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Keto Magic Bars

Net Carbs:2g
4 Comments This post contains affiliate links.
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These Keto Magic Bars are a deliciously sweet and low-carb dessert that are made without almond flour. These cookie bars, sometimes referred to as 7-Layer Bar or Hello Dollies, are made with homemade sweetened condensed milk and include sugar-free chocolate chips.

This recipe post is being shared in partnership with Lakanto.

close-up angled image of keto magic bars stacked on top of each other atop a marble kitchen counter

Be sure to read through the blog post for the answers to frequently asked questions before you move on to the recipe card and begin making this recipe. You will find step-by-step photos within the blog post (located above the recipe card) that will help you to successfully make this keto magic bar recipe.

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angled overhead image of keto magic bars cut on a baking sheet atop a marble kitchen counter

Easy keto magic bars made without almond flour

These Keto Magic Bars are extra magical because they’re made without almond flour, unlike many keto magic bar recipes.

The condensed milk portion, an essential component of these bars, stems from a variation of my Keto Condensed Milk. It’s the same ingredients as the original recipe for my sweetened condensed milk, but the amounts of each ingredient are slightly different.

close-up image of 3 keto magic bars stacked on top of each other resting atop a marble kitchen counter

Keto magic bars recipe FAQs

Before you begin making these cookie bars, I would suggest reading over this FAQ section and looking through the step-by-step photos. Doing so will ensure you make this recipe successfully the first try.

What ingredients are required?

Are there any ingredient substitution options?

  • Ground Sunflower Seed Meal: You can make your own homemade ground sunflower seed meal by pulsing raw sunflower seeds in a food processor until they turn into a flour. If you can eat nuts, almond flour should work fine here at a 1:1 ratio substitution.
  • Butter: Coconut oil can be substituted in for butter at a 1:1 ratio.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Full-fat canned coconut cream (not canned coconut milk) can be subbed in for heavy cream at a 1:1 ratio. You will likely need to simmer it longer than the original recipe indicates and/or add xanthan gum to thicken it.
  • Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener: Classic Monk Fruit Sweetener from Lakanto can be subbed in here at a 1:1 ratio. Swerve or erythritol would also work. Powdered stevia or liquid stevia will not work.

What is monk fruit sweetener and where can I buy it?

Monk fruit is sweeter than sugar and has zero calories, net carbs, and glycemic sweeteners. It tastes like traditional sugar and incorporates perfectly into recipes at a 1:1 ratio. You can read more about monk fruit sweetener and why I use it in my recipes in this post.

I purchase my monk fruit sweetener from Lakanto’s website and have it delivered. If you want to do this, you can use discount code REALBALANCED at checkout for 20% OFF your order.

If you’d prefer to purchase in-store, many grocery stores, especially specialty food stores, have begun to carry Lakanto’s products. Many Costco’s also carry Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener.

Where can ground sunflower seed meal be purchased?

I buy ground sunflower seed meal on Amazon. If you don’t want to go this route, you can make your own by grinding up raw sunflower seeds in a food processor until it turns into a flour.

Can this recipe be made dairy-free?

This recipe can be made dairy-free by following the substitution notes for butter and heavy whipping cream as listed above.

How many net carbs are in each bar?

Each low carb magic bar contains 2 grams of net carbs. This recipe yields 16 servings in total and one bar is equivalent to one serving.

What diets is this recipe compliant with?

  • Keto and Low-Carb: One slice contains just 2 grams of net carbs.
  • Gluten-Free and Grain-Free: These low carb magic bars are both grain-free and gluten-free.
  • Nut-Free: These magic bars are made without nuts. Note that coconuts are not a nut. This recipe does contain coconut.
  • Vegetarian: These magic bars are vegetarian-friendly.
  • Dairy-Free: You can make this recipe dairy-free by following the suggested substitutions listed above and below in the recipe card.
  • Refined Sugar-Free: This recipe doesn’t contain any sweeteners or sugar.

The full nutrition information, including calories, fat, protein, and total carbs, is available for you to review below the recipe instructions within the recipe card.

How should these be stored?

Refrigerator Storage: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer Storage: After bars have cooled and been sliced, transfer each slice to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to freeze until solid. Once solidified, transfer frozen slices to an airtight container or storage bag. The bars can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

How to make these keto magic bars from scratch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until well-combined. Add butter and egg and, using a spoon or your hands, mix together until a dough has formed.

magic bar base ingredients in a mixing bowl being folded using a rubber spatula

Transfer base mixture to prepared baking pan and, using a spoon, press into even layer, flattening and smoothing out the mixture with a rubber spatula. Using a fork, prick holes into the mixture.

