Looking for the perfect 7 layer cookie recipe? Here is an amazing magic cookie bar recipe for you! The ingredients for these delectable seven-layer Magic Cookie Bars include butter, sweetened condensed milk, crushed graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, and butterscotch chips.
What is a 7 Layer Cookie Recipe?
The reason these cookies are named Seven-Layer Cookies is that they have seven fundamental ingredients, which are placed one on top of the other. The ingredients include butter, coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, graham cracker crumbs, chopped nuts, and sweetened condensed milk. To ensure that every bite of this recipe is bursting with flavor, the secret is to evenly distribute each layer as you add it to the pan.
The History of 7 Layer Cookie Recipe
These rich, luscious bars, whether they are known as Hello Dolly’s, Magic Cookie Bars, or Coconut Dream Bars, were probably invented in the 1960s. In 1965, 11-year-old Alecia Leigh Couch of Dallas, Texas, submitted her grandmother’s recipe for these bars to The Week magazine. Earlier that same year, the Evening News of Ada, Oklahoma, published a similar recipe.
A key component of the recipe is sweetened condensed milk, and around the same time, Eagle Brand condensed milk released a recipe for a magic bar on the back of its sweetened condensed milk. These bars, no matter where they come from, are a simple and quick dessert that never fails to impress.
What Goes Inside Each Layer of 7 Layer Cookies?
1st Layer: Graham Cracker Crumbs. These can be purchased fully broken up or you can pulse them yourself in a food processor.
2nd Layer: Melted Butter
3rd Layer: Sweetened Condensed Milk
4th Layer: Butterscotch Chips
5th Layer: Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
6th Layer: Coconut Flake either unsweetened or sweetened
7th Layer: Finely chopped nuts, such as cashews, walnuts, and pecans.
For complete instructions and ingredient quantities, see the recipe card below.
Ingredients Notes
What you’ll need to create these cookies is:
Butter: For a crisp base, melted butter is used to moisten graham cracker crumbs. To counteract the sweetness of the cookies, add a small sprinkle of salt if you’re using unsalted butter.
Graham Cracker Crumbs: The bottom layer of the cookies is made of graham cracker crumbs.
Sweet Coconut Flakes: Offers a chewy, sweet texture.
Chocolate Chips: You can choose from dark, bittersweet, semisweet, or milk chocolate chips.
Butterscotch Chips: To give sweetness, color, and texture.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: The key ingredient that keeps the layers together as it bakes is sweetened condensed milk.
Chopped Pecans: To add a crunch of nuts.
Equipment
- 13×9 Inch Baking Dish
- Mixing bowl
Recipe Instructions
Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
Prepare the Crust and Layer all the Ingredients
Mix the butter and graham cracker crumbs thoroughly. Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the greased pan. Evenly drizzle the sweetened milk over the crumbs. Press down firmly with a fork and continue to layer equally with the remaining ingredients in the following order: Butterscotch chips, Semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaked coconut, Chopped nuts
Bake the 7 Layer Cookie
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies start to brown. While still hot, loosen from the pan’s sides and let cool on the wire rack. Cut them into the bars or squares.
Expert Tip: Line the pan completely with foil, extending it over the pan’s edge, and spray with non-stick cooking spray In this way, magic cookies can be removed from the pan by lifting them by the foil’s edges once they have baked and cooled.
Variations in the 7 Layer Cookie Recipe
There are a lot of options for customization with this 7 layer cookie recipe:
The Cookie Crumbs: To add some variation to this recipe, substitute equal amounts of Biscoff, shortbread, or even chocolate cookie crumbs for the graham cracker crumbs.
The Chips: You can use any kind of chips you like, including white, milk, chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon, caramel, and more.
The Nuts: For a nut-free variation, substitute pretzels, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios for the pecans.
The Size: Slice into bite-sized pieces (1 1/2 inches) or 3-inch squares to make them easier to grasp off a dessert table.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 428kcal
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 13mg
- Sodium: 172mg
- Potassium: 361mg
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 38g
- Vitamin A: 112IU
- Vitamin C: 1mg
- Calcium: 125mg
- Iron: 2mg
Easy Homemade 7 Layer Cookie Recipe – Magic Cookie Bars
Description
The reason these cookies are named Seven-Layer Cookies is that they have seven fundamental ingredients, which are placed one on top of the other. The ingredients include butter, coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, graham cracker crumbs, chopped nuts, and sweetened condensed milk. To ensure that every bite of this recipe is bursting with flavor, the secret is to evenly distribute each layer as you add it to the pan.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the Crust and Layer all the Ingredients: Mix the butter and graham cracker crumbs thoroughly. Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the greased pan. Evenly drizzle the sweetened milk over the crumbs. Press down firmly with a fork and continue to layer equally with the remaining ingredients in the following order: Butterscotch chips, Semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaked coconut, and Chopped nuts.
- Bake the 7 Layer Cookie: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies start to brown. While still hot, loosen from the pan’s sides and let cool on the wire rack. Cut them into the bars or squares.
Notes
- Line the pan completely with foil, extending it over the pan’s edge and spray with non-stick cooking spray In this way, magic cookies can be removed from the pan by lifting them by the foil’s edges once they have baked and cooled.
Servings 12
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 428
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 23g36%
- Saturated Fat 12<strong class="dr-nut-label dr-nut-measurement">g</strong>60%
- Trans Fat 1<strong class="dr-nut-label dr-nut-measurement">g</strong>
- Cholesterol 13mg5%
- Sodium 172mg8%
- Potassium 361mg11%
- Total Carbohydrate 52g18%
- Dietary Fiber 4<strong class="dr-nut-label dr-nut-measurement">g</strong>16%
- Sugars 38<strong class="dr-nut-label dr-nut-measurement">g</strong>
- Protein 7g15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Recipe FAQs
Can you make 7 layer bars without coconut?
Don’t use coconut if you don’t want to. If you can simply skip that one item from the recipe, why not enjoy the other flavors as well? If you need to remove a layer, simply rename it to six-layer bars.
You can also replace the coconut with chopped peanuts, white chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips. Additionally, you can pour some caramel over the top.
Is it possible to make this 7-layer cookie without nuts?
Yes, of course! Simply remove the nuts if you don’t want to use them, or replace them with another kind. Walnuts also work well in this dish.
Can you freeze seven-layer magic bars?
You can freeze these sweets. Simply place them in a freezer-safe bag after wrapping them in saran wrap.
