These chewy 7 layer bars have a buttery graham cracker crust, chocolate, nuts, coconut, topped with 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 simplest 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 acquired all sort of concepts for find out how to substitute totally different substances.
They’re satisfyingly chewy, candy, and have so many various textures multi functional decadent dessert bar. You’ll be able to observe the recipe to the letter, utilizing all the identical 7 components that I do, or stick to the fundamental 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 thing collectively.
They do maintain collectively finest after they’re saved within the fridge, and I believe they even style finest that approach, too. They’re additionally known as 7 layer magic bars for a cause!
The three fundamental components of seven Layer Bars
There are 3 components to those bars that make these bars what they’re. The way you select to offer these components is de facto as much as you, although.
To make 7 Layer Bars, often known as Seven Layer Magic Bars, you need to have:
1. A crunchy cookie crust. You need to use any form of crushed up crunchy cookie you want—store-bought, selfmade, much less candy, extra candy, chocolate, or vanilla. The sky is the restrict. And it’s important to combine the cookies with some form of butter or butter substitute.
2. Items. The vast majority of the 7 layers are made up with items of chips, nuts, and coconut. Should you don’t love one form of piece, substitute it with one other. Love butterscotch? Use butterscotch chips. Hate coconut? Exchange it with extra chocolate chips. You get the thought.
3. Sweetened condensed milk. Sure, it has a ton of sugar, however it holds the bars collectively, makes them creamy and provides them depth of taste. You could possibly additionally most likely use dulce de leche as a substitute, 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 components of the nation, they’re extra more likely to be identified by one title than one other. I believe it is much like how, in Minnesota what they name a scorching dish, I would simply name a casserole.
You certain 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’ll be able to actually change any of them you want. So in the event you don’t love nuts in any respect, attempt including extra coconut, or a distinct form of chocolate or flavored chip. Simply use the same quantity, by weight, and it needs 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’ll be able to skip that step in the event you do not need to hassle. The coconut chips will nonetheless brown a bit within the oven after they’re baked as a part of the assembled bars.
Sure! Shredded coconut does not actually style like coconut to me, and I like coconut, so I desire to make use of unsweetened coconut chips, typically known as flakes. However you should use an equal quantity, by weight, of unsweetened shredded coconut if that is what you want finest.
I like these bars finest after they’re saved within the fridge, they usually additionally maintain collectively finest that approach. I first lower the entire into 9 equal sq. bars, however once 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 make 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 you can make into crumbs, and it’s also possible to purchase gluten free graham crackers to make into crumbs. Make certain that your nuts and chips are additionally safely gluten free, too, if that is essential as they generally include gluten substances and nuts typically have a “might include wheat” assertion. I purchase a lot of my gluten free nuts from nuts.com.
7 Layer Bars substances and substitution strategies
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 it’s essential to make gluten free 7 layer bars, make sure you use gluten free graham cracker crumbs and thoroughly choose your different substances to ensure 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 should use my gluten free graham crackers and change the butter with shortening, and add a contact of milk to deliver the cookie dough collectively), and Earth Steadiness buttery sticks or Miyoko’s Kitchen model vegan butter instead of the butter.
Then you’ll be able to both use a store-bought canned sweetened condensed coconut milk (I’ve purchased it earlier than and it is fairly good!), or my selfmade sweetened condensed milk, the dairy-free model. Be sure 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 substitute.
Nut free 7 layer bars
Instead of almonds, you should use extra chocolate chips—or a distinct uncooked chopped nut in the event you can tolerate some nuts however not others. We simply want items right here you can chew simply and maintain their form.
Coconut free 7 layer bars
Use different nuts instead of coconut chips!
The way to make 7 layer bars
Make the graham cracker crust
The crust is a straightforward 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 high 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 optionally available!
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 high, however it’s also possible to make it work with a can. Simply pour slowly first a technique, then the opposite and again once more till you’ve got lined all of it. Then add just a few extra items on high!
All that is left to do is bake and revel 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 sides are starting brown. They will 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 revel in!
7 Layer Bars
These chewy 7 layer bars have a buttery graham cracker crust, chocolate, nuts, coconut, topped with wealthy sweetened condensed milk.
Yield: 9 bars
Forestall your display 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 essential (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 mix of semi-soft uncooked or baked nuts; I like a mix of cashews and pecans)
- 14 ounces (1 can or pouch) sweetened condensed milk or selfmade 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 does not follow the bars after they cool. You need to use 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.
-
Enhance 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 high 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 a few of 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 sides are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters can also start to drag away from the edges of the pan. Should you’re not fully certain if the dish is finished, cut back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for one more couple of minutes.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for not less than quarter-hour within the pan. Should you attempt to take away it too quickly, it received’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 info is predicated 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. Should 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 simplest method to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The precise weight of graham crackers will lead to the fitting 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 need to use any form 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 info is an estimate solely, per bar, from on-line calculators, supplied as a courtesy, and shouldn’t be relied on underneath 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 chewy 7 layer bars have a buttery graham cracker crust, chocolate, nuts, coconut, topped with wealthy sweetened condensed milk.
Yield: 9 bars
Forestall your display 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 essential (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 mix of semi-soft uncooked or baked nuts; I like a mix of cashews and pecans)
- 14 ounces (1 can or pouch) sweetened condensed milk or selfmade 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 does not follow the bars after they cool. You need to use 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.
-
Enhance 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 high 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 a few of 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 sides are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters can also start to drag away from the edges of the pan. Should you’re not fully certain if the dish is finished, cut back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for one more couple of minutes.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for not less than quarter-hour within the pan. Should you attempt to take away it too quickly, it received’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 info is predicated 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. Should 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 simplest method to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The precise weight of graham crackers will lead to the fitting 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 need to use any form 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 info is an estimate solely, per bar, from on-line calculators, supplied as a courtesy, and shouldn’t be relied on underneath 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
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that basically work and style nearly as good as you bear 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!
