These 7-Layer Magic Bars are the ultimate no-fuss dessert, combining all your favorite flavors crunchy graham crackers, gooey chocolate, chewy coconut, and buttery nuts into one incredible, easy-to-make bar. They are truly magical because they assemble quickly and bake into a perfect, decadent confection.
Rich, sweet, and wonderfully chewy, these layered bars offer a perfect balance of textures and flavors, sealed together with a blanket of sweet, caramelized condensed milk.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Rich, buttery, and intensely sweet, with notes of toasted coconut, salty graham cracker, and deep chocolate/butterscotch flavor.
- Textures: Features a crunchy, firm crust, chewy, melted layers of chips and coconut, and the slight bite of chopped walnuts.
- Total Active Time: Only about 15 minutes of hands-on prep time.
- Difficulty Level: Very Easy. This recipe involves simple melting, mixing, and layering no complex techniques are required.
What You’ll Need
The beauty of these magic bars is the straightforward assembly of key components: a buttery graham cracker crust as the foundation, four wonderful layers of mix-ins (chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and nuts), and a final rich layer of sweetened condensed milk to bind everything together into a golden, chewy treat.
Ingredient Notes
- 1/2 cup salted butter – Salted butter is best for the crust as it provides a necessary contrast to the overall sweetness of the bars. Ensure it’s fully melted before mixing with the crumbs.
- 2 cup graham cracker crumbs – You can easily purchase pre-crushed crumbs, or crush 16 full graham cracker sheets yourself in a food processor or a zip-top bag. The crumbs must be evenly mixed with the melted butter for a stable crust.
- 15 oz sweetened condensed milk – This is the “glue” that binds all seven layers together. As it bakes, it caramelizes the layers, resulting in the irresistible chewy texture and rich flavor.
- 6 oz butterscotch chips 1/2 package – The butterscotch chips add a depth of caramelized sugar flavor that complements the chocolate and coconut perfectly.
Add-ins and Substitutions
You can modify these bars slightly without changing the baking method to suit different tastes, as these bars are known for their easy customization:
- Nut Variety: If walnuts aren’t your favorite, you can easily substitute 1 cup of chopped pecans or almonds.
- Darker Chocolate: For a less sweet bar, swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips.
- Change the Base: While graham crackers are traditional, you can substitute the crumbs with vanilla wafer or shortbread cookie crumbs for a slightly different crust flavor.
How to Make 7-Layer Magic Bars
This recipe moves quickly, focusing on proper layering and a smooth, even pour of the sweetened condensed milk.
- Prep the Crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a microwavable bowl, melt the 1/2 cup of salted butter. Mix the melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs. Press the buttered crumbs evenly into the bottom of a 13”x9”x2” baking dish.
- Layer the Chips: Start by sprinkling the semi-sweet chocolate chips directly over the graham cracker crust. Follow this immediately with the butterscotch chips.
- Layer Coconut and Nuts: Next, sprinkle the shredded coconut over the chips. Lastly, sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the surface. Remember, this layer can be modified to your personal preference if you like fewer nuts!
- Pour the Milk: Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the entire surface of the layered ingredients.
- Bake: Bake at 325°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden-brown color.
- Cool and Cut: Immediately after removing the bars from the oven, use a thin knife or spatula to loosen the sides of the bars from the pan. This is critical, or they will be impossible to remove once set. Let the bars cool completely on a rack. Once completely cooled, use a knife to cut them into bars and store in a sealed container.
Pro Tip: The Milk Pour
When pouring the sweetened condensed milk, keep the can moving constantly over the surface. You want the milk to cover all the ingredients without pooling in one spot. Try moving the can back and forth in a pattern, then covering the gaps you missed on the way back across.
Recipe Tips
- Perfect Pressing: When pressing the crust into the pan, ensure it’s firm and uniform. This prevents the crust from crumbling when the bars are cut. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup to help press it down tightly.
- Loosen the Edges: The instruction to immediately loosen the edges after baking is crucial. As the bars cool, the sugary condensed milk adheres fiercely to the pan, so loosening the edges while warm ensures clean removal later.
- Cool Completely: These bars must be completely cooled before cutting ideally for several hours, or even chill in the refrigerator briefly. Cutting them warm will result in a messy, sticky crumb.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to use a 13”x9”x2” pan? A: Yes, this recipe is formulated specifically for a 13”x9” baking dish. Using a smaller pan will result in thicker bars that may require longer baking time, and using a larger pan will result in very thin bars.
Q: Can I use unsalted butter in the crust? A: You can, but you may want to add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the crust mixture to achieve the best flavor balance, as the salted butter naturally cuts through the sweetness of the other layers.
Q: How should I store leftover bars? A: Store the cut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving Suggestions
These 7-Layer Magic Bars are satisfyingly rich, making them the perfect partner for simple, comforting drinks and treats:
- Dairy: Serve with a cold glass of milk to balance the sweetness.
- Coffee: Pair with a hot cup of coffee or a cold brew.
- Dessert Topping: Offer a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream alongside a warm bar for an extra indulgent experience.
Make This Recipe in Advance
These bars are an excellent candidate for making ahead!
- Storage: The bars are best served at room temperature after chilling. You can bake and cool them completely up to 2 days in advance, cutting them just before serving.
- Crust Prep: The graham cracker crust can be prepared and pressed into the pan up to a day ahead of time and stored covered in the refrigerator. Just be sure to bring it back to room temperature before adding the remaining layers and baking.
7-Layer Magic Bars (Ultimate No-Fuss Dessert)
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These 7-Layer Magic Bars are the ultimate no-fuss dessert, combining crunchy graham crackers, gooey chocolate and butterscotch chips, chewy coconut, and buttery nuts into one incredible, easy-to-make bar. Assembled quickly and sealed with a blanket of sweet, caramelized condensed milk, these bars are rich, chewy, and utterly decadent.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 2 cup graham cracker crumbs (16 full graham cracker sheets)
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 6 oz butterscotch chips (1/2 package)
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 15 oz sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Crust
Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a microwavable bowl, melt the 1/2 cup of salted butter. Mix the melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs until well combined. Press the buttered crumbs evenly and firmly into the bottom of a 13”x9”x2” baking dish.
Step 2: Layer the Chips
Start by sprinkling the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the graham cracker crust. Follow this immediately with the butterscotch chips, creating the second and third layers.
Step 3: Layer Coconut and Nuts
Next, sprinkle the shredded coconut over the chips, followed by the chopped walnuts over the surface.
Step 4: Pour the Milk
Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire surface of the layered ingredients. Move the can constantly to ensure the milk covers all the ingredients without pooling in one spot.
Step 5: Bake
Bake at 325°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden-brown color.
Step 6: Cool and Cut
Immediately after removing the bars from the oven, use a thin knife or spatula to loosen the sides of the bars from the pan. Let the bars cool completely on a rack (ideally for several hours, or briefly chill in the refrigerator). Once completely cooled, cut them into bars and store in a sealed container.
Notes
Clean Cutting Tip: The instruction to immediately loosen the edges after baking is crucial. As the bars cool, the sugary condensed milk adheres fiercely to the pan, so loosening the edges while warm ensures clean removal later.
Nut Variety: If walnuts aren’t your preference, you can easily substitute 1 cup of chopped pecans or almonds without altering the rest of the recipe.
Storage: Store the cut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Bar
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 269
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 23mg
Keywords: magic bars, 7-layer bars, hello dolly bars, no bake dessert, easy bar recipe, graham cracker crust, coconut chocolate bars
