These 7 layer bars are made with a buttery graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate, pecans, coconut, and wealthy sweetened condensed milk!
These chewy, decadent 7 Layer Bars are an endlessly customizable layered dessert with chocolate chips, coconut, chopped nuts and wealthy sweetened condensed milk, all in a easy graham cracker crust.
Why you will love these 7 Layer Bars
These are the best bars ever, and they’re all the time a serious hit in every single place you’re taking them. They’re comparatively excessive on the allergen-unfriendly scale (dairy! nuts! coconut!), however I’ve received all type of concepts for easy methods to substitute completely different substances.
They’re satisfyingly chewy, candy, and have so many alternative textures multi functional decadent dessert bar. You’ll be able to comply with the recipe to the letter, utilizing all the identical 7 parts that I do, or stick to the essential idea and make them your individual.
Since there are not any eggs to behave as a binder, they appear like they will not maintain collectively effectively. However the buttery graham cracker crust, when baked absolutely, is remarkably steady, and the sweetened condensed milk holds every little thing collectively.
They do maintain collectively greatest once they’re saved within the fridge, and I believe they even style greatest that approach, too. They’re additionally known as 7 layer magic bars for a purpose!
The three fundamental parts of seven Layer Bars
There are 3 parts to those bars that make these bars what they’re. The way you select to offer these parts is basically as much as you, although.
To make 7 Layer Bars, also called Seven Layer Magic Bars, you have to have:
1. A crunchy cookie crust. You should utilize any kind of crushed up crunchy cookie you want—store-bought, do-it-yourself, much less candy, extra candy, chocolate, or vanilla. The sky is the restrict. And you must combine the cookies with some kind of butter or butter substitute.
2. Items. The vast majority of the 7 layers are made up with items of chips, nuts, and coconut. In case you do not like one kind of piece, substitute it with one other. Love butterscotch? Use butterscotch chips. Hate coconut? Exchange it with extra chocolate chips. You get the concept.
3. Sweetened condensed milk. Sure, it has a ton of sugar, nevertheless it holds the bars collectively, makes them creamy and offers them depth of taste. You can additionally most likely use dulce de leche as an alternative, and make an much more decadent bar.
You’ll be able to see pictured above a plastic squeeze bottle of sweetened condensed milk, which makes it a lot simpler and neater to evenly distribute the product evenly excessive of the opposite layers of those magic cookie bars.
FAQs
They’re known as 7 layer bars as a result of they technically have 7 layers: graham cracker crumbs, butter, 2 varieties of chips, coconut, nuts, and sweetened condensed milk. In actuality, these are actually extra like 7 substances, however 7 layer bars sounds higher than 7 ingredient bars!
They’re truly all the identical factor! I’ve all the time assumed that in some elements of the nation, they’re extra prone to be recognized by one identify than one other. I believe it is just like how, in Minnesota what they name a scorching dish, I’d simply name a casserole.
You positive can! Since 4 of the 7 substances are simply particular person items that do not actually change form, however come collectively as a result of they’re sure along with sweetened condensed milk, you possibly can actually change any of them you want. So if you happen to do not like nuts in any respect, attempt including extra coconut, or a special kind of chocolate or flavored chip. Simply use an identical quantity, by weight, and it ought to be scrumptious.
No! Toasting the coconut chips alone in a heat oven for a couple of minutes brings out the pure taste and aroma of the coconut, however you possibly can skip that step if you happen to do not need to hassle. The coconut chips will nonetheless brown a bit within the oven once they’re baked as a part of the assembled bars.
Sure! Shredded coconut would not actually style like coconut to me, and I like coconut, so I favor to make use of unsweetened coconut chips, typically known as flakes. However you need to use an equal quantity, by weight, of unsweetened shredded coconut if that is what you want greatest.
I like these bars greatest once they’re saved within the fridge, they usually additionally maintain collectively greatest that approach. I first minimize the entire into 9 equal sq. bars, however after I’m storing leftovers, I put them in a tightly sealed container and stash them within the fridge. The sugar acts as a preservative, they usually’ll keep contemporary for as much as 2 weeks within the fridge. You’ll be able to freeze them in a tightly sealed freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months, however be sure you defrost within the fridge earlier than serving.
Seven layer bars are gluten free in the event that they’re made with gluten free graham cracker crumbs. I’ve a recipe for gluten free graham crackers that you would be able to make into crumbs, and you may as well purchase gluten free graham crackers to make into crumbs. Ensure that your nuts and chips are additionally safely gluten free, too, if that is mandatory as they generally comprise gluten substances and nuts typically have a “could comprise wheat” assertion. I purchase lots of my gluten free nuts from nuts.com.
7 Layer Bars substances and substitution options
As all the time, please perceive that I have never tried any of those substitutions until I particularly state in any other case. There are simply my best-educated guesses about what would work on this recipe in order that readers with different dietary restrictions can bake alongside.
