Hello Dolly Bar Recipes often called Magic Cookie Bars because of how these bar cookies magically form using sweetened condensed milk are also a 7 Layer Bar Cookie.
Graham cracker crumbs used as a base layer topped with delicious ingredients for a Dolly Cookies recipe you will want to make.
The original recipe was found on the label of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk and used ingredients like white chocolate chips, pecans, sweetened coconut flakes.
The bars have a chewy texture and a buttery graham cracker crust which I love.
Baked to golden brown, these magic bars will have you coming back for more. They are also so fun to make for the holidays like these Cranberry Magic Bars.
Deep chocolate with cranberry sweetness make a great combination everyone loves.
I'm even working on a Lemon Magic Cookie Bar from this classic recipe. Just wait!
Ingredients needed for 7-Layer bars
- Butter
- Crushed Graham Crackers
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Sweetened Coconut
- Chocolate Chips (Semi Sweet)
- Pecans
Beginning Bakers
This recipe is a really easy dessert and doesn't take much time. It's also a favorite cookie recipe. It's a great first recipe to start with if you are unsure and want a simple recipe.
Let me help you find success in these bars with the easy steps i've included in the recipe card below.
How to make Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
The recipe uses pre-crushed graham crackers crumbs. You can use a food processor to crush graham crackers or purchase graham cracker crumbs. Either way works great.
And you can even substitute vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies if you wish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease baking dish with baking spray or use parchment paper. I do not recommend wax paper.
Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and white sugar and combine. Press mixture into bottom of the pan and press down into pan. Now comes the fun part. Layering the ingredients on top.
Pour a can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk over crust and then layer Coconut Flakes, Chocolate Chips, Nuts over crust.
Bake and remove from oven when edges become golden and are hot and bubbly. Let the bars cool before cutting.
Or just get a fork and dive in. I won't tell! You may burn your tongue but it will be worth it.
Cooled bars can be sliced to serve later. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and store on counter.
Substitutions for Hello Dolly Bars
Vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies for Graham Crackers
Dark Chocolate Chips for milk or a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toffee Chips or a cup of Butterscotch Chips for Chocolate Chips
Why Hello Dolly Cookies?
The Hello Dolly name is a reference from a Broadway Musical "Hello Dolly" from the 1960's. These Cookie Bars became very popular with their 7-layers and were a very popular sweet treat.
Often called Dolly Cookie Bars, Seven-layer Bars, and even Magic Bars.
This recipe is a really easy dessert and doesn't take much time. It's also a favorite cookie recipe. It's a great first recipe to start with if you are unsure and want a simple recipe.
Let me help you find success in these bars with the easy steps i've included in the recipe card below.
Magic cookie bar recipe are always welcomed around the holiday time of year and are perfect for cookie exchange and Christmas time.
The finished product is a delicious bar cookie with an abundance of flavors and textures. The graham cracker crust pulls it all together.
I truly love this recipe because it's so easy to adjust if needed. If you don't have all the ingredients, add a little of another ingredient.
Substitute your favorite flavors of chocolate chips, add dried fruit, or candy pieces or even small pieces of broken cookies. The possibilities are truly endless.
Pro Tips and Substitutions
This recipe you can mix and match all you want. There are so many fun suggestions the possibilities are endless. In this classic Magic Bar Recipe here are my favorite toppings
Chocolate Chips. Milk Chocolate, Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips or White Chocolate Chips
Dried Fruit. Craisins, Pineapple, Strawberries are all great options
Nuts. Pecans, Almonds, Walnuts and even peanuts work well in this bar cookie recipe
Treats. Candy Coated Chocolate, bits of cookies, and Sweetened Coconut
Bar Cookie Recipes
Hello Dolly Bars
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Butter Melted
- 1 ½ Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
- ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips White Chocolate, Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, Semi Sweet. Choose 2 types use 1 cup of each
- ½ Cup Coconut Shredded Sweetened Coconut
- ½ Cup Pecans Chopped; Substitute Walnuts or Almonds
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350 F
- Melt Butter and Mix into Crushed Graham Crackers and sugar
- Press into the bottom of a 9x13 greased pan
- Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk over Crust
- Then Top with Chocolate Chips, Coconut and Pecans and any other toppings you wish
- Bake at 350 F for 25 Minutes
- Cool completely before cutting
- Store in Sealed Container
Notes
Substitutions:
Add multiple types of Chocolate Chips. White Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Butterscotch, Milk Chocolate Use Nilla Wafers or Shortbread Cookie Crumbs instead of Graham CrackersTips:
Cool bars completely before cutting for best resultsAdditional Topping Ideas
- Toffee Bits
- Craisins
- Caramel Bits
- Candy Coated Chocolate Pieces
Barb Starke
I was a little short on crumbs when I pressed the crumbs out in the pan. Would it hurt to use 2 c graham crackers instead?
Rebecca Johnston
You could increase the graham cracker crumbs if you wish. The crust isn't meant to be thick. It's more of a delicate layer.