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The Basics: How to Make Seven-Layer Bars
Shockingly easy
From the store to the kitchen to the table: We outline the steps that get you from something raw to something cooked using simple ingredients, free of measurements and complicated techniques. A method that you can have in your back pocket and whip out whenever you like. We call it recipe-free cooking.
- a 13-by-9-inch baking dish
- a knife
- a stick of unsalted butter
- eight crushed graham crackers
- two generous handfuls of sweetened shredded coconut
- three handfuls (a half bag) of chocolate chips
- two generous handfuls of coarsely chopped nuts (any kind)
- one can of sweetened condensed milk
Illustrations by Bill Russell
It's more interesting reading the comments than actually making the Bar. have fun everyone - don't sweat the small stuff. Put in what you want and as many layers as you feel lead to.
This is my favorite cookie bar recipe and I just made them to give to a college student we were visiting. I always add butterscotch chips and leave out the coconut, because my family prefers it that way. Once I made them using only white chocolate chips and coconut and they were just as good.
My mother used to make these but she substituted a cup of oatmeal for the cracker crumbs! Yum! It added another layer of texture and we could use the excuse that they were 'healthy' because of the oatmeal! LOL!We always remembered the recipe by 'CNBC' crumbs, nuts, bits, coconut......never needed a recipe!
These are a hit every Christmas when I make them and even survived a trip to Germany when my son was in the service. I use the original recipe with the butterscotch chips and add the condensed milk before the addition of the chopped nuts, then I gently press down on the nuts. This way they stay in the cookie and don't fall apart. I have been baking these cookies for many, many years and they are...+READ
These are a hit every Christmas when I make them and even survived a trip to Germany when my son was in the service. I use the original recipe with the butterscotch chips and add the condensed milk before the addition of the chopped nuts, then I gently press down on the nuts. This way they stay in the cookie and don't fall apart. I have been baking these cookies for many, many years and they are always welcome.-COLLAPSE
I guess that I, too, had a deprived childhood because I never had these growing up, even though they would have appealed to my working mom's way of baking. I'm happy that I'm not the only one who noticed that this is only a six layer cookie! I'll add the mentioned butterscotch chips from my fellow Chow members. And I'm glad they posted this because like I said, I never had this or was aware of...+READ
I guess that I, too, had a deprived childhood because I never had these growing up, even though they would have appealed to my working mom's way of baking. I'm happy that I'm not the only one who noticed that this is only a six layer cookie! I'll add the mentioned butterscotch chips from my fellow Chow members. And I'm glad they posted this because like I said, I never had this or was aware of the recipe on the back of the can of condensed milk. Thanks, Chow!-COLLAPSE
I make them in an 8x8 so they're thicker and then freeze most of the pan, cut into serving sizes. Pull them one out at a time and they're more appreciated (no work) and not overinduldged. They taste pretty good partially frozen, too-- like a frozen snickers.
My grandchildren are the 4th generation to receive this recipe exactly as my mother made it: SEVEN LAYER BARS
1 stick butter, melted
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
1 12oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate bits
1 6oz pkg butterscotch bits
1 can condensed milk
1 c. chopped nuts
Starting with butter, place each layer into a 13x9in pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 mins. Cool. Cut...+READ
My grandchildren are the 4th generation to receive this recipe exactly as my mother made it: SEVEN LAYER BARS
1 stick butter, melted
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
1 12oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate bits
1 6oz pkg butterscotch bits
1 can condensed milk
1 c. chopped nuts
Starting with butter, place each layer into a 13x9in pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 mins. Cool. Cut into 1 1/2 in squares. We continue to make it exactly as she did and serve it for company, parties, college returnees, and all family gatherings. It seems part of our connected history.-COLLAPSE
Not only are these "seven layer" bars missing the butterscotch chips, the ingredients are in the wrong order. The coconut should be on top of the chocolate and butterscotch chips, followed by the nuts and the condensed sweetened milk. That way the strands of coconut can brown and turn a little crisp.
