Just 7 ingredients — graham cracker crumbs, butter, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, walnuts, condensed milk, and shredded coconut — stand between you and these popular classic 7 layer bars (no mystery about how they got their name, huh?). The prep-work is almost non-existent — just layer your ingredients into a 9×13 pan and bake!
I’ve been putting off publishing these 7 Layer Bars for much too long because I was worried that they were “too easy”.
Too easy. Like that’s some sort of bad thing. Who am I?
If you’re here, I’m guessing you enjoy the same kind of recipes that I do. The simple (easy!), but still from-scratch ones. The ones that blow your friends/family/fellow potluck attendees away with how absolutely amazing they taste and you get to say “oh they’re really so easy to make!” and actually mean it before sending out the recipe to everyone on your contacts list because they all want it… because everyone loves an easy recipe.
I don’t need to convince you of that, so I don’t know why I was so worried that too many of you would be so unimpressed by a recipe that’s “too simple”.
Sorry guys, let’s get on with these so easy 7 Layer Bars, shall we?
The first thing you’ll need to do is combine your melted butter and your graham cracker crumbs together in a separate bowl. Use a fork to work the two ingredients together until they’re well-combined, and then tamp them tightly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish for a firm graham cracker crust.
Honestly, this is the most “complicated” part of the whole process because it involves combining two ingredients (and I use salted butter here specifically so we don’t have to add salt and make these 7 Layer Bars 8 ingredients… that would just be awkward 😉). Once you’ve done this part, you’ll just spread/sprinkle/drizzle the rest of your ingredients evenly over the base and bake for about 25 minutes.
Most traditional 7 layer bar recipes will bury the coconut layer beneath the sweetened condensed milk but I prefer to top my bars off with it instead. The coconut will become lightly toasted in the oven, giving you a slight sweet crunch in every bite.
If you prefer the original method, just layer the shredded coconut beneath your chopped walnuts (or pecans, either nut will work) and the sweetened condensed milk will be the last ingredient that you add on top before baking your 7 Layer Bars.
I prefer to enjoy these cookie bars when they’re still warm, but the hotter they are the messier they will be. For neater cookie bars, wait at least an hour or two before slicing and baking (you can speed up the process even more by putting your 7 layer bars in the refrigerator, but I personally don’t like them cold and think that it makes the chocolate too hard to bite through).
Enjoy!
How to Make 7 Layer Bars
7 Layer Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup (113 g) salted butter melted
- 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170 g) butterscotch chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 14 oz (395 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and lightly butter the sides and bottom or a 9x13 baking dish. Set aside.
- Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter butter in a bowl and use a fork to stir until well-combined. Pour into the bottom of your prepared pan and use the clean bottom of a measuring cup to tamp into the bottom of pan1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup (113 g) salted butter
- Pour chocolate chips, then butterscotch chips, then chopped nuts, evenly over the graham cracker crust layer.1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips, 1 cup (170 g) butterscotch chips, 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Drizzle ingredients in pan evenly with sweetened condensed milk.14 oz (395 g) sweetened condensed milk
- Evenly sprinkle coconut over the condensed milk.1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- Transfer to oven and bake 350F for 25 minutes or until coconut is turning lightly golden brown.
- Allow bars to cool several hours before cutting -- this will allow the chocolate to firm up and make them easier to cut. If you cut them sooner they'll be quite messy (but still delicious!)
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Miriam Rose Blanar
Hi, is this the same as magic bars? Someone requested me to make Magic bars, and I wanted to check your site first.
Sam
Hi Miriam! They are the same thing. Enjoy! 🙂
Miriam Rose Blanar
I just made these, and my husband snuck one and he just kept saying, “WOW!” over and over. I think these are a keeper. Thank you!
Sam
That’s awesome! I’m so glad they were a hit! 🙂
Correne
My husband loves these! Especially the browned coconut on top. I must not have tampered my graham cracker crust enough because there was a lot of crumbs left in my pan. They also hardened to the sides of my pans – I did butter the sides. I probably will loosen the sides early next time. Thanks for the recipe Sam!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Correne! 🙂
Caryl
these are great…but if you want a less sweet taste use peanut butter flavored chips and get a great new combination.
Somer
Are these the same as Hello Dollies? I used to make those as a kid, but haven’t in forever. I suppose I could search for that recipe, but just checking to see if anyone knows? They look delicious! Definitely going to try sometime soon!
Sam
Hi Somer! Yes these are similar to hello dollies. 🙂
Latoya
I made these a few weeks back, my daughter loved them. She took a few to school and one of her teacher loved it. So I am making another batch to send in for teachers appreciation day.
Thanks for that easy recipe..
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Latoya! Thank you for supporting our teachers. 🙂
Jan
Could you substitute chocolate graham crackers for the crust?
Sam
That should work just fine! 🙂
Zarinah
Hi Sam – can I leave out the coconut?
Also, just want to let you know that I have tried your “thin” mint over the weekend….was EXCELLENT!!
Glenda D Harding
Love these bars and the easy recipe! Thank you! All of your recipes are so very good. I also made your lace cookies at christmas time, they turned out to be great!
Sam
I’m so glad you like them and appreciate a good easy recipe, too! Aren’t those lace cookies awesome! My family was skeptical but ultimately they were such a hit! Thanks Glenda!!
Linda
What is the full nutritional value of these bars? Need the sugar and carb counts.
Sam
Hi Linda, I’m not sure as I don’t calculate full nutrition and it will vary based off of the ingredients that you use. I recommend using MyFitnessPal(.com) and entering your ingredients to get all the information that you need. I hope that helps!