7-layer bars (aka magic cookie bars) have a butter graham cracker crust that’s loaded with gooey layers chocolate and butterscotch chips, pecans, and coconut. They really are seven layers of magic!
Old Fashioned 7-Layer Cookie Bars
We’ve been making this classic treat every Christmas since I was a little girl. They’re one of my mom’s specialties and are one of the top holiday desserts requested by family and friends along with Christmas crack and gingerbread bars.
These are also known as magic cookie bars or hello dolly bars and are loaded with layers of graham cracker crumbs, chocolate and butterscotch chips, pecans, and coconut. Sweetened condensed milk blankets them with perfect gooey texture!
If you can’t get enough classic dessert bar recipes try scotcheroos, Twix bars and blondies, too!
7 Layers of Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Crust: The base of the dessert is a delicious graham cracker crust made of graham cracker crumbs and butter.
- Chocolate chips: Feel free to use milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips depending on preference.
- Butterscotch chips: I love adding these in to create more variety and depth of flavor, but sometimes I like to mix in 1/2 cup white chocolate chips too.
- Pecans: Use raw pecans, chopped into pieces or try chopped walnuts or peanuts.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This helps makes the bars super gooey and delicious, Eagle brand seven layer bars are an old fashioned classic!
- Coconut: Make sure to use sweetened shredded coconut. You can always leave this off if you’re not a coconut fan.
How to Make 7-Layer Bars
There are 7 layers but only three steps to make these amazing bars!
- Crust. Melt butter and combine with graham crumbs in a medium bowl with a fork. Then press the crumbs into a lined baking dish.
- Assemble. Next layer magic bars with the semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and nuts.
- Pour. Then pour the condensed milk evenly over top. Sprinkle with coconut.
- Bake. Place in the oven at 350°F for 20 to 25 mins, until the top is lightly browned. Let cool then transfer to a cutting board to cut into squares.
Seven Layer Magic Bars Tips and Variations
- DIY graham cracker crumbs. Place graham crackers in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs. Or add them to a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. To make the 1 1/2 cups for this recipe, use about 10 graham crackers.
- Crust. You could also use a salty crushed pretzel crust, similar to the crust in my raspberry jello pretzel salad. Or a gingersnap crust would also taste delicious.
- Line your pan. Make sure to line your pan with parchment paper or foil so that the 7 layer dessert bars don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Leave enough parchment over the edges to easily grab and remove bars.
- Let set. As tempting as it is, let the bars cool completely before serving. The condensed milk needs time to set or else the bars may be runny. You can stick the pan in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
- Cutting tips. To cut them into diamonds, simply use a plastic knife and make horizontal cuts across the pan about an inch and a half apart. Next, make diagonal cuts across the pan about an inch and a half apart. Then gently lift out of the pan.
Storing
- Storage: This dessert will last about 3-4 days if stored at room temperature in an airtight container or bag. If stored in the fridge, they will keep for a few more days.Add image
- Freeze: Wait until the pan has cooled completely, then cut seven layer bars into squares or diamonds. Add to a freezer container or bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or on the counter for a few hours until no longer frozen.
Are you looking for more easy desserts?! These sugar cookies, best chocolate chip cookies, popcorn balls and peanut butter bars recipe are favorites!
More Desserts Bar Recipes
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7-Layer Bars
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (I prefer Keebler)
- ½ cup (8 Tablespoons) butter , melted
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips , or half white
- ½ cup chopped pecans , plus more if desired
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil. Lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make crust. In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs and 8 Tablespoons melted butter with a fork. Press crumb mixture into baking dish.
- Assemble bars. Spread even layers of 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup butterscotch chips, and 1/2 cup pecans over the crumb mixture. Pour the 14 ounce can condensed milk evenly over the top. Sprinkle with 1 cup coconut.
- Bake. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Let cool completely before cutting into bars or diamonds.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Bars, Chocolate, Christmas, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Wow, all those layers – my mouth is watering! These look absolutely delicious!
These cookies are mouthwatering. Seven layers of deliciousness that I’m dying to make! Great Christmas treat!
These bars do look magical. All those layers look so delicious.
7 layers of yummy bars. Whose not going to love these? So delicious!
They seriously look magical!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy!
Do these freeze well? Thank you
I haven’t tried freezing these, but they should freeze pretty well! :)
Thank you, I will make them today! Sounds like a awesome treat! :)
I make these pretty often- we love them! The crust I make is different- I use a stick of butter and a Devil’s Food cake mix. Just use a pastry blender and mix the butter in the dry cake mix until its crumbly. Gently press it in a large pan (I use a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan). Then add the layers of yummy toppings! Sometimes I add marshmallows just before the sweetened condensed milk- now they taste like s’mores! Mmmm!
they are sooooo yummy, made them before.
Oh my, these look decadent! I am going to have to try them :-)
Hugs, antonella :-)
mmmm magic bars are absolutely one of my favorite treats. And I actually have extra butterscotch chips and coconut from a recipe I made last night, so I think these are on my list to make. At least if I give them to neighbors, hubs can’t be mad about me making extra treats.
I make these every Christmas too. I always make them a little different depending on ingredients I have on hand. This year I did milk & white chocolate chips, coconut & walnuts. They are so good I could eat the whole pan.
haha I could totally eat the whole pan too. They are so addicting! I hope you have a happy holidays! xo
These look delicious! I love your photos! They are making my hungry -).
YUM!!!
I’ve made these, and they’re definitely ARE magic! They always taste like ‘more’ until I’m totally crashed on the couch. What would be magic would be if I could manage to just eat half of one and leave the rest alone. LOL
OMG! I had those when I was little and always loved them!! & I have never been able to find a recipie that sounded about righ until now!! Thank you!! :)
Yummy those look good. I cannot wait to try them.
Oh these look amazing! :) Definitely just made me hungry!