Classic magic cookie bars with a Cuban twist! Magic cookie bars made with Maria cookies, sweetened condensed milk, guava paste, white chocolate chips, sliced almonds, + toasted coconut.

Magic cookie bars just got a makeover!

Classic magic cookie bars or 7-layer bars are usually made with milk chocolate chips, nuts like pecans or walnuts, and shredded coconut but I wanted to create my own version with the flavors of my culture.

“Magic” doesn’t even begin to explain how amazing these are. The first time I made them the pan was devoured before I even took the photos.

…which is why I had to make them again. Let me show you how I make these bars!

What is Guava Paste?

Let’s start with this often asked question. What is guava paste? Well, guava is a tropical fruit that is oval in shape with a rough light green skin. Their insides are a light pink color and they taste a little sour-sweet. There are several varieties of guava fruits but the most common one taste like a mix between a strawberry and a lemon.

Guava paste is basically guava fruit pureed into a very thick, stiff, dense, yet soft block or fruit leather that you can easily be cut with a knife. You can buy it here or at any Latin grocery store. So basically, these are not only delicious but they are BEYOND easy to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool so you can dig in!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Maria cookies⁣⁣ + butter. Instead of a graham cracker crust, we’re using Maria cookies. These are similar to tea biscuits except they are slightly sweeter and more buttery.
Sweetened condensed milk. This is going to help bind all the ingredients together and seal the whole deal.⁣⁣
Guava paste. The star of the show! I like to use a sharp knife to slice the block into 1/2-inch rectangular cubes.
White chocolate chips⁣⁣. Any brand works here. I like using Ghiradelli.
Sliced almonds⁣⁣. You can also chop up regular almonds if you can’t find sliced almonds.
Toasted coconut flakes. If you can’t find them toasted, you can add regular coconut flakes to a pan and toast them up a bit but be careful not to burn them.

How To Make White Chocolate Guava Magic Cookie Bars

Prepare the pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper hanging over the sides of a 9×13 pan. This will help with removing the bars from the pan after baking.
Make the crust. In a food processor, blend the Maria cookies until they are finely crushed. Transfer them to a bowl and mix them with butter until the mixture looks like wet sand. Transfer the Maria cookie and butter mixture to the pan and pat it down to the bottom of the pan using the bottom of a cup to form the crust.
Add condensed milk as the first layer. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crust making sure every inch of the crust is covered.
Next, add the guava paste. Add guava paste. Make sure they are cut into 1/2-inch rectangular cubes so there’s guava flavor in every bite.
Add the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle on the white chocolate chips, sliced almonds, and coconut flakes evenly, in that order, over the sweetened condensed milk. Press all the ingredients down slightly to secure it all into the pan.
Bake the magic cookie bars! Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool the bars completely before slicing and serving.

How long do magic cookie bars last?

Because these are baked, they don’t really require refrigeration. These bars will last 3 days at room temperature, about 1 week in the fridge in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

I just know you will LOVE them!