ¼ cups King Arthur All-Purpose Flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
 
MAGIC LAYER TOPPING:
1 (15 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup shredded coconut
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
 
HOW I MAKE THESE:

1. Remove eggs from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.
2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides. Lightly grease the foil in the pan, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
3. PREPARE BROWNIES:  In a small heavy saucepan, cut the butter into pieces and melt over low heat.  Add the unsweetened and extra dark chocolate chips to the melted butter, whisking together until melted and smooth.  Remove pan from stove and set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, lightly whisk the eggs. 
5. Place the granulated sugar and brown sugar in a separate small bowl, then whisk into the eggs just until blended.
6. Briefly stir the melted chocolate mixture, then gradually drizzle into the egg mixture, whisking constantly just until combined. 
7. Whisk in the vanilla extract.
8. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.  Sift through a fine mesh strainer directly into the batter.  Stir with a silicone spatula just until blended.
9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a small offset spatula.
10. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.  The brownies will jiggle a little but will look done on top.
11. ADD MAGIC LAYER TOPPING:  Remove from oven and evenly drizzle with sweetened condensed milk.
12. Evenly sprinkle with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped pecan pieces, and shredded sweetened coconut. 
13. Sprinkle the top lightly with sea salt flakes.
14. Return to oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown. 
15. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. 
16. Refrigerate brownie slab for at least 8 hours before slicing and serving
17. Brownies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

YIELD:  12 large squares or 24 smaller bars
 
MAGIC BROWNIE BAR RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Peanut Butter Magic Brownie Bars:  Substitute peanut butter chips for the butterscotch chips.
• Butterscotch Magic Brownie Bars:  Stir ½ cup of butterscotch ice cream topping into the sweetened condensed milk before drizzling over Magic Layer Topping.  Increase bake time by 5 minutes. 
• English Toffee & Pecan Magic Brownie Bars:  Add 1 cup of chopped English toffee bits to the Magic Layer Topping.
• Dulce de Leche Magic Brownie Bars:  Mix 1 can (13.4 ounces) of dulce de leche and 6 tablespoons of warm water.  Drizzle over Magic Layer Topping in place of the sweetened condensed milk.
• Chocolate Macaroon Brownie Bars:  Mix 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk with 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup sliced almonds, 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips and 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream in a small bowl.  Spread mixture on top of brownies in place of the Magic Layer Topping. Drizzle top with melted semi-sweet chocolate after baked brownies reach room temperature.
• Magic Turtle Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips and coconut with 2 cups of Kraft Caramel Bits and increase chopped pecans to 2 cups.  Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk and bake as usual.
• Snickers Magic Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips and coconut with 2 cups of chopped Snickers bars in the Magic Layer Topping. Or make it 3 cups – it will be our secret!
• Tropical Magic Brownie Bars:  Replace the butterscotch chips with white chocolate chips, and use chopped macadamia nuts.  I like to add 1 cup of chopped dried cherries to this variation as well – SO GOOD!
• Nutty Brownie Magic Bars:  Replace the pecan pieces with your favorite nuts – walnuts, almonds, macadamia, cashews, peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts all work well!  Just make sure to use fresh roasted nuts and NOT dry roasted! 
• Fruity Magic Brownie Bars:  For a burst of fruity sweetness, try adding 1 cup of dried craisins or dried cherries to the Magic Layer Topping.
• Pomegranate Magic Brownie Bars:  Add a pop of fresh fruity color and sweetness by adding 1 cup of fresh pomegranate seeds to the Magic Layer Topping.

Originally posted March 2016 & 2022; revised and reposted June 2023.
 
© SnowflakesandCoffeecakes.  All images, attachments & content are copyright protected. All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to www.snowflakesandcoffeecakes.com for the recipe.
 
Tried it and loved it? Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @SnowflakesandCoffeecakes and by using the hashtag #SnowflakesandCoffeecakes.
​

NEVER MISS A NEW RECIPE!  FOLLOW ME ON
​FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & PINTEREST!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Dark Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Truffle Brownies

Gourmet Brownie Board by Snowflakes & Coffeecakes

Triple Chocolate Brownies with Buttercream (Ghirardelli Copycat Recipe)