Easy Seven Layer Bars

If you love luscious gooey bars, filled with the crunch of coconut and the sweetness of chocolate and condensed milk, you’ve come to the right place! This is the traditional recipe and incredibly easy to make. 

What are 7-layer bars? 

Just as the name indicates, these are bars made of seven ingredients, layered one on top of the other. 

What makes these bars unique is the addition of sweetened condensed milk. This milk is actually made of just two ingredients: sugar and milk.

This thick, luscious milk serves as a sweet, delectable glue to adhere all of the other ingredients together. 

I believe this recipe originated with Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk, but I found it online at Allrecipes.com.

It’s very similar to my Magic Bars recipe, which I posted at Christmas-time. So similar, in fact, that I almost didn’t post this one. But the addition of butterscotch chips (and my surprising choice for the base cookie layer) set this recipe apart.

Seven Layer Bar Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. For now, here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make this delectable dessert. These are simple ingredients you can pick up at any grocery store. 

• butter, melted (salted or unsalted, your choice)
• graham cracker crumbs (or shortbread cookie crumbs)
• semisweet chocolate chips
• butterscotch chips
• chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts, your choice)
• sweetened condensed milk
• shredded coconut flakes

Note: You can use any chocolate chips you like but I prefer dark chocolate chips to counter-balance the sweetness from the other ingredients.

How to Make Seven Layer Bars

These came together so easily! I can definitely see adding this one to my “make it often” list.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Crush graham crackers (or cookies) in a ziplock bag using a rolling pin. You can take it to the “fine crumbs” level or leave them chunky. It’s your choice. If you want fine crumbs you might choose to use your food processor.

Start by placing the stick of butter in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan (casserole dish). 

Place in the microwave for one minute to melt the butter. (If you like, you can use parchment paper under the butter for easier lifting after the bars are baked.)

Make sure butter covers the bottom and sides of the pan. 

Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on top of the melted butter.

Add chocolate chips. 

Now add a cup of butterscotch chips. 

It’s time to add the nuts. Walnuts or pecans will work. Almonds too, for that matter. Just spread them out over the chips. 

Pour the full can of sweetened condensed milk over the ingredients. Smooth with the back of a spoon. 

Sprinkle coconut over the milk. 

Place pan in oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until the coconut turns golden brown. 

Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. 

Wait until bars are completely cooled before you attempt to cut them. 

This recipe should make 24 bars (more or less, depending on how you cut them). 

Store in airtight container at room temperature (or store in original pan covered in plastic wrap). Treats should stay good for 4 – 5 days. 

Can be refrigerated (up to a week) or frozen (up to two months). If frozen, allow to thaw naturally before serving. 

What to Expect from this Recipe

These are very similar to my Magic Cookie Bars, with only one exception: this recipe calls for butterscotch. That recipe does not. 

Layers of flavors make these bars so unique. They’re loaded with flavor and texture. I love the mergence of chocolate and coconut and that added creaminess from the butterscotch? Yum!

I didn’t have enough graham crackers on hand so I used shortbread cookies. (Full disclosure: They were Girl Scout cookies I bought a few weeks back but hadn’t eaten.) 

That crust added a whole new level of perfection! (I think a plain buttery graham cracker crust would be great!)

All in all, I’d say these seven-layer bars are pure perfection. I can’t wait to make some for my family. 

Variations on this Seven Layer Bars Recipe

These are great, just as they are! But I’m always looking for ways to mix things up. First off, if you have a nut allergy, you can skip those altogether. Otherwise, here are some other variations on this recipe.

I’m thinking it would be fun to use a peanut butter cookie crust and add peanut butter chips in place of butterscotch. (Delicious idea, right?) 

Use lemon Oreos as your base, then add two cups pf white chocolate chips. (Skip the butterscotch.) Lemon coconut bars sound divine! You might consider adding the juice of one lemon to the sweetened condensed milk before spreading it over the chips. 

Almond Joy: Use chocolate Oreos as the base, add a combination of milk and semi-sweet chocolate, and cover with almonds and coconut. Voila! Almond Joy! 

Mint Chocolate: Use Mint Chocolate Oreos for the base, add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of mint chocolate chips.

Other Bars from Out of the Box Baking

Easy Blackberry Crumble Bars: If you love a crunchy breakfast bar, loaded with the flavor of blackberries, this is the recipe for you. A rich crumbly crust, a sticky middle, and a lovely streusel topping. . .all in one luscious bite. Best of all, it’s not overly sweet!

Valentine Cookie Bars from Scratch: They’re colorful, crunchy, and loaded with chocolatey flavor. Best of all, these delicious Valentine’s Day Cookie Bars are super easy to make. Talk about the perfect treat for your loved ones! 

Cherry Pie Bars (Cherry Cobbler Bars): If you’re looking for a bar with a soft sugar cookie crust, cake-like in texture, with a rich almond and cherry flavor, have I got a treat for you! These Simple Cherry Pie Bars (Cherry Cobbler Bars) are gooey, soft, and absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious! 

German Chocolate Bars: If you love German Chocolate cake but want the ease of a tender, flaky cookie bar, this is the recipe for you! The cookie crust has a light chocolate flavor and the rich gooey filling is loaded with coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips.

Follow this link for a comprehensive post listing more of my fall cookies and bars, perfect for autumn!

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That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

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