Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars
Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars are sweet, chewy layers of buttery graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, dark chocolate chips and pecans. This magic bars recipe may be made traditionally or gluten free!
I grew up baking in the kitchen with my mom for the holidays every year. We would bake quick breads, cookies and candies during the entire month of December, then my mom would freeze everything so that she could give them away as gifts to family and friends on Christmas Day.
I loved everything that we made, but these Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars were at the top of my list. No other treat takes me back to my childhood like these bars do!
I always include this recipe in my holiday baking, and my boys have grown to love them just as much as I do. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Seven layer bars are addictively sweet and chewy, with delicious layers of buttery graham cracker, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips and pecans.
- This recipe is almost effortless, and it comes together in just minutes.
- Recipe may be customized with butterscotch, white chocolate or peanut butter chips, your favorite candies and nuts.
- Use gluten free graham crackers for a gluten free option.
Recipe ingredients
Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars only contain 6 ingredients, and may be customized with your favorite chocolate chips, candies or nuts.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Graham cracker crumbs (gluten free or regular)
- Butter
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Dark chocolate chips
- Pecans
- Optional: flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
How to make this recipe
These seven layer cookies couldn’t be easier to make. They only take 10 minutes of prep, and bake up in just 25 minutes!
- Line a 13×9″ baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray. Mix melted butter and graham cracker crumbs together until combined, then press evenly into the prepared baking dish, followed by the sweetened condensed milk.
- Sprinkle coconut evenly over the sweetened condensed milk.
- Top the coconut with chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with toasted pecans and press the mixture down all over the top with a fork and bake for 25 minutes until light golden brown.
FAQs
Evaporated milk is not the same as sweetened condensed milk, so it should not be substituted for the condensed milk.
These bars are also known as Hello Dolly bars, 7 layer bars and magic cookie bars.
They’re sweet and chewy, with layers of buttery graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips and nuts.
The easiest way to make graham cracker crumbs is to break up graham crackers into small pieces, place in the bowl of a food processor, and process until the crackers are in small sized crumbs. Purchasing a box of graham cracker crumbs is a huge time saver, however!
There is no need to store magic cookie bars in the refrigerator. Simply store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Recipe notes
- Be sure to line the baking dish with parchment or foil to prevent sticking!
- *I used one 7.5 ounce package of Pamela’s gluten free graham crackers for this recipe and processed them in my food processor. Any type of gluten free crackers or cookies will work well for these magic bars.
- Substitute the dark chocolate chips with your favorite variety or a combination. Butterscotch, peanut butter or white chocolate chips are all great options!
- Swap out the pecans with your favorite nuts or omit altogether. Chopped dried fruit is also a great option.
- Store magic bars in an air tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
More cookie recipes you’ll love:
- Chocolate Dipped Almond Horn Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons
- Flourless Chocolate Cookies by Two Peas & Their Pod
- Greek Almond Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
If you make this recipe I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below or tag me @flavorthemoments on Instagram!
Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free or regular graham cracker crumbs*
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup pecan pieces
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13 x 9" baking dish with parchment paper or foil.
- Melt the butter in the microwave in a medium sized heat proof bowl. Add the graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and stir until the graham cracker crumbs are well coated.1 stick unsalted butter, 1 1/2 cups gluten free or regular graham cracker crumbs*, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- Press the graham cracker crumbs evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the graham cracker crumbs, followed by the coconut, dark chocolate chips, and pecans. Press the mixture down across the entire top of the bars with a fork, then bake for 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown.14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, 1 cup dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup pecan pieces, Flaky sea salt
- Cool completely on a wire rack, then cut into bars. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- *I used one 7.5 ounce package of Pamela’s gluten free graham crackers for this recipe and processed them in my food processor. Any type of gluten free crackers or cookies will work well for these magic bars.
- Substitute the dark chocolate chips with your favorite variety or a combination. Butterscotch, peanut butter or white chocolate chips are all great options!
- Swap out the pecans with your favorite nuts or omit altogether. Chopped dried fruit is also a great option.
- Store magic bars in an air tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
8 Comments on “Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars”
Magic cookie bars are on my Christmas baking list every single year! I started making them about 10 years ago, and their a favourite of my husband’s family! These look delicious Marcie and I like the gluten-free option! Happy holidays my friend!
I’m glad to hear you love magic bars so much too! Happy holidays Leanne!
I haven’t had magic bars in FAR too long! These came out perfect Marcie! And I love the photos 🙂
Thank you so much friend and Merry Christmas!
These would definitely be my favorite on the cookie tray! So gooey and chewy and packed full of goodness!
I can never pass these up. Thank you Kelly!
Hands down, my favourite kind of bar for the holidays!! My friend always makes them for our cookie exchange and I look forward to them every year! These are perfect. Merry Christmas, Marcie!
I’m glad you love them as much as I do, and that’s a great friend to make them every year! Merry Christmas Katherine!