These 7-layer Magic Cookie Bars are made with seven delicious layers – crushed graham cracker crumbs, butter, sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. This 7-layer cookie recipe is a classic that everyone loves any time of year!
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Pin RecipeYou’re going to see why these are my favorite treats to make and share with the kids!
7 Layer Cookie Recipe
You will love this classic cookie recipe that is sure to take you back to your childhood. It also perfect during the Christmas season since it’s perfect for shipping and gift-giving! I like to pair them with a batch of Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars or Rice Krispie treats.
If you’re ready for a cookie recipe that is certain to hit all the sweet notes in your mouth, give this simple 7 layer Magic Cookie Bar recipe a try.
Ingredients Needed for 7 Layer Cookie Bars:
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Layer 1: graham cracker crumbs – you can buy already crumbled or add them to the food processor to pulse them yourself.
- Layer 2: melted butter
- Layer 3: Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Layer 4: butterscotch chips
- Layer 5: semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Layer 6: flaked coconut – sweetened or unsweetened coconut could be used.
- Layer 7: chopped nuts – pecans, walnuts, cashews, etc.
How to make 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars
- Preheat the oven: Start by heating the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13X9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make the crust: Combine the graham cracker crumbs and butter and mix well. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Pour the sweetened milk evenly over the crumb mixture. Continue to layer evenly with the remaining ingredients (in the order given) and press down firmly with a fork.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from the sides of the pan while still warm and cool on the wire rack. Cut into bars.
Pro Tip
For perfectly cut cookie bars, line the entire pan with foil and extend the foil over the edge of the pan. Coat lightly with non-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, lift up by the edges of the foil to remove from the pan. Cut into individual bars at that point in time.
Tips + Variations
Tips + VariationsThe great thing about this recipe is that you can alter it a bit to have it be just as you want.
- If you don’t care for coconut, you can omit that ingredient from this recipe.
- You can also remove the nuts or change out the nut to one that you want as well.
- These would go perfectly with a nice dollop of whipped cream or even a scoop of ice cream also.
Seven Layer Bar FAQS
If you don’t want to use shredded coconut, don’t. Why miss out on the other flavors of this recipe if you can easily omit that one ingredient? Just rename it six layer bars if you need to take out a layer.
You can easily add crushed peanuts, white chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips in the place of the coconut. You can also drizzle some caramel on top, too.
Sure! Just take out the nuts if you don’t want them or switch out the type of nut that you want to use. Walnuts are great with this recipe due to how soft the nut is.
Yes, you can freeze these treats. Just wrap them in saran wrap and then store them in a freezer-safe bag!
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7 Layer Cookies
Equipment
- 13×9 Inch Baking Dish
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/3 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts I like pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
- Mix graham cracker crumbs and butter and press crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with remaining ingredients in order given. Press down firmly with a fork1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup butter, 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 1/3 cup flaked coconut, 1 cup chopped nuts
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack.
- For perfectly cut cookie bars, line entire pan with foil, extending foil over edge of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, remove from the pan and cut with a sharp knife.
I have been making these for over 20 years. I always pour the sweetened condensed milk over everything last. I also use the whole bag of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Everyone LOVES these!
Can I add more sweetened condensed milk if I add a bit more toppings?
Recipe calls for 14oz. my can has 10oz, would it work if I used 2 cans(20oz)
I did a few things differently this time making these . The last batch the graham cracker crust was really crumbly so I added cinnamon and sugar to the crust and baked it ten minutes. I believe this will elevate the problem with the crust . I had so many people asking me to make these . They are my favorite too ❤️
Just made this tonight….easy yet so delicious!! Will definitely be making again soon 😊. Thank you for sharing!!
I would have rated this recipe higher but being such a simple recipe and to not include the pan prepping instruction (foil) in the beginning with the nonstick pan instruction is unfortunate. Definitely an oversight on the @allthingsmomma’s part.
Yes, I read recipe up to cooling comments, then to miss the foil lined pan.
As far as the bar..it’s simple, easy to make & yummy.
You missing something in a recipe isn’t the fault of the recipe writer.
Can this be doubled and put in a 15×10 pan?
Hello, if I double the recipe, shouldn’t I use a larger sheet pan?
Since I am celiac, I had to use gluten free graham crackers. Was only able to spread out 2/3 pan. Cooling now, but was very oily from the butter…let you know once they cool
This recipe is great! We recommend putting the condensed milk on the top, so it seeps through to all the layers. It tastes delicious!
These were a huge hit at the office. I love how quick and easy they are to make. Thank you so much for sharing!
Yes!! Made these for years and sweet condensed milk is always last!
I made these to take to a funeral luncheon today. I received so many compliments on how good these were. The plate was clean when I went to leave! This will definitely be high in my rotation. Great recipe.
Can I use caramels cut up instead of butterscotch chips?
This is the way my mom made seven layer bars. Everyone else wants to pour the condensed milk on at the end, but I prefer it this way.
I agree! Good to know!
Wow I love these alway was going too make the but at Christmas I find more traditional bakes. This year, that all changed. Add this to the list!!!
I am pouring some leftover homage Carmel on top after the vm are before the cooling in the fridge. Hoping they will be yummy 😋
Tailgating favorite!! So easy and so good!!
These are amazing. So soft and delicious. A can’t go wrong recipe.
The bars are good but my original recipe calls for pouring on the sweetened condensed milk last, over everything. I think pouring on the milk last makes a better cookie!!💕💕
Ooh they loo so terrific I’m very please w the ease of this recipe!
How many does this recipe serve?
Yummy! My only complaint is that you didn’t put the foil trick at the beginning of the recipe. By the time I read that, my bars were already in the pan. Boo.
Same
You always read a recipe all the through before making it
These are delicious! I have been making a version of this recipe for 35 years. You can’t beat it 😀.
I had not made these for years. Just like I used to make, these are way too good. We polished off a whole pan in 2 days. Will be making these more often if I can find more shredded coconut at the store
Quick and easy to make. I layer the ingredients first and then poured the condensed milk all over the top. It melts through and covers the entire bar. Everyone gobbled them up.
Thank you!
Can magic bars be made and refrigerate and bake day before Christmas?
Yes they can.