Cookie recipe question

December 20, 2008 3:37 PM

Help me remember how to make a beloved childhood christmas cookie...

When I was little, my friend's mother used to make something she called "congo bars" every Christmas. These particular congo bars consisted of a solid chocolate base layer topped with chocolate chips, marshmallows, coconut, etc. I thought I'd be able to look a recipe up online, but when I google "congo bars" or "congo squares," I get thousands of recipes for what is basically a dressed up "blondie"--ie, not a solid chocolate bar. Does anyone know the variation on "congo bars" I'm remembering? I believe it was made with condensed milk, and it had a deliciously salty / grainy texture--sort of halfway between a brownie and fudge. Thanks for any help, it's much appreciated!

posted by You Can't Tip a Buick to food & drink (7 comments total)

Those sound a lot like the Magic Cookie Bars my mom makes. YUM.
posted by juliplease at 3:45 PM on December 20, 2008

I think you're looking for magic cookie bars , though the "solid chocolate base" and the "salty/ grainy texture" sounds like your childhood variant had the traditional graham cracker base reversed with (or mixed with) the layer of chocolate chips.
posted by Elsa at 3:45 PM on December 20, 2008

We call them 7 Layer Bars. I think that's what you're looking for. They're DELICIOUS!
posted by Night_owl at 3:50 PM on December 20, 2008

Thanks so much ... these magic cookies look like what I remember. I'm going to try mixing the graham cracker layer with the chocolate layer.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:50 PM on December 20, 2008

Chocolate grahams or chocolate nilla wafers as additional base possibilities.
posted by nanojath at 5:42 PM on December 20, 2008

Also known as "Hello Dollies" and featured prominently in the movie Dick with Kirsten Dunst
Michelle Williams and Dan Hedaya.
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:54 PM on December 20, 2008

We've recently renamed 7-layer cookies "the Velvet Hammer." I've never known someone to not freak out (in a good way) over them, and they are the easiest cookie to make. Just make sure you run a knife around the edge as soon as they come out of the oven and cut them before they completely cool.
posted by rikschell at 6:07 PM on December 20, 2008