Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
It’s a cold, wet morning here at That 1870s Homestead, but Christmas is in the air, and I’m determined to make the kitchen warm and cozy with another holiday recipe. Today, I’m sharing my take on candy oat bars, often called magic bars. These sweet treats are perfect for adding to a holiday cookie platter. I’m making them gluten-free this year, which should suit everyone at tonight’s party, especially my daughter-in-law, who needs gluten-free options. The base is a simple crumble made from gluten-free oats, flour, brown sugar, pecans, and melted butter, with a little pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. I like to sneak in some coconut, though it’s not strictly necessary, but it always feels right to me.
Once the crust is baked and firm, the magic really starts. I mix Christmas-colored M&M's into the reserved crumble topping, melt a few more M&M's to combine with sweetened condensed milk, and spread the whole decadent mixture over the crust. Before it goes back into the oven, I sprinkle on some festive Christmas sprinkles. A little trick I’ve learned—though I forget to follow it every year—is to add the sprinkles during the last ten minutes of baking so they set into the bars properly.
These bars need time to cool completely before cutting, and trust me, the wait is worth it. They’re rich and satisfying, so a small square is just enough to savor. I’ll be putting these on a platter for tonight’s gathering, and I’ll share more tips for building beautiful homemade treat platters in tomorrow’s video. If you decide to make these or try your own variation, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Christmas is the perfect time for sharing—not just treats, but ideas too.
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🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥒 Epic Gardening: glnk.io/73j50/8vn (Promo Code Shop1870 to get 5% off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
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Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
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Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
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0:00 Good Morning and Welcome
1:00 Introducing Magic Bars
1:41 Ingredients for the Crust
2:23 Making the Crust
4:08 Preparing the Toppings
5:14 Assembling the Bars
7:10 Baking Instructions
8:00 Adding Christmas Sprinkles
8:40 Cooling and Cutting Tips
9:30 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
It’s a cold, wet morning here at That 1870s Homestead, but Christmas is in the air, and I’m determined to make the kitchen warm and cozy with another holiday recipe. Today, I’m sharing my take on candy oat bars, often called magic bars. These sweet treats are perfect for adding to a holiday cookie platter. I’m making them gluten-free this year, which should suit everyone at tonight’s party, especially my daughter-in-law, who needs gluten-free options. The base is a simple crumble made from gluten-free oats, flour, brown sugar, pecans, and melted butter, with a little pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. I like to sneak in some coconut, though it’s not strictly necessary, but it always feels right to me.
Once the crust is baked and firm, the magic really starts. I mix Christmas-colored M&M's into the reserved crumble topping, melt a few more M&M's to combine with sweetened condensed milk, and spread the whole decadent mixture over the crust. Before it goes back into the oven, I sprinkle on some festive Christmas sprinkles. A little trick I’ve learned—though I forget to follow it every year—is to add the sprinkles during the last ten minutes of baking so they set into the bars properly.
These bars need time to cool completely before cutting, and trust me, the wait is worth it. They’re rich and satisfying, so a small square is just enough to savor. I’ll be putting these on a platter for tonight’s gathering, and I’ll share more tips for building beautiful homemade treat platters in tomorrow’s video. If you decide to make these or try your own variation, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Christmas is the perfect time for sharing—not just treats, but ideas too.
---------------
👕 Shop Our Merch: bonfire.com/store/1870smerch
🌻 HOSS Garden Tools & Seeds: shrsl.com/33ehp (Promo Code SHOP1870 for free seeds!)
🌱 MIGardener: migardener.com/1870
🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥒 Epic Gardening: glnk.io/73j50/8vn (Promo Code Shop1870 to get 5% off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Finds: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
0:00 Good Morning and Welcome
1:00 Introducing Magic Bars
1:41 Ingredients for the Crust
2:23 Making the Crust
4:08 Preparing the Toppings
5:14 Assembling the Bars
7:10 Baking Instructions
8:00 Adding Christmas Sprinkles
8:40 Cooling and Cutting Tips
9:30 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
