CHOCOLATE-CHERRY MAGIC COOKIE BARS

28 sandwich cookies (Oreos), finely crushed
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
2 cups white or semisweet chocolate chips
1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, well drained and halved
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325F if using a glass baking dish).

Mix crushed cookies and margarine or butter; press onto bottom of 13x9x 2-inch baking pan.*

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crust.

Layer chocolate chips, cherries, coconut and nuts over crust; press down firmly.

Bake at 350 degrees (325 degrees for glass baking dish) for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and set. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

*For easy removal of bars, line pan with foil. Remove foil before cutting into bars.

Makes 24 bars
Adapted from source: The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, June 7, 2000