If you could make gluten free 7 layer bars, be sure you use gluten free graham cracker crumbs and thoroughly choose your different substances to make certain that they’re freed from wheat or gluten as a contaminant:
Dairy free 7 layer bars
This may take a bunch of substitutions, however they’re fairly easy. Use a dairy-free crunchy cookie crumb (you need to use my gluten free graham crackers and change the butter with shortening, and add a contact of milk to carry the cookie dough collectively), and Earth Steadiness buttery sticks or Miyoko’s Kitchen model vegan butter instead of the butter.
Then you possibly can both use a store-bought canned sweetened condensed coconut milk (I’ve purchased it earlier than and it is fairly good!), or my do-it-yourself sweetened condensed milk, the dairy-free model. Be sure that your chocolate chips are dairy-free, and if you cannot discover dairy-free white chocolate chips, simply use every other dairy-free chip you want as a replacement.
Nut free 7 layer bars
Instead of almonds, you need to use extra chocolate chips—or a special uncooked chopped nut if you happen to can tolerate some nuts however not others. We simply want items right here that you would be able to chew simply and maintain their form.
Coconut free 7 layer bars
Use different nuts instead of coconut chips!
The right way to make 7 layer bars
Make the graham cracker crust
The crust is an easy one, made with crushed graham crackers and melted butter. Combine them collectively, after which press right into a lined baking pan.
Layer on all of the chips, coconut, and nuts
Place every of the 4 items layers proper on prime of the graham cracker crust so as: first semi-sweet chocolate chips, then white chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and at last coconut chips. You’ll be able to see my coconut chips are toasted within the oven first a bit, however that is actually non-obligatory!
Add the sweetened condensed milk and a few extra chips
Utilizing a kind of squeeze bottles of sweetened condensed milk makes it a lot simpler to pour that ingredient on prime, however you may as well make it work with a can. Simply pour slowly first a technique, then the opposite and again once more till you have coated all of it. Then add just a few extra items on prime!
All that is left to do is bake and luxuriate in!
Place the baking pan within the heart of a 350°F oven and bake till the highest of the combination is effervescent and the perimeters are starting brown. They’re going to additionally draw back from the pan a bit. Let cool to room temperature, chill for a bit, after which slice with a pointy knife into bars and luxuriate in!
7 Layer Bars
These 7 layer bars are made with a buttery graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate, pecans, coconut, and wealthy sweetened condensed milk!
Yield: 9 bars
Stop your display screen from going darkish
Elements
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) coconut flakes/chips plus some extra for sprinkling
- 1 ½ cups (225 g) graham cracker crumbs gluten free if mandatory (See Recipe Notes)
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips plus just a few extra for sprinkling
- 4 ounces white chocolate chips plus just a few extra for sprinkling
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) uncooked pecan items (or a mixture of semi-soft uncooked or baked nuts; I like a mixture of cashews and pecans)
- 14 ounces (1 can or pouch) sweetened condensed milk or do-it-yourself sweetened condensed milk
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 300°F.
-
Grease and line an 8 x 8-inch sq. baking dish, and set it apart. I like to make use of nonstick aluminum foil to line the pan, because it stays in place and would not follow the bars after they cool. You should utilize parchment paper, or common aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Toast the coconut chips
-
Place the coconut chips on an unlined quarter sheet pan or jelly roll pan. As soon as the oven has reached temperature, place that pan within the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or till the coconut chips have begun to brown.
-
For probably the most evenly toasted chips, stir them as soon as after about 2 minutes of baking and return the pan to the oven.
-
Take away the coconut chips from the oven and set them apart to permit them to chill briefly.
-
Improve the oven temperature to 350°F.
Make the bars.
-
In a medium-sized bowl, place the cookie crumbs and the melted butter, and blend to mix effectively.
-
Switch the combination to the ready baking dish and press it firmly into the underside.
-
On prime of the cookie crust in even layers, add the semi-sweet chocolate chips, the white chocolate chips, the coconut, and the nuts. Reserve just a few of the chocolate and white chocolate chips and among the coconut.
-
Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly excessive of the entire dish. Sprinkle the highest evenly with the remaining extra semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and/or coconut chips, if any.
-
Place the baking dish within the heart of the preheated oven, and bake at 350°F for 25 to half-hour, or till the highest and sides of the dish are effervescent and the perimeters are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters might also start to drag away from the perimeters of the pan. In case you’re not completely positive if the dish is completed, scale back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for an additional jiffy.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for at the least quarter-hour within the pan. In case you attempt to take away it too quickly, it gained’t maintain collectively.
-
To make the bars simpler to slice, chill within the fridge for half-hour.
-
As soon as cool, seize the overhanging baking pan liner and take away the bars from the pan.
-
With a moist knife, slice the bars into 9 equal squares. You’ll be able to all the time slice into smaller items, however the approximate dietary data relies on 1 of 9 squares.
-
Serve at room temperature or chilled from the fridge. Refrigerate any leftovers in a tightly sealed container for as much as 2 weeks. Freeze for longer storage, however enable to defrost within the fridge or at room temperature earlier than serving.
