Seven Layer Bars

Learn to make a bake sale classic – 7 Layer Bars! With seven layers of flavor including chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and pecans, this one is special because the buttery graham cracker crust has a secret ingredient!

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Call your sweet tooth, we’re making dessert bars!

If you’re not from the Midwest, you might be wondering, “What are bars?” Well, it’s basically a lazy way of making cookies in a pan that you can easily share at bake sales, picnics, church gatherings, funerals, parties, or with your own family on a Friday night.

What are seven layer bars?

This is a classic American dessert recipe that consists of a graham cracker crust topped with baking chips, shredded coconut, nuts, and sweetened condensed milk. They’re very sweet and hard to pass up, making them perfect for special occasions and holidays.

What makes these the best 7 layer bars

I love coconut, so I took the flavor up a notch by using coconut oil instead of butter in the graham cracker crust. It results in an extra flavorful bar cookie that’s one of my favorites.

Seven layer bar ingredients

• Coconut oil
• Graham crackers
• Sweetened, shredded coconut
• Semisweet chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Pecans

How to make seven layer bars

1. In a small bowl, combine melted coconut oil and graham cracker crumbs.
2. Press this mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Layer coconut, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips on top of the crust.
4. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.
5. Sprinkle pecans evenly over everything.
6. Bake 25 minutes at 350ºF. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Top tips and questions

What are other names for seven layer bars?

This dessert is a favorite around many parts of the United States, and they’ve developed different names and origin stories as well. While you may know them as seven layer bars, they’ve also been called magic cookie bars, magic bars, or Hello Dolly bars (hello dollies).

While many people have claimed to be the original creator of these bars, my bet is on Eagle Brand, the company that makes sweetened condensed milk, who published it right on the can.

Where’s the seventh layer?

Seven layer bars is kind of a silly name since there aren’t usually 7 layers (it all depends on what you like to  add). The name refers more to “seven layers of flavor” within the bars. This is probably why other names have emerged to confuse dessert fans for generations.

How to crush graham crackers

There are lots of easy ways to crush graham crackers for making a crust. I like to put them in a resealable food storage bag and crush them with a rolling pin (affiliate link) or heavy drinking glass. Alternatively you could crush them by hand or place them in a food processor.

Make sure you break down any big pieces of graham cracker since they will cause your bars to fall apart. Instead, aim for a fine, sand-like texture. Be sure to see the process photos to get an idea of what you’re going for.

How to measure coconut oil

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but you’ll want it to be melted to mix with the graham crackers. I recommend measuring it while it is solid, then transferring it to a small bowl and melting in the microwave before adding the graham crackers.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?

Evaporated milk is not the same as sweetened condensed milk, and can not be used as a substitute in this recipe. The cans can sometimes look very similar, so make sure you look closely when purchasing.

How to store seven layer bars

Be sure you allow the bars to cool completely before cutting to help them hold together. Bars can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

To freeze the bars, cut into squares and place them, not touching each other, on a baking sheet in the freezer until firm. This will help them not to stick to each other. Transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy your treat, simply leave it at room temperature for 5-10 minutes, or microwave for a few seconds at a time. If you overheat them when reheating, they may fall apart.

Tips for customizing seven layer bars

• Add white chocolate chips and/or peanut butter chips
• Swap the pecans for chopped walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, or hazelnuts
• Use butter instead of coconut oil
• Bake in a smaller pan (adjusting the cooking time as needed) to achieve a thicker bar
• Make them a little less sweet by using unsweetened shredded coconut

More dessert bar recipes

• Scotcheroos
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
• Peanut Butter Oat Bars
• Pecan Pie Bars
• Gingerbread Bars
• Vegan Cookie Dough Bars
• Nutty Chocolate Oat Bars
• White Chocolate Pistachio Blondies
• Chocolate Chunk Blondies
• Butterscotch Bars
• Crispy Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
• Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Bars

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!