November 7, 2023
Review Recipe7 Layer Bars
An irresistible dessert filled with layer upon layer of indulgent and delicious ingredients, these 7 layer bars are pure magic.
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These delicious 7 layer bars have been a staple in many homes for generations, and there’s no wonder why! Decadent layers of buttery graham cracker crust, crunchy coconut flakes, rich chocolate chips, and pecans make this classic treat one that no one can resist.
7 Layer Bars Ingredients
7 layer bars are an indulgent treat featuring layers of sweet flavors that meld together into a savory bite that is truly sensational.
The perfect combination of gooey butterscotch, crunchy nuts, and silky chocolate chips come together on a bed of graham cracker crust for an ultimate taste experience.
You’ll need:
- 1½ cups of graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup of salted butter, melted
- 1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup of butterscotch chips
- 1 cup of pecans, roughly chopped
- 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
Substitutions And Additions
BUTTERSCOTCH CHIPS: If you are not partial to butterscotch chips, you can certainly swap them out for another type of chips.
Peanut butter chips, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or all semi-sweet chips will all taste delicious in this 7 layer bar recipe.
NUTS: You can swap out the chopped pecans for chopped walnuts for these gooey bars. You can also cut back to ½ cup of nuts if you desire.
This is a very forgiving recipe.
How To Make This 7 Layer Bars Recipe
These delicious bars are made by creating layers of each ingredient. Once added, the flavors all blend together for a truly decadent treat.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with baker’s spray, or line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.
Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. You want to make sure your crust is firmly packed into an even layer.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
You can make your own graham cracker crumbs by running graham crackers through a food processor or in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin until they are fine crumbs.
STEP THREE: Evenly sprinkle the sweetened shredded coconut, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chopped pecans over top of the crust.
Be sure that everything is evenly distributed over the crust layer.
STEP FOUR: Slowly drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the entire pan of 7-layer bar ingredients.
Try to make sure that you cover as much of the chips and nuts as possible.
PRO TIP:
You will want to scrape out all the sweetened condensed milk from inside the can. You can probably scrape out an extra 2-3 tablespoons of the thick, sweetened milk from the sides and bottom of the can so you have all that goodness added to your 7 layer bars.
STEP FIVE: Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until the sides are a light golden brown and the center doesn’t look extremely wet still.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your bars at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
STEP SIX: Allow the 7-layer bars to cool completely before slicing and serving them.
PRO TIP:
These seven-layer bars can be served at room temperature or chilled.
How To Serve
These ooey-gooey 7 layer cookie bars make the perfect afternoon or evening snack.
Serve them along with a pumpkin spice latte or a warm mug of homemade hot chocolate to wash them down.
For an extra decadent treat, serve them with a cold creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Our snickerdoodle cheesecake bars and salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars are two more dessert ideas that should not be missed.
MORE DESSERT BARS RECIPES
Storage
Keep a batch of these bars in the freezer for when you are craving something decadent and sweet.
MAKE AHEAD: These 7-layer bars can be prepared in advance, making them a fantastic option for planning ahead.
Once you’ve baked and cooled the bars completely, you can store them in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap.
Store them at room temperature for up to two to three days, and when you’re ready to serve, they’ll still taste wonderfully fresh.
IN THE FRIDGE: This 7 layer bar dessert can be stored in an airtight container on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
PRO TIP:
When storing these 7-layer bars, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers of bars if you are stacking them on top of each other in a lidded container. This will help keep them from sticking together.
IN THE FREEZER: These magic 7 layer bars can also be frozen for up to two months, tightly wrapped as individual bars, or as a whole pan.
If you freeze them as a whole, line your baking pan with parchment paper to make removing them from the baking pan easier.
You can pre-slice the bars but leave them all connected, then tightly wrap them in plastic wrap and then a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Thaw them in the refrigerator.
Why We Love This Recipe
EASY AND QUICK: With simple layering and no need for mixing or stirring, it’s a fantastic choice when you’re short on time but still want a delicious treat.
IRRESISTIBLE LAYERS: From the buttery graham cracker crust to the sweet and gooey condensed milk, every bite is a blend of ingredients that’s both comforting and indulgent.
VERSATILE INGREDIENTS: Whether you prefer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, or coconut flakes, you can mix and match to create your unique variation.
This delicious treat goes by a few different names, such as Dolly Bars or 7-layer magic bars, but whatever they are called, they are amazing! The 7 layer bars combine gooey sweetness with crunchy texture to create an irresistible indulgence that anyone can enjoy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I leave out the coconut in this dessert bars recipe?
This easy recipe is so forgiving that you can add or omit ingredients, and they will still taste delicious. Leave out the coconut or replace it with quick oats for a tasty texture.
Can I freeze these seven layer magic bars?
Our seven layer magic cookie bars can be kept in the freezer for up to two months.
Can I add peanut butter to the seven layer bars?
If you’d like to add the delicious flavor of peanut butter to these 7 layer magic bars, the easiest way would be to mix in peanut butter chips along with the chocolate and butterscotch chips in this recipe.
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7 Layer Bars
An irresistible dessert filled with layer upon layer of indulgent and delicious ingredients, these 7 layer bars are pure magic.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with baker’s spray or line it with a piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted salted butter. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. You want to make sure your crust is firmly packed into an even layer.
- To the crust, evenly sprinkle the sweetened shredded coconut, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chopped pecans. Be sure that everything is evenly distributed over the crust layer.
- Slowly drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the entire pan of 7-layer bar ingredients. Try to make sure that you cover as much of the chips and nuts as possible.
- Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until the sides are a light golden brown and the center doesn’t look extremely wet still.
- Allow the 7-layer bars to cool completely before slicing and serving them.
Notes
- You can make your own graham cracker crumbs by running graham crackers through a food processor or in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin until they are fine crumbs.
- You will want to scrape out all the sweetened condensed milk from inside the can. You can probably scrape out an extra 2 to 3 tablespoons of the thick, sweetened milk from the sides and bottom of the can so you have all that goodness added to your 7 layer bars.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your bars at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
- These seven-layer bars can be served at room temperature or chilled.
- When storing these 7-layer bars, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers of bars if you are stacking them on top of each other in a lidded container. This will help keep them from sticking together.
Nutrition
Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 351IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 2mg
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Comments
Amy Kelley says
This is hands down one of my favorite recipes! And my family loved them as well. It is very easy to make these bars and they are sooo yummy!