Basic magic bars (7-layer bars) are ooey-gooey cookie bars loaded with chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and crunchy pecans. They’re straightforward to make forward and ideal for events!
Why You’ll Love These 7-Layer Magic Bars
Whether or not them as Magic Bars, 7-Layer Bars, or Hi there Dollies, one factor is definite: these wealthy and gooey, chewy cookie bars loaded with sweetness are a retro Midwestern favourite. Right here’s why you’re going to like them, too:
Layers of scrumptious. These bars have chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, candy coconut, and pecans layered over a buttery graham cracker crust. It’s a scrumptious dessert bar that’s excellent to convey to potlucks and household gatherings.
Ooey-gooey. Sweetened condensed milk binds the elements in these bars as they bake, making them particularly ooey-gooey with a caramelized taste much like dulce de leche.
Straightforward to make. The actual magic of those magic bars is how loopy easy they’re to make. All it takes is just a little layering (normally 7 elements, therefore the alternate identify) and a fast bake to get them golden and toasty.
Magic bars are like little slices of dessert heaven! In the event you love no-fuss, straightforward desserts (I imply, is there one other class?!), attempt my cherry coconut bars and these traditional ooey gooey bars.
Elements You’ll Want
In the event you’re questioning what you are able to do with a can of condensed milk, after right this moment, you’ll have your reply: make sticky, gooey magic bars! Beneath are some notes on the elements. Don’t neglect to scroll to the recipe card for the total quantities and recipe particulars.
Graham Crackers – Crushed into crumbs. You might additionally use gingersnaps.
Butter – Melted to mix with the graham cracker crumbs for the crust.
Chocolate Chips – Semisweet chocolate chips. You can too use darkish or milk chocolate chips.
Butterscotch Chips – You can too swap these for peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips.
Coconut – Sweetened shredded coconut, or unsweetened if you happen to choose. You can too skip the coconut if it’s not your factor.
Pecans – Chopped pecans or walnuts. The nuts might be toasted or untoasted.
Sweetened Condensed Milk – Double examine the labels and just remember to’re shopping for sweetened condensed milk, and never evaporated milk (see beneath).
Evaporated Milk vs. Sweetened Condensed Milk
The cans would possibly look related within the grocery retailer, however evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are not the identical factor! Sweetened condensed milk is thicker and sweetened. Evaporated milk is thinner and unsweetened, and won’t work when making magic bars.
The right way to Make Magic Bars (7-Layer Bars)
Who’s able to make some magic occur? These bars are one in every of my favourite throw-it-together, last-minute straightforward desserts. You’ll quickly see why. Right here’s how one can make these traditional cookie bars:
Make the cookie crust. Begin by pulsing graham crackers in a meals processor, then mix the crumbs with melted butter and salt. Press the crust combination into the underside of a greased and lined baking pan.
Add the layers. Prime your graham cracker crust with chocolate and butterscotch chips, then sprinkle on the coconut and pecans. Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over prime.
Bake. Bake your bars in a 350ºF oven for 25-Half-hour. Afterward, allow them to cool utterly earlier than slicing them into squares. Voila! Magic.
Suggestions for the Greatest 7-Layer Bars
These ooey-gooey magic bars are a cinch to make. Listed here are some ideas that make the entire course of that a lot simpler:
Grease and line the pan. It makes elimination and cleanup manner simpler.
Use store-bought graham cracker crumbs to save lots of the step of pulsing the crackers your self.
In the event you don’t have a meals processor, seal the graham crackers inside a Ziploc bag and have it with a rolling pin. Be sure that to get them crushed good and fantastic. I’ve my youngsters assist with this step.
In case your baked bars appear delicate, or in the event that they’re too gooey to slice, place them within the fridge for a couple of hours, or in a single day. It’s the proper excuse to make these a day upfront.
Add a sprinkle of sea salt. By now, you could have heard of my love affair with Maldon sea salt. I sprinkle it on every part from salted chocolate cookies to sweet and salty brownies. And, sure, it tastes scrumptious on these magic bars!
Variation Concepts
After you have your cookie base and your sweetened condensed milk, what you layer in between is as much as you! There are many methods that you could adapt these magic bars, listed here are only a few straightforward concepts:
Completely different crust. Rather than a graham cracker crust, swap the graham crackers for gingersnaps, wafers, or Biscoff cookies.
Nut-free. In the event you’re making this recipe with out nuts, merely omit the pecans.
Extra add-ins. Change out any of your magic bar add-ins for mini marshmallows, dried fruit, toffee bits, or M&Ms.
Retailer these magic bars in an hermetic container on the countertop for as much as 5 days. You can too preserve them within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
Can I Freeze Magic Bars?
Sure! Freeze the cooled magic bars hermetic for as much as 1 month. Thaw the bars at room temperature.
Basic 7-layer magic bars are ooey-gooey cookie bars loaded with chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and crunchy pecans. These are straightforward to make forward and ideal for events!
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (12 full-size crackers)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Put aside.
Course of graham crackers utilizing a meals processor to make fantastic crumbs. In a medium bowl stir collectively the crumbs, salt, and melted butter till mixed. Press the combination evenly into the underside of the ready baking pan.
Prime the graham cracker layer evenly with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, coconut, and pecans. Pour the sweetened condensed milk excessive.
Bake for 25-Half-hour till golden brown. Take away from the oven and funky utterly.
Minimize into squares.
Notes
Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature for five days or fridge for 7 days.
Freeze hermetic for as much as 30 days for greatest freshness. Thaw at room temperature.