If you like this be sure to try Nainaimo Bars. They are a
British Columbian delicacy. Excuse the spelling of Nainaimo. The bars are named after the town where they were first created. I believe Jay Leno or some other celebrity tried them once and loved them.
Thank you Lemoncurry52 the butterscotch chips is the missing seventh ingredient. I knew there was only six. And I remember having them with butterscotch chips now that you mentioned it. Has anyone ever tried substituting white chocolate chips for the butterscotch chips? If so how did that work out/taste?
Am I missing something here where is the seventh ingredient. I only see six. Is this just the wrong name for the recipe or is it missing one ingredient in this posting?
Guess I had a deprived childhood because I've never had these before. I'll have to try them, or a variation as soon as I can go out to get a can of sweetened condensed milk. It doesn't survive long around here because one of my comfort "guilty pleasures" is to eat it right out of the jar.
LoL, guilty! I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing :)
My grandmother used non-instant chocolate pudding in her version. The hot pudding saturates the crackers.
Ingredient amount is too skimpy. I use same size pan, but double amount toppings and milk goes on over the cracker crumbs, not over all. And I add
butterscotch chips in addition. That makes 7 layer bars. These are 6 layer
only, if you count the butter.
I love it when recipes call for a handful!
I hate recipes that say a handful!! Hands are different sizes. Be more specific when giving recipes or get out of the business.
These look like five layer bars to me... ;-)
P;ease indicate the size bag of chocolate chips. I believe you are referring to the 12 ounce size but I just wanted to be sure. The bags come in many sizes in this area. Young at 85
This is how I make my granola bars. 3 cups oats and 4 cups of whatever you want. We use 1 cup each of choc chips, raisins, coconut and mini marshmallows. MIx together and then add the condensed milk. Bake at 325 for about 25 min, until lightly brown on top. Take out and eat. Yummy.
these are called hello dolly squares in my world...
I love your comment eatmebiteme!
You can make this by melting the butter in the microwave , putting the graham crackers down and pouring the butter over it and following the rest of the steps, it comes out just as good.
O come on!! As long as it's easy and it tastes great, who cars how many layers it is! Unless of course you're entering it in a bake off and the judges count the layers! But all in all.. it's easy, you can add, change or even mix different ingredients to it. If I have friends who are anal enough to sit and count the layers, then shame on them.. gimme back my bar and eat cake... THEN count the...+READ
O come on!! As long as it's easy and it tastes great, who cars how many layers it is! Unless of course you're entering it in a bake off and the judges count the layers! But all in all.. it's easy, you can add, change or even mix different ingredients to it. If I have friends who are anal enough to sit and count the layers, then shame on them.. gimme back my bar and eat cake... THEN count the layers! Life's to short.. Enjoy!! =)-COLLAPSE
Does anyone know if Bailey's Irish Cream is dense enough to substitute for the condensed milk?
Ignore that post, though I'd still question if 10 minutes is too long on the butter
I have to comment here on step 1: If you put your butter in the dish and leave it for the entire time it takes to heat up the oven, the butter will scorch brown. Is that what the author of the recipe is trying to achieve?
When I use the butter-in-heated-casserole dish for my Dutch Baby, I put the butter in to melt as I am mixing the batter...the result for me is a well-coated dish, without the...+READ
I have to comment here on step 1: If you put your butter in the dish and leave it for the entire time it takes to heat up the oven, the butter will scorch brown. Is that what the author of the recipe is trying to achieve?
When I use the butter-in-heated-casserole dish for my Dutch Baby, I put the butter in to melt as I am mixing the batter...the result for me is a well-coated dish, without the scorched brown of over-heated butter.-COLLAPSE
Come on! These are Magic Cookie Bars on almost every can of condensed milk. when you buy the condensed milk, voila, you have a recipe. Why do we need recipe-free cooking for this? Is it really that much easier not to measure your coconut?
