7 Layer Bars, sometimes called “magic bars” or “Hello Dolly Bars“, this easy recipe is made using butterscotch chips, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, melted butter, almonds, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and coconut flakes! It’s a dessert recipe that’s easy to make and you’ll be hooked on them!
Butterscotch is an ingredient that adds such a pop of flavor, like in these butterscotch brownies, and they’d compliment these 7 layer bars perfectly on a dessert tray!
Why You’ll Love These 7-Layer Bars
These golden brown seven-layer bars are sweet treats that are full of so much flavor in each bite! They’re also the perfect easy dessert or even snack idea if you need something on the go.
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Ingredients
See the full recipe card with instructions toward the bottom of this post!
What makes these magic cookie bars so great, is that the ingredients are simple, and most can be stored in the pantry; making it a dessert recipe that can be made at the last minute because you can have the ingredients stocked up in the pantry!
What you’ll need for these 7-layer bars:
- ½ cup melted salted butter
- 1 ½ cups graham crumbs
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped almonds
Substitutions
Don’t have all of the ingredients on hand? Or do you prefer a different kind of ingredient? No problem! Here are our favorite substitution ideas for these bar cookies:
- Peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch
- White chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips instead of sem-sweet
- Gluten-free graham crackers can easily be substituted
- You can use aluminum foil instead of wax paper or parchment paper
- Unsalted butter can be used instead of salted but you may do a pinch of salt in the graham cracker mixture to help offset the sweetness.
- Add in toffee chips for some extra crunch in this 7 layer bars recipe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare a 9 x 13 inch baking dish or baking pan, by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper or wax paper. (The parchment paper makes cleanup so much easier!)
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir to combine the crushed graham crackers and melted butter.
- Press the graham cracker crumb mixture in the bottom of the prepared 9 x 13 inch pan to create the buttery graham cracker crust.
- Slowly pour over the entire can of sweetened condensed milk so it covers the graham crust.
- Sprinkle with coconut (reserving a bit for the top), sprinkling as evenly as possible across the top of the sweetened condensed milk.
- Next, it’s time to create a layer of chocolate chips. First, sprinkle on the butterscotch chips.
- Sprinkle with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle on chopped nuts, trying to spread them out as evenly as possible.
- Lastly, add the last little bit of coconut flakes to the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is starting to get golden brown.
- Cool pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes (at least) before removing the squares with the parchment paper.
- Once completely cooled to room temperature, slice into 24 slices and serve the dessert bars or store in an airtight container.
This simple recipe may just become your new favorite dessert! It’s easy, and delicious and you can even package them up to give as great gifts!
Storage
This gooey bar dessert is even good leftover and are great treats for later!
Store any cooled 7-layer bars in an airtight container and consume within 4-5 days.
FAQs and Expert Tips
In the 1960’s the musical “Hello Dolly” was very popular and it was the same time that these “magic” bars were introduced and were given the “hello dolly” name.
No! They can sit out at room temperature on the counter for a few days! But they can also be refrigerated if you prefer, to help them stay fresh longer.
They are essentially all the same things but are just called different things by some! The bars are considered “magic” since the layers can easily melt together and hold in place. They’re referred to as “7-layer bars” because there are 7 layers of ingredients!
Related Recipes
Love butterscotch desserts? Don’t miss this no bake butterscotch pie recipe.
If you love this easy dessert idea, then you’ll also love the Cookies N Cream Rice Krispy Treats, these Butterscotch Brownies, Cornflake brownies, and this edible cookie dough!
Recipe
7 Layer Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup melted salted butter unsalted is ok too
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs crushed graham crackers
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce can
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips see post for substitution ideas
- 1 cup butterscotch chips see post for substitution ideas
- 1 cup flaked coconut sweetened (or shredded coconut)
- 1 cup chopped almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare a 9 x 13 inch baking dish by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper.
- In a medium sized bowl, stir to combine the graham crumbs and melted butter.
- Press graham crumb mixture in the bottom of the prepared 9 x 13 inch pan which will create a buttery, graham cracker crust.
- Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the graham crust.
- Sprinkle with coconut (reserve a little for the top), then sprinkle a layer of butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, nuts and then the reamaining shredded coconut.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is starting to get golden brown.
- Cool the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes (at least) before removing the squares with the parchment paper.
- Once completely cooled to room temperature, slice into 24 slices and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Natasha says
The 7 layers are so so good! I highly recommend these dollies bars for dessert, everyone will love them!
Olivia says
I made these bars yesterday for my family and they were a huge success! So many delicious flavors packed into one bar! Definitely going to make another batch soon.
Melissa says
These bars are rich and delicious – the name says all! This is my second time making your recipe.