Nordy Bars {Nordstrom Magic Bar Recipe}

A homemade version of the famous Nordy Bars recipe from Nordstrom. This easy magic bar recipe combines chocolate chips, butterscotch, and marshmallows into a delicious cookie bar that is perfect for a crowd.

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Each parent has a signature thing. Something kids will always identify with the family. Something that is “theirs”. My Nana had her Almond Roca Recipe. My dad has his smoked salmon.

My mom was never much of a cook. With full-time jobs, two kids, and disabilities that made walking a challenge, much of the food my parents served was frozen and from Costco. 

But any work potluck or big family event meant that my mom would make Nordy Bars. Nordy Bars were all hers.

Three days before my mom passed away, I had to have a hard conversation with her about what she wanted her memorial to be like. She wanted a celebration of life and that the only food to be served would be chocolate.

What Are Nordy Bars?

Nordy Bars are a dessert bar that was (still are?) served at the cafe at the Seattle clothing chain Nordstroms. There are many origin stories for how the Nordy Bar recipe came into the general public.

All I know is that the recipe lived on a 3×5 index card in my mom’s ratty avocado green Tupperware recipe box in her tidy handwriting.

What Ingredients Are in Nordy Bars?

Just like Aunt Barbara’s Old Fashioned Fudge, there is nothing nutritionally redeeming about these Nordstrom Cookie Bars. Just go with it and eat them in moderation.

These bars are rocking:

• Butter
• Butterscotch and chocolate chips
• Brown sugar (related: How to Make Brown Sugar)
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract (related: Vanilla Extract Recipe)
• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour + vital wheat gluten (but you can use all-purpose flour)
• Marshmallows (related: Healthy Marshmallows)
• Walnuts (optional)

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes:

• Don’t skip the step of lining the baking dish with parchment paper. These bars are ooey gooey and rudely will stick to anything other than parchment after cooling.
• If you use white flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour, there is no need to add the vital wheat gluten.
• Melt the butter, brown sugar, and butterscotch chips on low heat. My first attempt involved too high of heat and I scrambled the eggs when I added them. Still ate them. 🙂
• Butterscotch does not melt well and may require some stirring and patience on your part.

More Dessert Recipes Like This:

• Fudgy Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies
• Strawberry Truffles {Dark Chocolate Truffles}
• Mocha Frosting
• Peppermint Bark Graham Cracker Recipe
• Chocolate Pretzel Bark
• Addicting Strawberry Chocolate Bark
• Fudgy Adzuki Bean Brownies

Print Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Nordy Bars

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time28 mins

Total Time38 mins

A homemade version of the famous Nordy Bar recipe from Nordstrom. This easy recipe combines chocolate chips, butterscotch, and marshmallows into a cookie bar.

Servings: 24 people

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Nordy bars

Calories: 202kcal

Author: Sarah Cook - Sustainable Cooks

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1 package butterscotch chip (12 oz)1 package butterscotch chip (12 oz)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar packed1/2 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 eggs, beaten room temperature2 eggs, beaten room temperature
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract2 tsps pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 tbsp vital wheat gluten2 tbsp vital wheat gluten
• 2 tsp baking powder2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp salt
• 1 package chocolate chips (12 oz)1 package chocolate chips (12 oz)
• 2 cups mini marshmallows2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup chopped nuts1 cup chopped nuts

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add butterscotch chips, brown sugar, and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine flour, vital wheat gluten, baking powder, and salt. Stir. Set aside.
• Add the eggs to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
• Add the flour to the butter mixture, and stir until combined. Add in the vanilla. Set aside until completely cool.
• Lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan, and lay parchment in, allowing some to hang over the sides. 
• When the butter and flour mixture has cooled, stir in chocolate chips, marshmallows, and chopped nuts. Spread in the baking pan.
• Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 28 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before cutting into squares.

Notes

If you use white flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour, there is no need to add the vital wheat gluten.

Please make sure to melt the butter, brown sugar, and butterscotch chips on low heat. My first attempt involved too high of heat and I scrambled the eggs when I added them.

Butterscotch does not melt well and may require some stirring and patience on your part.

Nutrition Facts

Nordy Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 202 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 25mg8%

Sodium 102mg4%

Potassium 101mg3%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 15g17%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 170IU3%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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8 Cup Measuring Cup

Parchment - Bleach Free and Compostable

Vital Wheat Gluten

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