Seven-Layer Bars
Seven Layer Bars, aka Magic Bars – Seven glorious layers of graham crackers, nuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and sweetened condensed milk!
Seven Layer Bars, also known as Magic Bars, have a graham cracker crumb base and are topped with a combination of nuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate, butterscotch and coconut, and held together by sweetened condensed milk.
In other words: Sweet. Rich. Delicious.
Grab a tall glass of milk and get your oven ready!
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This recipe requires very few ingredients and a minimal amount of steps, which means that it can be thrown together in no time at all. If you keep an assortment of chips and coconut in your pantry, you could whip these up any time the mood strikes. I love that the sweetened condensed milk holds these bars together so well and that you get a mouthful of chips, nuts and toasted coconut in every single bite. SO good.
Earlier this summer, I attempted to recreate a version of a chocolate caramel bar that is sold at a nearby bakery… if you can’t get enough of seven layer bars, then check out those ultimate magic bars.
(The first time I made this recipe, I did so to cross them off of my baking bucket list – I’ve made significant progress since then!)
One year ago: Slow Cooker Chocolate-Covered Peanut Clusters
Four years ago: Classic Gingerbread Cake
Seven Layer Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 9 whole graham crackers, crushed (about 1½ cups crumbs)
- 1 cup (99 g) finely chopped pecans, can substitute walnuts
- 1 cup (180 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup (90 g) white chocolate chips
- ½ cup (85 g) butterscotch chips
- 1 cup (85 g) sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
- 14 ounce (396.89 ml) can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Line the pan with two overlapping pieces of foil or parchment paper, leaving the overhang to act as handles for lifting the bars out of the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.
- Combine the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs in a small bowl. Toss with your fingers until the butter is evenly distributed. Spread the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan (this is not meant to be a crust, so you don't need to press it flat and there will be some small bare spots along the bottom, that's okay).
- In this order, sprinkle the pecans, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and coconut over the graham crumbs. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the entire dish.
- Bake until the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours.
- Remove the bars from the pan using the foil or parchment handles and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife or bench cutter, cut into 2 by 3-inch bars.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
[This recipe was originally published on June 17, 2009.]
I’m definitely going to make the 7 layer bars. They look so delicious.
I have made hundreds of batches of these bars after seeing on your blog.At one point I didn’t have the butterscotch chips, so I substituted with Peanut Butter Chips. AMAZING! I never use butterscotch again because everyone loved them so much more with the peanut butter. Try it!
I love these bars. I made them because my son home from college says they serve them at his dorm. I had tried a similar recipe years ago and never again because of the mess left in the pan. So I am thrilled with your use of double layer of foil, and the only thing to wash off the pan was the Pam spray! We took them to several holiday gatherings and have shared your website and recipe. Thanks!
Am going out to buy the ingredients for the seven layers now. Have investigated other websites and receipes and yours is the most appealing…great photos and good, very helpful comments that will be so useful in this fun & delicious endevour.
Will let you know how mine turn out!
Later!
It may be because I just started & don’t have the experience so … when I stirred it often I was able to get the coconut toasted better the 2nd time I made them for xmas. The second try came out better. OFF TOPIC: The best part is that now I have an appreciation for the time, skill, effort, and cost that goes into baking (and all cooking) and i no longer take a cavalier attitude when I eato something someone made. The bars are great but this realization is even better :)
Hi Bill,
So glad that you enjoyed the bars! As far as toasting the coconut – I have never stirred it, but just watch very closely to make sure it doesn’t get too dark. Would be interested to hear others’ thoughts on it though!
OK….so these just cooled….just have to say that the 8th layer was a VERY tasty idea. All the heath chips melted into a caramely sweet exlosion that can only be tamed by a tall glass of ice cold milk.
I am making htese for christmas and adding (OMG) an 8th layer…putting in some Heath pieces….
After looking at a bunch of 7-layer recipes, this was great — my first foray into baking as part of my wife’s annual cookie exchange (decided to contribute instead of solely receive the benefits :) ). One thing: the toasting of the coconut. I had lots of trouble w/ this until I found online that I should stir it every 30 seconds. Do people agree with this & should this be an update to the recipe?
you did it again! I substituted butterscotch chips for some hershey’s cinnamon chips and some peanut butter chips and added extra coconut and WOWWWWWWWW!!!!! A+ goes to you Lady!
I’m going to bake these to send to people for the holidays. But I’m going to use peanut butter chips instead of the butterscotch. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
These are so insanely easy to make and so delicious. Whenever I make them I give a few to each of my friends (a full pan would be dangerous sitting in my house) and they just love them!
I made these to bring into work today. I ended up using peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch since we are peanut butter fiends. Everyone loved them!
Ruchi M – So happy to hear that even with modifications this is a great recipe, glad you enjoyed! :)
These look terrific!! So many layers of goodness!
These look mouth waterlingly delicious!!!!
I tried a variation of this since I couldn’t get hold of all the ingredients and they were truly sinful!
Sometimes we are so on the same wavelength. I have been thinking about these in the back of my mind for weeks! I am going to have to make them very soon.
Those bars look so good! Just look at the partially melted and gooey chips!
Hi Dana – So happy to hear you enjoy my blog! Look forward to “seeing” you again soon!
Oh momma, these sing to me! And the pictures! You having me setting here in a puddle of drool! Thanks for sharing and I love your blog. I will be back.
ooey gooey heaven in bar form! sigh!
At first glance I thought those were chick peas on top! LOL thankfully no, these look so good!!!!!!!
These are one of those treats I have always wanted to make and have yet to get around to it. Your photos look great!
Niall – Thanks for the compliment on my photography!
My mom used to make these and I think the recipe was called something like “Classical Cookie”. Can’t wait to try your recipe, seven is a good number.
Wow those look amazing. Great work on the photography too, I think that is half the battle in making stuff look amazing!
These are one of my fave childhood treats – yum!
Oh my goodness gracious these look to die for:) Can’t wait to try them!
I used to make Magic Bars at work about twice a week for six years. They technically weren’t seven layer bars because we only did the crust, chopped pecans, chocolate chips, coconut, and condensed milk. They were one of our biggest sellers though and soooo good! I love the addition of butterscotch chips. That sounds delicious!
Oh MY! I think this will be the kids treat for the weekend. Looks awesome!