Transfer pan to the oven to bake until slightly golden, about 15-18 minutes.

magic bar base in a baking pan lined with parchment paper atop a marble kitchen counter

Sweetened Condensed Milk: Meanwhile, to a saucepan over medium heat, heat heavy cream, monk fruit sweetener, butter, and vanilla extract. Bring mixture to a boil before reducing heat to low and simmering until mixture has slightly thickened, about 20 minutes, whisking regularly to prevent clumping. Remove saucepan from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.

sweetened condensed milk being cooked in a sauce pan resting atop a marble kitchen counter

Final Steps: After the base has finished baking, remove the pan from oven and, atop base in an even layer, add chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and shredded coconut.

magic bar base topped with shredded coconut and dark chocolate chips in a baking pan atop a marble kitchen counter

Pour sweetened condensed milk on top.

sweetened condensed milk being poured on top of a baking pan of keto magic bars

Transfer pan back to the oven to bake until edges are slightly golden and the condensed milk is almost set, about 20-25 additional minutes.

After baking, remove the pan from oven and allow to cool at room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator until fully set, about 2 hours, but preferably overnight.

overhead image of a pan of keto magic bars with the top covered with sweetened condensed milk

Slice and serve.

overhead image of keto magic bars cut to small bite sized treats in a baking pan atop a marble kitchen counter

Interested in more dessert recipes like these keto magic bars?

If you’d like more sweet recipe ideas, here are some great options:

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close-up angled image of keto magic bars stacked on top of each other atop a marble kitchen counter

Keto Magic Bars

  • Author: Sara Nelson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

These Keto Magic Bars are a deliciously sweet and low-carb dessert that are made without almond flour. These cookie bars, sometimes referred to as 7-Layer Bar or Hello Dollies, are made with homemade sweetened condensed milk and include sugar-free chocolate chips.

Ingredients

Base:

Sweetened Condensed Milk:

Toppings:

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until well-combined. Add butter and egg and, using spoon or your hands, mix together until a dough has formed.
  3. Transfer base mixture to prepared baking pan and, using a spoon, press into even layer, flattening and smoothing out mixture with a rubber spatula. Using a fork, prick holes into mixture. Transfer pan to oven to bake until slightly golden, about 15-18 minutes.
  4. Sweetened Condensed Milk: Meanwhile, to a saucepan over medium heat, heat heavy cream, monk fruit sweetener, butter, and vanilla extract. Bring mixture to a boil before reducing heat to low and simmering until mixture has slightly thickened, about 20 minutes, whisking regularly to prevent clumping. Remove saucepan from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
  5. Final Steps: After the base has finished baking, remove pan from oven and, atop base in an even layer, add chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and shredded coconut. Pour sweetened condensed milk on top. Transfer pan back to oven to bake until edges are slightly golden and the condensed milk is almost set, about 20-25 additional minutes.
  6. After baking, remove pan from oven and allow to cool at room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator until fully set, about 2 hours, but preferably overnight, before slicing into bars and serving.

Recipe Notes:

Ground Sunflower Seed Meal Substitution: You can make your own homemade ground sunflower seed meal by pulsing raw sunflower seeds in a food processor until they turn into a flour. If you can eat nuts, almond flour should work fine here at a 1:1 ratio substitution.

Butter Substitution: Coconut oil can be substituted in for butter at a 1:1 ratio.

Heavy Whipping Cream Substitution: Canned full-fat coconut cream (not canned coconut milk) can be subbed in for heavy cream at a 1:1 ratio. You will likely need to simmer it longer than the original recipe indicates and/or add xanthan gum to thicken it.

Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener Substitution: Classic Monk Fruit Sweetener from Lakanto can be subbed in here at a 1:1 ratio. Swerve or erythritol would also work. Powdered stevia or liquid stevia will not work.

How To Make This Recipe Dairy-Free: This recipe can be made dairy-free by following the substitution notes for butter and heavy whipping cream as listed above.

Where To Purchase Ground Sunflower Seed Meal: I buy ground sunflower seed meal on Amazon. If you don’t want to go this route, see above for substitution suggestion.

Where To Purchase Monk Fruit Sweetener: You can purchase monk fruit sweetener on Lakanto’s website. Use the discount code REALBALANCED at checkout for 20% OFF your order. Alternatively, monk fruit sweetener is becoming widely available at grocery stores.

Net Carbs: 1 bar, which is equivalent to 1 serving, contains 2 grams of net carbs.

Refrigerator Storage: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer Storage: After bars have cooled and been sliced, transfer each slice to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to freeze until solid. Once solidified, transfer frozen slices to an airtight container or storage bag. The bars can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Keywords: keto magic bars, keto magic bars recipe, keto hello dollies bars

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4 Comments

    • Sara Nelson says

      I unfortunately don’t know a viable nut-free or seed-free substitution here for the ground sunflower seed meal. The only thing I can think of would be oat flour, but that isn’t low in carbs.

      Reply

  2. Sharon Kershaw says

    I think the step is missing to add the sweetened condensed milk to the baking pan? Is it added atop/after the choc chips and coconuts?

    Reply

    • Sara Nelson says

      Thank you so much for pointing that out and my apologies for not including that instruction, Sharon! Yes, you are right; pour the sweetened condensed milk as the top layer after you’ve added the chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and shredded coconut.

      Reply