Seven Layer Bars — American magic cookie bars
Seven-layer bars (also called magic cookie bars) are a layered American no-bake-then-bake dessert: a graham-cracker crust topped with melted butter, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, chopped nuts, and condensed milk poured over the top to bind. Baked until bubbly.
i. Origin & history
Seven-layer bars are mid-20th-century American invention, popularised in the 1950s with the spread of Eagle Brand condensed milk. They are the canonical American church-potluck and bake-sale dessert.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 16 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 200 g graham crackers, crushed
- 100 g unsalted butter, melted
- 100 g chocolate chips
- 100 g butterscotch chips
- 100 g desiccated coconut
- 100 g chopped pecans (or walnuts)
- 400 g sweetened condensed milk
iii. Method
- Heat oven to 180 °C. Mix crushed crackers with melted butter; press into a 22 × 30 cm tin.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly. Sprinkle butterscotch chips. Sprinkle coconut. Sprinkle nuts.
- Drizzle condensed milk evenly over the top.
- Bake 25-30 min until golden and bubbling at the edges.
- Cool fully in the tin; cut into squares.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Six-layer bars skip one ingredient. Modern seven-layer bars use white chocolate, dried cranberries, or pretzels. Vegan version uses coconut condensed milk.
vi. Common questions
What is seven layer bars?
Seven Layer Bars is american magic cookie bars, from north american cuisine. Baked until bubbly
Where is seven layer bars from?
Seven Layer Bars is from the north american dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does seven layer bars keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 1 week at room temperature.