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7-Layer Magic Bars
The famous dessert bars made with a graham cracker crust, sweetened flaked coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, all drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. The perfect dessert bar recipe!
This is one of those recipes that everyone seems to go crazy for. Everyone loves a Magic Cookie Bar. You may also know them as Hello Dolly Bars. It is unbelievably easy and let’s be real — it takes very little effort in the kitchen. You don’t even need a stand or hand mixer. It is that easy!
Plus how do you go wrong with a buttery graham cracker crust, coconut, chocolate, butterscotch, nuts, and sweetened condensed milk? If a recipe calls for a can of sweetened condensed milk, I am all in.
I once read that Martha Stewart keeps sweetened condensed milk in her refrigerator and her guilty pleasure is eating a spoonful of it late at night. Martha has never been so relatable to me.
She always loses me when she takes 15 minutes to fold a fitted sheet. I don’t have that kind of time Martha to waste on perfectly folding fitted sheets. Anyone else with me?
I know how to make my kids extra happy. I whip up these seven-layer bars, cut them up into pieces, place them in a large Ziploc bag, and throw them in the freezer. Then they can snack on them all day long. My daughter admitted to me at 4:00 pm that she had hardly eaten anything all day — except for the 7-Layer Magic Bars for breakfast. I had to laugh! You really ate the Magic Cookie Bars for breakfast? This is what happens when you live with me. 🙂
This is your fair warning that these 7-layer Hello Dolly Bars are highly addicting. You may not be able to stop at one. I played around with this recipe to get it just right to our liking.
These are very sweet bars so I like to sprinkle on a little sea salt to offset the sweetness. Plus it pairs so nicely with the butterscotch. Trust me on this one. Oh, and if you love nuts, feel free to add more nuts. They cut the sweetness too. You can use your favorite nut of choice — pecans or walnuts — or whatever your heart desires.
How to make the Best 7-Layer Magic Bars:
- Start by making the graham cracker crust. This is the easiest crust because it is made with crushed graham crackers and melted butter. That’s it. If you own a food processor, it takes about 30 seconds to make the crust. If not, you can always buy the graham cracker crumbs and just stir them together with melted butter. If you are using graham cracker sheets, you can also place them in a bag and wack them with a rolling pin.
- Press down the crust in a 9 x 13 pan. If you want to make things extra easy, line the pan with parchment paper or foil. If you use foil, lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray to make it easy to remove. This is my all-time favorite 9 x 13 baking pan
- Sprinkle sweetened flaked coconut all over the crust. Then sprinkle chocolate chips all over the coconut. You can do all semi-sweet chocolate, or half milk chocolate and half semisweet. It all depends on your preference. Then sprinkle with butterscotch chips and your favorite chopped nuts — pecans or walnuts.
- Add a touch of sea salt. This is when the magic happens because it turns this sweet bar into a salty sweet bar and makes it that much better. Bake for about 20 minutes and then let them cool. Place in the refrigerator or freezer to allow them to set up before cutting them.
If you love dessert bars, check out these other recipes:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Brookies (Chocolate Chip Cookie and Brownie Bar)
Salted Caramel Blondies
Better than a Boyfriend Brownies
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7-Layer Magic Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (about 12 sheets)
- 6 Tablespoons Salted Butter (melted)
- 1 cup Sweetened Flaked Coconut
- 3/4 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 cup Butterscotch Chips
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts (or 1/4 more)
- (1) 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (sprinkled all over bars)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. If you own a food processor, pulse the graham cracker sheets until finely ground. Also, you can use graham cracker crumbs and just stir them together with melted butter. If you are using graham cracker sheets, you can also place them in a bag and wack them with a rolling pin. Once the crumbs are finely ground, stir together with melted butter.
- Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray. Press crust into pan.
- Sprinkle coconut over crust. Top with chocolate, butterscotch chips, and pecans. Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake for 20-24 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Refrigerate or freeze for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Cut into small squares.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
INCREDIBLE RECIPE!
These bars are addicting!! SO YUM
Your pictures looked amazing, the bars tasted even better! Kids devoured them like it was their last meal! Literally, only small crumbs left in the pan! Thanks for making me look like a hero to all those kiddos.
OH WOW!!!!! I think these bars are one of the best things I have ever eaten.
Good to know!! Thanks for your reply! I made them essentially with double the crust (25 graham crackers & 3/4c butter) and they were a big hit! Everyone loved the slightly thicker crust! Thanks again, you are a wizard in the kitchen!
I made these as stated and the crust was overly buttery and crumbly. At first I thought you accidentally doubled the butter but then I realized you probably accidentally cut the graham crackers in half (based on your cracker:butter ratio for the graham cracker crust in your key lime pie which is amazing!). I made them with double the graham crackers and they were delicious! Just wanted to let you know I think there is a typo 🙂 Thanks for all the amazing recipes, you are a talent!
Hi Aimee! I think you are right…thank you so much! I did make these with 3/4 cup of butter and I agree it was overly crumbly and you just don’t need that much butter. I adjusted the recipe. I appreciate your support! 🙂
These are SOOOO good! I urge everyone to skip melting the butter & chips in the microwave & take the time to do it the good old bowl over boiling water way. I am going to bake my way through your website starting with your cranberry orange layer cake on New Year’s Day ????
Lala
Happy 2121 to you & yours!!!!