Notes
You may want about 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs. In case you’re crushing your individual graham crackers, whether or not it is my gluten free graham cracker recipe, your individual, or retailer purchased crackers, the best approach to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The correct weight of graham crackers will end in the correct weight of crumbs. It often takes about 1/2 my recipe of graham crackers, or about 10 full-size particular person rectangular crackers.
I crush them in a mini meals processor (affiliate hyperlink), because it makes probably the most uniform crumbs with out making any of the graham crackers into paste like a blender can typically do. And a mini meals processor is simpler to scrub than an enormous one.
You should utilize any kind of meals processor or blender, or simply put them in a zip-top storage bag and pound them with a rolling pin till they resemble coarse crumbs.
Dietary information.
Diet data is an estimate solely, per bar, from on-line calculators, offered as a courtesy, and shouldn’t be relied on beneath any circumstances.
Diet
Serving: 1bar | Energy: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 41g | Saturated Fats: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 13g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 331IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg
7 Layer Bars
These 7 layer bars are made with a buttery graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate, pecans, coconut, and wealthy sweetened condensed milk!
Yield: 9 bars
Stop your display screen from going darkish
Elements
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) coconut flakes/chips plus some extra for sprinkling
- 1 ½ cups (225 g) graham cracker crumbs gluten free if mandatory (See Recipe Notes)
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips plus just a few extra for sprinkling
- 4 ounces white chocolate chips plus just a few extra for sprinkling
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) uncooked pecan items (or a mixture of semi-soft uncooked or baked nuts; I like a mixture of cashews and pecans)
- 14 ounces (1 can or pouch) sweetened condensed milk or do-it-yourself sweetened condensed milk
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 300°F.
-
Grease and line an 8 x 8-inch sq. baking dish, and set it apart. I like to make use of nonstick aluminum foil to line the pan, because it stays in place and would not follow the bars after they cool. You should utilize parchment paper, or common aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Toast the coconut chips
-
Place the coconut chips on an unlined quarter sheet pan or jelly roll pan. As soon as the oven has reached temperature, place that pan within the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or till the coconut chips have begun to brown.
-
For probably the most evenly toasted chips, stir them as soon as after about 2 minutes of baking and return the pan to the oven.
-
Take away the coconut chips from the oven and set them apart to permit them to chill briefly.
-
Improve the oven temperature to 350°F.
Make the bars.
-
In a medium-sized bowl, place the cookie crumbs and the melted butter, and blend to mix effectively.
-
Switch the combination to the ready baking dish and press it firmly into the underside.
-
On prime of the cookie crust in even layers, add the semi-sweet chocolate chips, the white chocolate chips, the coconut, and the nuts. Reserve just a few of the chocolate and white chocolate chips and among the coconut.
-
Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly excessive of the entire dish. Sprinkle the highest evenly with the remaining extra semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and/or coconut chips, if any.
-
Place the baking dish within the heart of the preheated oven, and bake at 350°F for 25 to half-hour, or till the highest and sides of the dish are effervescent and the perimeters are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters might also start to drag away from the perimeters of the pan. In case you’re not completely positive if the dish is completed, scale back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for an additional jiffy.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for at the least quarter-hour within the pan. In case you attempt to take away it too quickly, it gained’t maintain collectively.
-
To make the bars simpler to slice, chill within the fridge for half-hour.
-
As soon as cool, seize the overhanging baking pan liner and take away the bars from the pan.
-
With a moist knife, slice the bars into 9 equal squares. You’ll be able to all the time slice into smaller items, however the approximate dietary data relies on 1 of 9 squares.
-
Serve at room temperature or chilled from the fridge. Refrigerate any leftovers in a tightly sealed container for as much as 2 weeks. Freeze for longer storage, however enable to defrost within the fridge or at room temperature earlier than serving.
Notes
You may want about 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs. In case you’re crushing your individual graham crackers, whether or not it is my gluten free graham cracker recipe, your individual, or retailer purchased crackers, the best approach to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The correct weight of graham crackers will end in the correct weight of crumbs. It often takes about 1/2 my recipe of graham crackers, or about 10 full-size particular person rectangular crackers.
I crush them in a mini meals processor (affiliate hyperlink), because it makes probably the most uniform crumbs with out making any of the graham crackers into paste like a blender can typically do. And a mini meals processor is simpler to scrub than an enormous one.
You should utilize any kind of meals processor or blender, or simply put them in a zip-top storage bag and pound them with a rolling pin till they resemble coarse crumbs.
Dietary information.
Diet data is an estimate solely, per bar, from on-line calculators, offered as a courtesy, and shouldn’t be relied on beneath any circumstances.
Diet
Serving: 1bar | Energy: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 41g | Saturated Fats: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 13g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 331IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg
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Hello, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that basically work and style pretty much as good as you keep in mind. No extra making separate meals when somebody is GF, or shopping for packaged meals that aren’t ok to justify the worth. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” simply isn’t ok!
