7 Layer Bars

The easiest treats to make

I’ve heard people joking that 7 layer bars are so easy that you can make them with just one hand. I tried it out and you really can! You don’t even need a bowl – just sprinkle layers of buttery graham cracker crumbs, coconut, chocolate and nuts directly into the pan, pour over sweetened condensed milk, and bake.

The result is a rich, decadent and chewy treat that’s perfect for bake sales, potlucks, BBQs and more.

I find this recipe particularly handy when you’re running out of time to make a dessert. This no-bake caramel slice is another option (with a similar taste!), but seven layer bars are what you make when you have around 10 minutes to prepare something. Bonus: you get to use up various odds and ends in your pantry since you can easily customize the bars depending on what ingredients you have.

Here’s a summary of what I think you’ll love:

• Prep them in just 10 minutes (5 if you work fast!)
• Small-batch and budget friendly! Not only are you using up pantry leftovers, each bar is small since they are quite rich.
• No stirring or mixing bowls. You’ll just throw everything directly into the pan in layers (almost literally!).
• Great for any occasion. These are simple enough to make with your children, but also I’d say impressive enough to serve to guests.
• So easy to customize. Don’t have enough nuts? Add some pretzels as well. Don’t like pecans? Use almonds instead!

About the ingredients

You’ll find a full list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But here’s a summary of what you need to know.

If you’re wondering what the seven layers are… I thought you’d never ask!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Graham crackers: You’ll pulse this into crumbs and then mix them with melted butter – directly in the lined pan! If it’s more convenient, you can use digestive biscuits instead.
2. Butter: This gets melted and stirred into the graham cracker crumbs. I like salted butter for a hint of salt in the finished bars, but unsalted is fine, too.
3. Shredded coconut: You can use either sweetened or unsweetened, shredded coconut, dessicated coconut or flaked coconut – whatever you happen to have in your pantry!
4. Chocolate chips: The classic choice is semi-sweet chocolate chips. However, you really can use any chocolate chips you like.
5. Butterscotch chips: In classic 7 layer bar recipes, the ‘secret’ 7th layer is butterscotch chips. To be honest, I rarely add these – I just add more chocolate chips (making mine 6 layer bars, strictly speaking!). If I have white chocolate chips, I substitute with those. It’s really up to you!
6. Nuts: A classic 7 layer magic bar contains pecan nuts, but I’ve made them with all kinds of different nuts. Almonds work well, but you can even substitute with peanuts if that’s all you have. You can even make a nut free version by replacing with a cereal such as rice krispies or cheerios.
7. Sweetened condensed milk: You can substitute most of the other layers with something else (see below for ideas!), but sweetened condensed milk is non-negotiable. It’s the ‘secret ingredient’ that will bake into a sticky caramel and bind everything else together. Be careful not to use evaporated milk instead – that’s a completely different thing and definitely not suitable for making these dessert bars.

How to make 7 layer bars

As I said, these are probably the easiest version you’ll ever find of this 7 layer bar recipe! Your kids will enjoy making them with you (without fear of them messing up the recipe!), but the end result honestly can look like you slaved over every layer!

No one will guess that they only took you 5 or 10 minutes to throw together.

This is how you make them:

The first step is to make fine crumbs from the graham crackers. You can do this either in a food processor, or with a rolling pin in a sealed bag.

Then melt the butter. You can either do this in a small saucepan, or in the microwave.

Next – and here’s where the magic begins! – you simply pour the melted butter into a square baking pan lined with baking paper, and stir the crumbs in well with a metal spoon.

Finally, press the mixture down well with the back of the spoon.

Now for the fun part. If you want to check my claim that you can make these bars one-handed, go ahead and try!

Sprinkle the coconut all over the graham cracker layer. Then sprinkle over the chocolate chips (and butterscotch chips, if adding those too).

Sprinkle the nuts over next.

The final prep step is to pour a whole can of sweetened condensed milk all over the top.

The oven does the rest of the work. Simply bake for about 30 minutes until the top is golden and caramelized.

Let cool in the pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into small squares.

Recipe variations

I’ve described how I make my 7 layer magic bars, but there are actually many ways you could vary the recipe to make it your own. Also, perhaps you don’t have one of the ingredients, such as coconut. You can easily skip the ingredient you don’t have, and just add more of another, or even replace it with one of the ideas below.

The beauty of this recipe is that the exact proportions don’t really matter. You will still end up with a deliciously ooey gooey treat.

Here are some ideas:

• Add some flavored chocolate chips such as mint, peanut butter, or espresso.
• Use different cookies for the base. How about gingersnaps, Lotus Biscoff cookies, or even Oreos?
• Vary the nuts. How about macadamia nuts (great paired with white chocolate), hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts, or a mixture of these?
• Add a sprinkle of dried fruit: cranberries, raisins, dried apple, chopped up apricots, dried banana. Anything really!
• Add a few mini marshmallows, pretzels, or even peanut butter.

More super easy bars and cakes

• These peanut butter cheerio bars or cornflake peanut butter bars are two more easy and crowd pleasing bars, and they aren’t just for kids!
• Try biscoff blondies for a unique alternative to brownies.
• You just can’t go wrong with these chocolate covered rice krispie bars!
• I’ve made this 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake more times than I can count, and it never disappoints.
• For a healthier option, rhubarb bars are made with just a few ingredients. They’re great in rhubarb season! Strawberry season instead? Try this 10-minute angel food strawberry dessert.

See more quick and easy dessert recipes.