Seven Layer Bars, also called magic cookie bars or kitchen sink bars, are a timeless, easy, and delicious dessert. A crisp graham cracker crust is layered with chocolate, white chocolate, and butterscotch chips, plus nuts and shredded coconut, then bound together with sweetened condensed milk for a rich, chewy treat.
Seven Layer Bars
Seven Layer Bars are a layered cookie bar made from simple pantry ingredients:
- a graham cracker crust (crushed graham crackers + butter)
- chocolate chips
- white chocolate chips
- butterscotch chips
- nuts (pecans or walnuts)
- shredded coconut
- all held together with sweetened condensed milk.
These bars are ideal for holiday gift giving, a Thanksgiving alternative to pie, or a crowd-pleasing option for potlucks and parties. They’re rich and satisfying, so smaller portions usually do the trick.
There are many tasty variations to try: for a salty-sweet spin, use pretzels and caramel; for an Oreo twist, swap in crushed cookies. The basic method stays the same, making it easy to customize.
At a bakery I once worked in, we prepared large sheet trays without measuring precisely—just press the graham crust into the pan, sprinkle the layers, and drizzle enough sweetened condensed milk to hold everything together. The result is consistently indulgent and reliable.
These bars freeze well. After baking and cooling, place the bars on a sheet tray with space between them and freeze. Once firm, transfer to a freezer-safe bag, separating layers with parchment or wax paper if stacking. Eat them straight from the freezer or thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Rich, chewy, and full of texture, Seven Layer Bars are a simple crowd-pleaser that you can adapt to your taste.
Seven Layer Bars
Ingredients
- 12 (186 g) whole graham crackers (about 1 & ½ sleeves)
- ½ cup (113 g) butter, melted (salted or unsalted)
- 1 cup (170 g) chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
- 1 cup (170 g) white chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170 g) butterscotch chips
- 1 cup (112 g) pecan pieces or other chopped nuts
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded coconut flakes
- 14 oz (396 g) can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place graham crackers in a food processor or blender and pulse until they form fine crumbs. Combine crumbs with melted butter, then press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Lining the dish with parchment paper makes removal and cutting easier.
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Pour about one-third of the sweetened condensed milk over the crust. Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts, and shredded coconut over the crust. Drizzle the remaining sweetened condensed milk evenly across the top.
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Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the center is bubbling and the edges turn golden brown.
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Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing. To freeze, place cooled bars on a sheet tray with space between them and freeze until firm. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag, placing parchment between layers if stacking. Thaw in the refrigerator or enjoy frozen.
Video
Notes
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*Video added 11/29/18