Hello Dolly Bars (7-Layer Bars)
Hello Dolly Bars, also known as Magic Cookie Bars or 7-Layer Bars, is a rich and chewy dessert made with a buttery graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans, all mingled together with sweetened condensed milk. Baked until golden and gooey, these nostalgic treats are the perfect mash-up of crunchy sweetness.
| Prep Time | Cook Time/Rest Time | Servings | Prep Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 30 minutes/1 hour | 9 | Beginner + |
How Did They Get Their Name?
Hello Dolly Bars gained popularity in the 1960s after the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! was released in 1964. Recipes started appearing in magazines and newspaper articles, and the dessert star was born!
Ingredients
Graham Crackers – You don’t need anything fancy to crush these. You can add them to a large Ziplock, close it up, and take a rolling pin to crush the crackers. Or, you can buy them pre-crushed from the grocery store and make it an even easier recipe.
Sweetened Condensed Milk – this ingredient will bind the entire dessert together while baking.
Add A Unique Ingredient
To add a salty twist, swap out the graham crackers for crushed pretzels. You can also sprinkle a few pretzels on top of the dessert.
Try adding ½ cup of raisins or cranberries and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a warm, slightly spiced twist.
If you’d like a gluten-free version, crush Honey Nut Cheerios instead of the graham crackers.
Full printable recipe with ingredients, measurements, and instructions at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Featured Comment
sheila says:
“I am now addicted! Had to give some to my mother, friend, and neighbors to keep from eating the whole pan myself.”
How To Make The Hello Dolly Bars Recipe – Step-By-Step Instructions
First, crush a packet of graham crackers until they are fine crumbs. A few chunks in there won’t hurt anything.
You can either crush full sheets of graham crackers in the Cuisinart food processor or use a Ziplock bag as I did. Using a rolling pin helped crush them faster. Usually, one sleeve from a graham cracker box is enough to make 2 cups for the crust.
Next, melt butter and add it to a large mixing bowl.
Add the graham crackers to the melted butter and stir it in.
Press the graham cracker and butter mixture into the bottom of the 9″ x 9″ casserole dish.
I put some tinfoil in the pan and sprayed it with non-stick spray. You can also use parchment paper if you have one hand to add to the bottom of the pan. It makes it easier to take the Hello Dolly Bars out of the pan when they cool and for an easy clean-up.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips around the top.
Next, sprinkle the pecans on top of the chocolate chips.
Add the coconut on top and spread it out evenly.
And now comes the best part. Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the top. We will literally fight over licking the can in this house. It is so good. You can use generic sweetened condensed milk or Eagle Brand.
Bake the Hello Dolly Bars at 325 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until the coconut turns a golden brown around the edges. Every oven is different, so sometimes they need to be baked a little longer to get golden brown.
Allow them to cool for at least an hour at room temperature. Then, place them in the refrigerator to cool and firm up before cutting. They will still be a little bit gooey but should cut easily.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars are an easy dessert to make, and cheesecake and pecan pie can be combined for a decadent treat.
- Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans are great for the holiday season and make great gifts.
- Fudge That Will Make All Your Friends Jealous is always a hit with friends and family.
- Peanut Butter Fudge to Die For has been one of the most popular recipes on the blog- for good reason- and it’s amazing!
Alternate Or Additional Ingredients
Hello Dolly bars are very versatile. You can add other ingredients or leave some out.
- Walnuts
- Milk chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Crushed vanilla wafers for an alternative crust
- Dulce de leche condensed milk
- Crushed chocolate graham squares for the crust
- Crushed shortbread cookies for the crust
- Toffee chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Pretzels
Do seven-layer bars freeze well?
Yes, they do freeze well. To prevent freezer burn, wrap them in Saran Wrap and a Ziplock bag. Then, place them in the fridge or set them on the counter to thaw.
Should seven-layer bars be refrigerated?
No, they do not have to be refrigerated. The bars can stay on the counter for a few days.
How long do they keep?
The bars will keep for three to five days on the counter and up to a week in the refrigerator. Keep the bars in an airtight container with wax paper between the bars to keep them from sticking together.
Tips And Tricks For Hello Dolly Bars
Baking the dessert is easy, but here are a few ideas to make it a little easier.
Use Parchment Paper
Line the pan with parchment paper. This will make it easier to lift the bars out and cut them after they’ve cooled.
Make Sure You Press The Graham Cracker And Butter Mixture Firmly Into The Pan
This will help the bars hold together and prevent them from crumbling. Sometimes, I will use the bottom of a cup or something hard to press down.
Don’t Over Bake The Bars
Be careful not to over-bake the Hello Dolly Bars. They should be golden brown around the edges but still slightly gooey in the center.
Let The Bars Cool Completely
Let the bars cool completely before cutting them into squares. This will help them hold together and prevent them from falling apart.
Can You Make Them Without Coconut?
Yes, you can skip the coconut in the bars. It will have a slightly different texture and flavor without coconut.
Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers usually one sleeve is enough
- 10 Tablespoon butter melted
- 1 – 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325-degrees.
- Line a 9-inch x 9-inch baking dish with tin foil. Spray the tin foil with non stick spray.
- Crush the graham crackers in a bag and add the 2 cups to a bowl.
- Add the melted butter and mix well.
- Pour the graham crackers and butter mixture into the casserole dish and press down with your hand.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
- Next, sprinkle the pecans on top.
- Finally, sprinkle the coconut on top.
- Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over all of the ingredients.
- Bake for 25-30* minutes, or until the edges are golden.
- Allow to cool for one hour before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Be sure to check out more delicious recipes over at Julia’s Simply Southern