Re:Autoshowcase The directions say "Eight CRUSHED graham crackers" So, in the drawings they are shown crushed up in a bowl.
Am I missing something? The photo at the top shows a stacked layer of graham crackers - the recipe drawings show something completely different. Please advise
can someone tell me what happens next. so when we get it out of the oven do we cut it right off or we leave it to cool then cut it.
should it be crunchy or chewy. left on counter or air tight
The Magic Bar was the first 'cookie' I ever learned to bake and I still make them for parties, bake sales, potlucks, etc. The mix of decadence and familiarity is contagious. I have mixed it up in recent years and started making Chocolate-Ginger bars: using Ginger Snaps instead of Grahams and adding slivered crystallized ginger to mix. I usually top that with slivered almonds that brown on top...+READ
The Magic Bar was the first 'cookie' I ever learned to bake and I still make them for parties, bake sales, potlucks, etc. The mix of decadence and familiarity is contagious. I have mixed it up in recent years and started making Chocolate-Ginger bars: using Ginger Snaps instead of Grahams and adding slivered crystallized ginger to mix. I usually top that with slivered almonds that brown on top during the baking. The end result is spicy, sweet, and so, so good.-COLLAPSE
I learned to make this in 7th grade home economics in 1971 and have made it every holiday season since. This is missing the 7th layer and it is butterscotch chips. butter, graham, choc chips , nuts butter scotch, coconut, eagle brand.
Made these bars for a sweet treat to take to the beach. I crushed up 16 crackers bc I love a thick layer of graham cracker and after pouring the melted butter on top, I poured some of the condensed milk as well. It made the bottom nice and solid, not crumbly at all. Then I topped the crust with milk choc. chips, chopped almonds, butterscotch chips, coconut, and then the rest of the condensed...+READ
Made these bars for a sweet treat to take to the beach. I crushed up 16 crackers bc I love a thick layer of graham cracker and after pouring the melted butter on top, I poured some of the condensed milk as well. It made the bottom nice and solid, not crumbly at all. Then I topped the crust with milk choc. chips, chopped almonds, butterscotch chips, coconut, and then the rest of the condensed milk. I like the toasted coconut flavor. My girlfriends kids loved them! And so did my husband. He decided not to get a cookie from Panera last night, bc he said he was going to have one of the bars when we got home. I think it is amazing how something so kiddy-like and simple can have such rave reviews. I love complicated flavors in a dish or dessert, but simple always wins !-COLLAPSE
perfect prep for my fat jeans :)
If you sub Matzah for the graham crackers you have a lighter bar. I'd also had a caramel drizzle at the end.
That's only four layers. I always add mini M&Ms, toffee, peanut butter chips in addition to the ingredients above. These bars are supposed to be basically everything but the kitchen sink...
in my house, they are also refered to as "magic bars". mmmmmmmm... now i'm hungry
This was my favorite cookie when I was a child. Yes, the recipe is missing the butterscotch chips - without them I've heard them called "magic cookie bars." The coconut needs to go on second-to-last, it browns with the condensed milk.
And I can't imagine why you'd ADD SUGAR. These things are insanely sweet already.
This recipe is almost perfect, add 1/8 of suger to graham crackers, add butterscotch chips and switch the order of the cococut and chips. My recipe wins every contest it enters!
butter&graham&sugar
butterscotch&chocolate(add nuts if you want, I don't usually)
coconut
condensed milk
It also makes it 7 layers :)
-James
If you have to count you're probably not putting enough concentration into eating them, which is where the pleasure lies.
mwliechty, stop being a douche nozzle...
I'd thrown in some dried crannberries...
Seven layers? If you count the butter, there are six layers. If you don't count the butter, then there are five layers. Hey CHOW admins, if this recipe-free recipe is so easy, then why did you screw it up?
There are only six layers in the recipe given. I believe the missing seventh layer is butterscotch chips.
I should never make these because when I do I can not and should not be left alone with them!
This would be interesting to try by crumbling shortbread cookies too!