I was amazed the first time I tried this 7 layer bars recipe. You can prepare the bars in minutes using whatever odds and ends of chocolate and nuts you happen to have, and you don’t even need a bowl. Magic!

The easiest treats to make

When my son was first born, I had to learn how to do everything one-handed as he would very seldom let me put him down!

I’m sure many of you mothers can relate.

I must admit I don’t make these ‘magic’ 7 layer bars one handed, but I truly believe you could do that if you wanted to.

They’re that quick and easy.

And just in case you’re looking for more super easy desserts (most of them one-bowl!), you might like to check out these Biscoff blondies (butterscotch lovers, I’m talking to you!), this easy Italian apple cake and the ultimate for chocolate lovers, this 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake, strawberry brownies or this super easy no-bake Millionaire’s shortbread.

About the ingredients

You only need 6 main ingredients to make these, and you can easily adapt what you put in them according to what you have (ideas below!).

Butter: I like to use salted for added flavour, but any good quality butter is fine.

Graham cracker or Digestive biscuit crumbs: Either of these are fine, depending on what you can find easily where you live.

Coconut: Use either shredded or plain old dessicated coconut.

Chocolate chips: Any kind! Use milk, plain, white, or even caramel flavoured!

Pecan nuts: Substitute with another kind of nut, or make a nut free version by replacing with a cereal (Rice Krispies, Cheerios etc.).

Sweetened condensed milk: A whole can.

How to make them

You may recognise these from your childhood as seven layer bars or magic bars. Some people even call them hello dolly bars!

They’re simple enough for you to make with your children, but the end result is impressive enough to serve to guests.

This is how you make them:

1. Pour melted butter into a square cake pan and press in Graham cracker (US!) or Digestive biscuit (UK and Oz!) crumbs.
2. Sprinkle with cups of coconut, chocolate chips, and nuts. Or variations (see below for ideas!).
3. Pour a whole can of sweetened condensed milk over the top.
4. Bake!

No bowl necessary. No real accuracy necessary. Certainly no skill necessary. Two hands not really necessary.

Half an hour later you have something deliciously sweet that’s pretty hard to describe.

But what’s absolutely certain is that they’re delicious and addictive.

What do 7 layer bars taste like?

Thought you’d never ask.

They’ve got:

• A biscuit/cookie base.

• A sweet and chewy coconut layer on top of the cookie layer. This layer reminds me of what we used to called coconut macaroons when I was a child.

• On top of that there’s chocolate. Because – duh.

• And finally… sticky, slightly crunchy pecans that makes me think of caramelised nuts, or even pecan pie.

• Creamy, sweet and chewy condensed milk. This final layer soaks through all of the layers for a perfect gooey, caramel-y texture.

Pro tip: If you bake the bars for slightly longer, say 35 minutes instead of 30, you’ll find the condensed milk has started to turn into a chewy toffee. It’s delicious, and very addictive.

How to vary the recipe

As well as skipping the coconut, you can make these in many different ways.

Here are some ideas:

• Use white or dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Or how about butterscotch chips (or Caramac chocolate if you’re in the UK)?

• Use different cookies for the base. How about ginger biscuits/cookies or Oreos?

• Use different nuts. Macadamia nuts (great paired with white chocolate), hazelnuts, almonds, humble peanuts, or mixed nuts.

• Add a sprinkle of dried fruit: cranberries, raisins, dried apple, chopped up apricots, dried banana. Anything really!

• For a nut free version, replace the nuts with a cereal like Cheerios. Or marshmallows! Or M&Ms! Or Maltesters (for UK readers)!

The world is your oyster. Or should I say the world is your 7 layer bar?

More things to know (FAQs)

However busy you are, you can make these magic cookie bars. Really, you can. Watch the video to ‘see’ how.

These gooey cookie bars are a perfect last minute option for taking along to parties or events. Just adapt the recipe according to what you already have in your pantry.

Equipment

I use this 9 inch square cake pan for this no bowl chocolate pecan bars recipe.

More easy snack cake recipes

• Addictive peanut butter cheerio bars or cornflake peanut butter bars (not just for kids!)

• Hedgehog slice (you have to try this one!)

• Banana pistachio cake with white chocolate cream cheese frosting

• Banana sheet cake with peanut butter fudge frosting

• Rhubarb and ginger oat slices (healthy flapjacks!)

• Or see all of my cakes!

I feature this magic bars recipe in this amazing list of 11 really easy dessert recipes (6 ingredients or less). They’re all very popular recipes that I’ve made time and time again!

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