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7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars

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7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars are crunchy, chewy, and decadently sweet! Made using a rich mix of graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and butterscotch chips, coconut, and nuts, these easy-to-make bars are delightfully gooey and delicious!

Perfect for the holidays or anytime you are craving a super sweet treat.

7 layer magic cookie bars

This recipe for 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars has been around for decades and never fails to please. With a handful of shelf-stable ingredients, they take just minutes to prepare and seconds to devour.

Easily modified depending on what you’ve got in your pantry or what your gang likes, you can switch up the ingredients and still have a decadent treat ready for everyone to gobble up.

These bars are perfect for potlucks, bake sales, family gatherings, or whenever you need a sweet treat. Easily made ahead of time, these 7-layer bars will keep for quite a few days on the kitchen counter and for up to a week in the fridge. You can always freeze leftovers in individual portions and grab them one at a time when the mood hits.

Why you’ll love this Recipe

  • Decadent: Loaded with flavor, these bars are indeed a decadently sweet treat.
  • Easy to make: These bars come together in minutes.
  • Versatile: You can easily customize these bars based on your preference; change up the crust, use different chocolate chips, and leave out the coconut or nuts.
  • Crowd pleaser: Everyone loves these 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars.
  • Minimal cleanup: You won’t have tons of measuring cups and spoons or mixing bowls to clean up.
7 layer magic cookie bars

(Ingredients at a glance; find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

  • Graham cracker crumbs | You can buy graham cracker crumbs at the grocery store or make your own using the crackers. Place in the food processor and process until they turn into crumbs. (You will need about about 10-12 graham cracker sheets for 1 1/2 cups of crumbs.)
  • Butter | Salted or unsalted butter, melted, is used to make the bottom layer. (I prefer salted butter for that sweet and salty flavor.)
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk | Make sure to pick up sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk.
  • Butterscotch chips | These go in the bars and get sprinkled on top. If you are not a butterscotch fan, white chocolate chips can be used instead.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips | These also go in the bars and on top. If you are not a fan of semi-sweet chips, you can use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate instead.
  • Sweetened coconut flakes | Sweetened coconut flakes add some flavor and texture.
  • Nuts | Any chopped nuts will add flavor and texture.
ingredients in 7 layer magic cookie bars

1 Prepare the pan. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Make sure to cover the sides well.

2 Prepare the crust. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and butter and press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the bottom of a measuring cup.

3 Layer the bars. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker mixture, add the butterscotch and the chocolate chips, and then spread the coconut flakes evenly over the previous layers. Top with the chopped nuts. Press the mixture down firmly with the back of a measuring cup.

how to make 7 layer magic cookie bars step by step

4 Bake the bars. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle the top with a few more chocolate and butterscotch chips. (I used a silicone spatula to help spread the chips around as they melted.)

5 Cut the bars. For perfectly cut cookie bars, place the bars in the fridge until they are firm, then remove from the baking dish using the parchment paper/foil and cut with a sharp knife.

7 layer magic cookie bars

Recipe Tips

  • To easily remove the bars from the pan, I suggest greasing both the pan and the liner you use for the pan. (Whether you use parchment paper or foil.)
  • Make sure to let the bars fully cool before cutting. The sweetened condensed milk needs time to set up. I usually place the baking pan in the fridge for faster cooling.
  • If you prefer a thicker crust, you can increase the graham cracker crust to 2 cups graham cracker crumbs and two sticks of butter.

Storage

  • These magic cookie bars can be kept for three to five days on the counter in an air-tight container and up to a week in the refrigerator. Place parchment paper between the bars if stacking. (If you make these during the warm months, they store better in the fridge.)
  • To freeze, separate the bars with parchment paper, wrap them in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to three months.
magic cookie bars

Variations

  • For nine layers, try adding white chocolate chips and pretzels broken into small pieces!
  • Play around with the different types of chips and use peanut butter, toffee, white chocolate, or whatever else you have on hand.
  • Try using roasted and salted nuts. (If using salted nuts, I would use unsalted butter.)
  • Change up the crust and use a shortbread-based crust (like the crust from these pecan pie bars), or crush your favorite cookies and use them as a crust.
7 layer magic cookie bars - upclose image

FAQs

Why are these called 7 layer bars?

These bars are called “seven layer” as seven different flavors make up the bars. (The butter is counted as a layer – originally, melted butter was poured over crushed graham crackers, but most cooks have switched to mixing the butter with the graham crackers and pressing it into the pan because it gives a better, less crumbly result.)

When were 7 layer bars created?

These Magic Cookie Bars go by many names: Magic Cookie Bars, 7 Layer Bars, 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars, Hello Dollies, and Coconut Dream Bars, to name a few you may be familiar with. From my internet sleuthing, it looks like the 1st publication of the recipe was on the back of the Eagles brand can of sweetened condensed milk in the 60’s.

Do I pour the Sweetened Condensed Milk on last or after the graham cracker layer?

This is an age-old argument. Some people pour the sweetened condensed milk on last and swear by it. I’ve always added it over the graham cracker layer.

I googled the question, and there is no real consensus; however, the recipe on the Eagle Brand page adds the sweetened condensed milk after the graham cracker layer, and that is what I recommend as well. However, feel free to add it last and let us know what you think in the comments.

Can I leave the coconut layer out?

Yes, just replace the coconut with extra chips and nuts.

Why are my 7 Layer bars soft and runny?

The sweetened condensed milk needs time to cool and set up. Place bars in the fridge to speed up the process.

Can these bars be made ahead of time?

Yes, these bars can be made up to three days ahead. Store tightly covered in the fridge. When ready to serve, remove them from the fridge and allow the bars to come to room temperature.

Can the Recipe be doubled?

Yes, to double the recipe, use a larger pan or two 9 by 13 pans.

7 layer magic cookie bar with a bite

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7 layer magic cookie bars

7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars

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  • Author: Jamie Sanders
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 20 squares +/- depending on how you cut them 1x
  • Category: desserts
  • Method: oven

Description

7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars are crunchy, chewy, and decadently sweet! Made using a rich mix of graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and butterscotch chips, coconut, and nuts, these easy-to-make bars are delightfully gooey and delicious!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (around 10 to 12 graham crackers)
  • 1/2 cup melted butter (One stick of butter)
  • 14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips (Plus a few more for garnish)
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate works too) (Plus a few more for garnish)
  • 1 1/3 cups sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray lining with no-stick cooking spray, making sure to coat the sides thoroughly.
  2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and butter and press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the bottom of a measuring cup.
  3. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the graham cracker mixture. Next, add the butterscotch and the chocolate chip layers. Spread the coconut flakes evenly over the previous layers and finally top with the chopped nuts. Press the mixture down firmly with the back of a measuring cup.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle the top of the bars with a few more chocolate and butterscotch chips. (I like to use the back of a spoon to spread the melted chips around the top.)
  5. For perfectly cut cookie bars, place the bars in the fridge until they are firm, then remove from the baking dish using the foil liner and cut with a sharp knife.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 336
  • Fat: 19
  • Carbohydrates: 38
  • Protein: 4

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