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7-Layer Bars (Magic Cookie Bars) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 104 reviews

These 7-Layer Bars, also known as Magic Cookie Bars, are a classic, easy-to-make dessert featuring a buttery graham cracker crust layered with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped pecans, sweetened condensed milk, and shredded coconut. Baked to golden perfection, they offer a rich, gooey, and indulgent treat perfect for parties, potlucks, or casual snacking.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (store-bought or homemade by pulsing 10 graham crackers)
  • 10 tablespoons salted butter, melted

Layers

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips
  • ½ cup butterscotch chips
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Lightly grease the parchment with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Make the crust: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Stir with a fork until well mixed to form a buttery crumb mixture.
  3. Form the crust layer: Press the graham cracker mixture firmly into the prepared pan to create an even, compact base. Use a fork or the bottom of a measuring cup to help smooth it out.
  4. Layer the toppings: Evenly sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chopped pecans over the graham cracker crust, covering the surface.
  5. Add condensed milk: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the chip and nut layers, making sure to cover as much surface as possible to bind the layers together.
  6. Top with coconut: Sprinkle the shredded coconut evenly over the condensed milk layer to finish the assembly of the bars.
  7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly caramelized, indicating the layers are melted and set.
  8. Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift them out and slice into squares with a sharp knife for serving.

Notes

  • Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for neat, defined slices.
  • Lining the pan with parchment paper makes removal and cutting easier and keeps the bars intact.
  • Bars are done when the edges are golden brown and the coconut begins to caramelize on top.
  • Swap pecans with other nuts like walnuts, almonds, or omit nuts for a nut-free version.
  • Try different chips such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or peanut butter chips for flavor variation.
  • Use gluten-free graham crackers to make this dessert gluten-free.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate up to a week.
  • Freeze individual bars wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
  • For a dairy-free alternative, substitute the sweetened condensed milk with plant-based condensed milk.

Keywords: 7-layer bars, magic cookie bars, easy dessert, graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, butterscotch, pecans, coconut, baked bars, sweet dessert

Find it online: https://biteandenjoy.com/7-layer-bars-magic-cookie-bars-recipe/