What day is today? Crap. Let’s make this quick.
If these cookies look familiar to you, it’s because they’ve already been around the blogosphere here, here, and here. They go by many names, including seven-layer cookies, Hello Dolly bars, and magic bars, but whatever you call them, they’re damn good.
Nonni always made these for Christmas and, now, so do I. Santa seems to enjoy them. Plus, they’re the easiest cookies to make ever. I’m not sure eating 17 of them all at once is a good idea, though. I’ll let you know in about 20 minutes.
Seven-Layer Cookies
Seven ingredients, seven layers. Although, there’s been some debate about whether the condensed milk should count as a “layer.” I think I need to get some other hobbies.
1 stick butter
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts
1 cup shredded coconut
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
Melt butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs. Press into bottom of 8x8-inch pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and walnuts over crust. Sprinkle coconut over the top. Pour condensed milk evenly over everything. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until coconut gets brown and toasty in spots. Cool slightly, then cut into small squares.
You can also use a 9x13-inch pan. The cookies will be flatter but you’ll end up with more. Nonni always made these dense, towering cookies, and so that’s what I like.
Dora [Barbaresi] Donroe
New Haven, Connecticut
1918 –
Next Recipe: Beanie Weenies
(Previous Recipe: Raisin Cheesecake Cookies)
you ate 17 of those?!
Posted by: Alecto | December 22, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Sure feels like I ate that many.
Posted by: Tammy | December 22, 2007 at 09:14 PM
I really didn't need to bake anything else but those do look good..
Posted by: izzy's mama | December 22, 2007 at 11:38 PM
No wonder there's never any left for me!!
Posted by: Dad | December 23, 2007 at 12:02 PM
I think there are support groups to help people who eat 17 SevenLayer cookies at one sitting. Thats .... 119 layers !
Posted by: joey | December 23, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Wow. That makes me want to eat some avocado dip, with, oh... some olives... some beans... sour cream for sure... chopped canned tomato-pepper "salsa" (That's Ro-tel, right?)... a little grated cheese... and. And.
Ugh. I can't think of the seventh layer.
Posted by: cookiecrumb | December 23, 2007 at 05:12 PM
I love 7 layer bars. I always heard magic bars are 7 layer bars without the butterscotch chips. Never heard of them as Hello Dolly bars. Crap. Now I want them.
Posted by: megan | December 23, 2007 at 10:15 PM
Megan: Interesting. I guess the name *6-layer bars* doesn't have quite the same ring to it. However, I think magic bars without the butterscotch chips would suffer from a severe lack of magic.
CC: Ice cream?
Joey: Those are some nifty math skills. And I don't have a problem.
Dad: Now you have the recipe!
IM: I'll trade you some for a few of those walnut cookies you made.
Posted by: Tammy | December 23, 2007 at 10:48 PM
I made 5 batches of cookies this year. I'm DONE! Done, I tell you!! Santa's just going to have to choke down my sugar cookie and like it!
Posted by: Sally | December 24, 2007 at 06:30 AM
Yeah, right! I fell into that trap once already! Never again!!
Posted by: Dad | December 24, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Those look tasty!
Posted by: Kristen | December 25, 2007 at 11:55 PM
These are very simple to make and I even leave off the nuts and butterscotch. Just double the chocolate or use an entire package of semi sweet choc. chips. It always a hit at parties and an easy first dish for a young cook to make.
Posted by: Alise Nolan | December 15, 2009 at 04:00 PM