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 may love these 7 Layer Bars
These are the best bars ever, and they’re at all times a serious hit in all places you’re taking them. They’re comparatively excessive on the allergen-unfriendly scale (dairy! nuts! coconut!), however I’ve received all form of concepts for the right way to substitute totally different elements.
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 essential idea and make them your individual.
Since there aren’t 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 secure, and the sweetened condensed milk holds the whole lot collectively.
They do maintain collectively finest after they’re saved within the fridge, and I believe they even style finest that method, too. They’re additionally referred to 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 supply these components is de facto as much as you, although.
To make 7 Layer Bars, also referred to as Seven Layer Magic Bars, you have to have:
1. A crunchy cookie crust. You should utilize 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 a must 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. In case you do not like one form of piece, substitute it with one other. Love butterscotch? Use butterscotch chips. Hate coconut? Change 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 offers them depth of taste. You could possibly additionally in all probability 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 referred to 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 elements, however 7 layer bars sounds higher than 7 ingredient bars!
They’re really all the identical factor! I’ve at all times assumed that in some components of the nation, they’re extra more likely to be identified by one identify than one other. I believe it is just like how, in Minnesota what they name a sizzling dish, I would simply name a casserole.
You positive can! Since 4 of the 7 elements are simply particular person items that do not actually change form, however come collectively as a result of they’re certain along with sweetened condensed milk, you may actually change any of them you want. So should you do not like nuts in any respect, strive including extra coconut, or a unique form of chocolate or flavored chip. Simply use the same 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 may skip that step should you do not wish 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 would not actually style like coconut to me, and I like coconut, so I favor to make use of unsweetened coconut chips, generally known as flakes. However you need to 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 stored within the fridge, and so they additionally maintain collectively finest that method. I first reduce 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, and so they’ll keep recent 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 to 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 may make into crumbs, and it’s also possible to purchase gluten free graham crackers to make into crumbs. Make sure that your nuts and chips are additionally safely gluten free, too, if that is vital as they often include gluten elements and nuts typically have a “might include wheat” assertion. I purchase a lot of my gluten free nuts from nuts.com.
7 Layer Bars elements and substitution ideas
As at all times, please perceive that I have not 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 should make gluten free 7 layer bars, make sure to use gluten free graham cracker crumbs and punctiliously choose your different elements to make sure that they’re freed from wheat or gluten as a contaminant:
Dairy free 7 layer bars
This can take a bunch of substitutions, however they’re fairly simple. 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 deliver the cookie dough collectively), and Earth Steadiness buttery sticks or Miyoko’s Kitchen model vegan butter instead of the butter.
Then you may 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 certain that your chocolate chips are dairy-free, and if you cannot discover dairy-free white chocolate chips, simply use some other dairy-free chip you want as an alternative.
Nut free 7 layer bars
Instead of almonds, you need to use extra chocolate chips—or a unique uncooked chopped nut should you can tolerate some nuts however not others. We simply want items right here that you may chew simply and maintain their form.
Coconut free 7 layer bars
Use different nuts instead of coconut chips!
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 elective!
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 it’s also possible to make it work with a can. Simply pour slowly first a method, then the opposite and again once more till you have lined 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 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 luxuriate 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 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 vital (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 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 would not stick with 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 essentially 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 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 perimeters are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters may additionally start to drag away from the perimeters of the pan. In case you’re not totally positive if the dish is finished, scale back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for one more jiffy.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for a minimum of 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 at all times 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 will 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 strategy to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The best weight of graham crackers will lead to the appropriate weight of crumbs. It normally 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 essentially the most uniform crumbs with out making any of the graham crackers into paste like a blender can generally do. And a mini meals processor is simpler to scrub than a giant one.
You should utilize 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 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 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 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 vital (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 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 would not stick with 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 essentially 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 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 perimeters are starting to brown.
-
The perimeters may additionally start to drag away from the perimeters of the pan. In case you’re not totally positive if the dish is finished, scale back the oven temperature to about 325°F and proceed baking for one more jiffy.
-
Take away the baking dish from the oven, and permit the bars to chill for a minimum of 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 at all times 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 will 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 strategy to get the quantity proper is to measure the graham crackers by weight first.
The best weight of graham crackers will lead to the appropriate weight of crumbs. It normally 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 essentially the most uniform crumbs with out making any of the graham crackers into paste like a blender can generally do. And a mini meals processor is simpler to scrub than a giant one.
You should utilize 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 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
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that actually work and style nearly as good as you keep in mind. No extra making separate meals when somebody is GF, or shopping for packaged meals that aren’t adequate to justify the value. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” simply isn’t adequate!
