Full of rich chocolate chips, crunchy graham cracker crumbs and flaked coconut, Seven Layer Bars are a classic treat everyone loves. Also called Magic Cookie Bars, this recipe is made with sweetened condensed milk and comes together quickly and easily. Make it with, or without, nuts to suit your tastes.
Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars
I’ve shared lots of variations on seven layer cookie bars over the years. These festive Holiday Magic Cookie Bars have been a favorite every year and my peanut butter loving friends go wild for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Cookie Bars I make.
I was surprised to realize that I’d yet to share a recipe for a simple old-fashioned 7 layer magic cookie bar! This recipe is based on the Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars–the one shared on cans of sweetened condensed milk.
While called many things, 7 Layer Bars, Magic Bars, Seven Layer Cookies, Magic Cookie Bars… the list goes on, chances are good you’ve tasted these delicious treats at some point in your life.
There’s a reason this recipe is an enduring classic!
As you can see, I love to dress my Magic Cookie Bars up for the holidays by adding some M&Ms chocolate candies. This is such a fun way to give them a bit of color and added texture. You can replace the chocolate chips, or just mix in some M&Ms.
Seven Layer Bars
Magic Bars include something for everyone and that’s part of their appeal. The traditional recipe includes seven ingredients: butter, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and nuts.
A good 7 layer magic cookie bar starts with a simple graham cracker crust.
You combine graham cracker cookie crumbs with melted butter then pour it into a baking pan. Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk goes on top of that crust, followed by generous layers of chocolate chips and flaked coconut.
If sticking with the traditional seven layer recipe, butterscotch chips are also included. Personally I find the butterscotch chips make it a bit too sweet, and I like sweet! However feel free to add them if you like.
A traditional 7 layer bar also includes nuts like pecans or walnuts. I skipped adding the nuts to these due to an allergy, but the crunchy nut layer adds so much to a magic cookie bar.
Both pecans and walnuts taste great in this recipe or you can use a combination of both.
After baking and slicing, Magic Cookie Bars are ready to slice and serve, or store in a covered container.
Magic Cookie Bar Ingredients
(at a glance, full recipe below)
- non-stick cooking spray
- graham cracker crumbs
- butter
- Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Chocolate Chips
- Flaked Coconut
- Nuts such as pecans or walnuts
How To Make Magic Cookie Bars
2. In a medium size bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared baking pan and gently press to create a crust that covers the entire bottom of the pan.
4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until beginning to lightly brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for approximately 5-10 minutes. Then, while still warm, loosen bars from the side of the pan gently to prevent them from sticking. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.
Notes
Seven Layer Bars Recipe
Enjoyed as an afternoon treat or shared with friends at a party, Magic Cookie Bars are a tasty and easy to make dessert that makes everyone happy.
Equipment
- 13x9 inch baking pan
Ingredients
- non-stick cooking spray
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 14oz can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts walnuts and pecans work well
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Make sure to spray the interior sides well.
- In a medium size bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared baking pan and gently press to create a crust that covers the entire bottom of the pan.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb crust. Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips, coconut and nuts over condensed milk layer. Gently press down with a fork.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until begining to lightly brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for approximately 5-10 minutes. Then, while still warm, loosen bars from the side of the pan gently to prevent them from sticking. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.
Rick says
Gotta be careful with this one… you might eat the whole pan on “accident”. 😉
Lynn says
Can the coconut be omitted and they turn out well?
Christi Johnstone says
Honestly, not really with this recipe. If someone isn’t a fan of coconut, I’d honestly just recommend making something else, it’s kind of an essential ingredient in this limited ingredient recipe.
Phala Bowles says
Please consider using “plant based” butter (Miyoko’s) is just one of the many, many amazing non dairy/plant based alternatives.
Christi Johnstone says
Since those aren’t safe for my daughter who has a life threatening nut allergy, we stick with sweetened condensed milk. 😉
Jack Vizzard says
These cookie bars are HEAVENLY !!!
Elizabeth H. says
I just made these this morning, only our family recipe. We call these Prayer Bars. And we add a 1/2 cup of butterscotch chips along with the semi chocolate chips, and pecans. We’ve had our recipe for over 60 years. If I were you I would include ALL ingredients and if people want to omit something they can. My kitchen is smelling heavenly…….I think that’s why they call them Prayer bars,
June says
You can put peanut butter chips, butterscotch chip, mint pieces and heath bits it is so good and my kids love them
Debra Richardson says
Can I freeze these?
Christi Johnstone says
I haven’t tried freezing these. Honesty these are SO fast and easy (you basically just dump stuff in a pan) they are very low on the list of things I’d freeze. I’m not entirely sure how the sweetened condensed milk layer would be upon thawing.
Sherrie says
I freeze them every year and it works fine. Only difference is I pour the milk over all the layers .
Laura says
my mom made these as far back as I can recall and I am 69 , the eagle brand milk gets poured over the top per her own handwritten recipe we called them no name bars .
AJ says
Do you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes?
Christi Johnstone says
Sweetened usually, but you could use either.
Cathy says
Do you add the M&M’s before or after baking?
Christi Johnstone says
Just add them as you would chocolate chips when baking.
Joyce Pierce says
Do they need to be refrigerated since they have sweetened condensed milk?
Christi Johnstone says
No, they do not.
Theresa says
I have made this recipe more times than I can count. I know some who just make this at Christmas as a go to but I make it all through the year whenever I need a good item to bring to someone and just for my family. We love these great little bars. I make them and send to my granddaughter who lives 1200 miles away from me. I love baking for others who really don’t like cooking. Puts a smile on my face to make them happy