A sweet smile, a warm hug, and the gift of a homemade melt in your mouth chocolate masterpiece is the perfect gift for your valentine. Gayle Norton shares her recipe for magic cookie bars; a treat that will help you spread the love this Valentine’s day.              

“Magic cookie bars are quick, easy, and always loved when I make them,” Norton said.

You can use the base recipe to create an individualized treat for your loved one based on their favorite ingredients.

“It is versatile, I use whatever I have on hand,” Norton said. “Use your imagination to combine different ingredients.”

Norton’s recipe gives you several ideas for ingredients. You can make it over and over, and have a different flavor each time. It is like a “choose your own adventure” treat!

Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

¾ cup butter or margarine, melted (for the crust)

1 can regular or low fat sweetened condensed milk

One ingredient from each “group” in the quantity shown:

Group A - 1 1/3 cup

Graham cracker crumbs; chocolate wafer crumbs; vanilla wafer crumbs; animal cracker crumbs; sugar cookie crumbs

Group B – 1 1/3 cup

Chocolate chips; butterscotch chips; peanut butter chips, dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, blueberries, etc); candy-coated chocolate candies; toffee bits

Group C – 1 1/3 cup

Flaked coconut; crisped rice cereal, frosted flake cereal (crumbled), miniature marshmallows

Group D – 1 1/3 cup

Chopped walnuts; chopped pecans; chopped peanuts; chopped cashews

Preparation:

1. Combine crumbs of choice from Group A with melted butter; press evenly onto parchment-lined 13x9” baking pan.
2. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs.
3. Sprinkle with your choice of toppings from Groups B, C and D. Press down firmly.
4. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. Cool thoroughly and cut into bars. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

This article originally appeared on Dacula Patch in February 2012.