Eat In Recipe: Thin Mint Magic Cookie Bars

Did any Girl Scouts come knocking on your door this year?  Not here.  Not a one.  I didn’t even see them set up outside any stores around me.  For the first year in who knows how long, we didn’t buy a single box of Girl Scout cookies!  Can I tell you how depressed Mr. Diner is?  Yep, he is.  Thin Mints are his favorite.  I could order 100 boxes and he would still ask, “Why didn’t you buy more?” 

At least there are the Keebler knock-offs available.  I bought a couple boxes at the store this week…one for Mr. Diner and one for me to use to make Something Swanky’s Thin Mint Magic Cookie Bars.  I almost didn’t want to tell him I was going to crush up his prized cookie to turn them into something else.  I knew what he’s say:  “Why can’t you just let me eat them?”  or “Why mess with perfection?”  You know, something along those lines. 

But I went ahead and told him and let him know the other package was in the pantry for his consumption.  But I was surprised when he said, “Oh, that sounds good!”  Then I just hoped it tasted as good as it looked.

I broke out the cookies, put them in a gallon ziploc bag and gave my kids the task of breaking them into chunks…fun!  Let them squish & scrunch them, hit them with a plastic cup, etc. etc.  That’s the hardest part of the recipe.  Then it’s sprinkle this, spread that, pop it in the oven, ding!  They’re done.  Easier than pie…actually much easier than pie.  There’s no mixing or stirring and hardly any clean-up. 

And guess what…they were as good as they looked.  Yep, magic bars.  The taste of Thin Mints with parts that were the dry crunchiness of said cookie, and parts that were a bit gooey-caramel-y with other parts that held the delightfulness of a white chocolate chunk.  Yum.

P.S.  Who can find the face in my Thin Mint Magic Cookie Bars below?  That’s the only evidence left because now the bar has been eaten.

Thin Mint Magic Cookie Bars from Something Swanky
1 package (2 sleeves) of Thin Mints (or Keebler Grasshopper Fudge Mint Cookies)
1 c. white chocolate chips
6 T. butter or margarine, melted (I used butter)
3/4 of a 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free & it turned out great)

1. Line 9x9 baking dish with foil or parchment paper.
2. Pour in melted butter.
3. Crush one sleeve of Thin Mints (should be about 1 cup). Pour crumbs into the baking dish and press firmly and evenly into the butter, until smooth.
4. Spread white chocolate chips over the crumbs, and pour 3/4 of the can of Sweetened condensed milk over top (the sweetened condensed milk should cover the top of the chocolate chips, but they shouldn't be swimming in it).
5. Break up the remaining Thin Mints into small chunks. Pour over the sweetened condensed milk and press in.
6. Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes.
7. Let cool completely before cutting and serving.

Average Fork Rating:  4
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  4
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  4
Guest Diner:  4