How to Make Hello Dolly Bars (7 Layer Bars)

Hello Dolly Bars, with sweetened condensed milk, are one of the best desserts out there.

The recipe features a buttery graham cracker crust, semi-sweet chocolate chips, coconut flakes, sweetened condensed milk, and more for an original recipe that is a sweet treat.

Hello Dolly Bars Have A Great Combination of Ingredients

The bars, also known as magic cookie bars, Hello Dollies recipe, Hello Dolly cookies, or 7 layer bars, are such a quick and easy recipe to make.

With the combination of pecans, chocolate chips, toasted coconut, and a graham cracker crust, you can’t go wrong.

The hello Dolly bars recipe has been popular on Pinterest and Facebook. It’s also a traditional recipe that people have loved for years, partly because it’s so easy to make.

The Perfect Dessert Year Round

The dessert bars are a classic recipe for the holidays or any occasion and take less than 15 minutes to make and get into the oven. I share this often with friends and neighbors.

I absolutely love Hello Dolly Bars, and I could honestly just sit and lick the inside of the sweetened condensed milk can, but with the added chocolate chips, pecans, graham crackers, and shredded coconut…Hello! 

Must be why they call them Hello Dolly Bars! 

Watch How To Make Hello Dolly Bar Cookies

A Great Tradition With A Favorite Cookie Bar

The 7 layer bars recipe can be made in several different ways and might depend on what your family tradition is for the ingredients.

For example, I left the butterscotch chips off of this recipe, but you can add those along with the chocolate chips for even more flavors.

Some people like to eat walnuts instead of pecans.

You can also add peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips to the mix if you’d like even more of flavor additions.

The recipe falls under a few different names and ingredients but tastes wonderful in every way.

How To Make Hello Dolly Bars

1. Crush the graham crackers and mix with melted butter and then press into the greased baking dish.
2. Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut on top.
3. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
4. Cool and serve.

The bars are great for holiday and Christmas parties, a yearly cookie exchange, gifts for teachers and friends, or just sitting around and eating them at home. I prefer the latter (wink, wink).

I have not always been a big coconut fan, but I like it these days. After you cook it, it’s toasted and oh-so-delicious. 

(On a side note, seven layer bars typically have butterscotch chips; however, I decided to leave them out of this recipe). 

I haven’t always known about magic bars or Hello Dolly Bars.

My friend brought some over a few years ago and shared with us and I couldn’t figure out how on earth I’d gotten through life without eating the famous recipe?

Needless to say, she became my new best friend. 

Hello Dolly Bars with peanut butter chips

Full printable recipe with ingredients, measurements, and instructions at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

What You Will Need For the Hello Dolly Bars

• Oven
• 9″ x 9″ Baking dish
• Non-stick spray
• Medium-sized bowl
• Tinfoil
• Microwave or stovetop to melt the butter
• Saucepan or microwave-safe bowl to melt the butter
• Graham crackers
• Butter
• Chocolate chips
• Chopped pecans
• Shredded coconut
• Can of sweetened condensed milk

How To Make The Hello Dolly Bars Recipe

First, crush up a packet of graham crackers until they are fine crumbs.

It won’t hurt anything if there are a few chunks in there.

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. 

You can also purchase pre-crushed graham crackers for this recipe.

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 a non-stick spray. Or, you can use parchment paper if that’s what you have one hand.

It makes it easier to take the Hello Dolly Bars out of the pan when they cool, and it makes for an easy clean-up. 

Updated: You don’t have to use aluminum foil, but it makes it easier to get the bars out when you go to cut them.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips around the top. 

Next, sprinkle the pecans on top of the chocolate chips.

My friend Karen shared a great tip with me about switching out the nuts for pretzels.

If you’re allergic to pecans or nuts or just don’t like them, adding pretzels in their place helps add some salt back in so the sweet isn’t overwhelming.

She said it tasted amazing!

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. Either one will work.

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.

Updated: I’ve had a few comments lately about the bars not setting up properly after baking. As they bake, you will want the edges to be a darker golden than the inside of the dessert.

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 are still going to be a little bit gooey but should cut easily.

And, Hello Dolly Bars!

These are the original Hello Dolly Bars, and I know you are going to love the finished product.

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

• 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–it’s amazing!
• Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars are an easy dessert to make and combine cheesecake and pecan pie for a decadent treat.

Alternate Or Additional Ingredients

Hello Dolly bars are very versatile. You can add other ingredients or leave some out.

• 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

Do seven layer bars freeze well?

Yes, they do freeze well. Be sure to wrap them up in Saran Wrap and a Ziplock bag to prevent freezer burn. Place in the fridge or set on the counter to thaw. 

Should seven layer bars be refrigerated?

No, they do not have to be refrigerated. Hello Dolly Bars, seven layer bars, or magic bars can stay on the counter for a few days. 

How long do magic bars keep?

Magic bars, Hello Dolly Bars, or seven layer 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 Hello Dolly Bars is an easy task, but here are a few ideas to make things a little easier.

Use Parchment Paper

Line the pan with parchment paper and it makes it easier to lift the bars out to cut them after they’ve cooled.

Make Sure You Press The Graham Cracker And Butter Mixture Firmly Into The Pan

Make sure to press the graham cracker mixture firmly into the bottom of the dish. 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 it 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 Hello Dolly Bars Without Coconut?

Yes, you can skip the coconut in the bars. It will be a little bit of a different texture and flavor without coconut.

Hello Dolly Bars Recipe Card

Check out the Hello Dolly Bars recipe card below, grab those ingredients, and start baking this family favorite! You’ll love how easy this recipe is to make. 

Then, share your comments below and share a picture of your dessert on the Pinterest Pin! 

If you made any changes or added something different, be sure to share it with us. 

Be sure to check out more delicious recipes over at Julia’s Simply Southern