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Published: Dec 17, 2022 · Modified: Dec 14, 2024 by Natalie Booras · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Hello Dolly Bars

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Hello Dolly Bars, also called Magic Bars, Seven-Layer Bars, or Coconut Dream Bars, are a beloved dessert packed with gooey layers of sweetened condensed milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, shredded coconut, and crunchy walnuts atop a buttery graham cracker crust. 

A stack of 3 Hello Dolly Bars, sitting on a piece of brown parchment paper with butterscotch and semi-sweet chocolate chips scattered around the stack. A platter of dolly bars is sitting in the background.

This timeless treat, first made famous in the 1960s, has been a family favorite for generations, and today, I’m sharing my take on the classic Hello Dolly Bars recipe.

If you are a fan of loaded cookie recipes, try this Kitchen Sink Cookie Recipe.

Whether you know them as "magic cookie bars" or by another name, these bar cookies always bring joy. They’re one of my favorite things to bake at Christmastime. I add them to my cookie trays, along with Snowball Cookies, Wreath Cookies, and Old-fashioned Bourbon Balls.

Table of Contents

Toggle
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make These 7-Layer Bars
  • Storage and Freezing Instructions
    • Natalie’s Pro Tip
  • Notes/FAQs
  • More Holiday Recipes You'll Enjoy
  • Hello Dolly Bars
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
  • Storage and Freezing
    • Nutrition

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple and Quick: No mixing bowls or special equipment needed—everything comes together in the baking pan for easy prep and cleanup.

Customizable: Adjust the layers to suit your tastes by swapping out nuts, chips, or even the cookie crumbs in the crust.

Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: The combination of chewy shredded coconut, rich chocolate, and a buttery crust makes these dessert bars irresistible.

Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you’re baking for a holiday, a potluck, or just a sweet treat for the family, these bars are always a hit.

A pan of Seven Layer Bars that have been cutting into serving-sized pieces and is ready to enjoy.

Substitutions

  • Graham Cracker Crumbs: Try digestive biscuits, vanilla wafers, or even shortbread cookies.
  • Walnuts: Swap for chopped pecans, macadamia nuts, or even peanuts for a different nutty flavor.
  • Butterscotch Chips: Replace with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips for a twist.
  • Sweetened Coconut: Use unsweetened coconut if you prefer a less sweet version.

Variations

  • Peanut Butter Lovers: Add a layer of peanut butter chips alongside the chocolate chips.
  • S’mores Style: Use chocolate graham squares for the crust and add mini marshmallows to the layers.
  • Tropical Twist: Substitute the walnuts with chopped macadamia nuts and add dried pineapple for a tropical vibe.

Ingredients

All the ingredients need to make the Hello Dolly Cookie Recipe including: butter, butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, shredded coconut, graham crackers and walnuts.

*Please scroll down to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient amounts and the full recipe.

How To Make These 7-Layer Bars

Step 1. Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 350℉.

Step 2. Prepare the Crust: Melt the butter and pour it into the bottom of the rimmed baking sheet, spreading evenly. Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs using a food processor, ziplock bag, and rolling pin, or mallet. Spread crumbs evenly over the butter, pressing gently to form a firm base.

The first four steps in making the Hello Dolly Cookie recipe including pouring the melted butter into the pan, crushing the graham crackers into crumbs, adding the crumbs to the pan and layering the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips on top.

Step 3. Layer the Ingredients. Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips in an even layer, followed by butterscotch chips, shredded coconut, and chopped walnuts.

Ste4 4. Drizzle Sweetened Condensed Milk. Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of the layers, ensuring even coverage.

Step 5. Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are bubbling and golden brown.

Step 6. Cool and Cut. Let the bars cool completely before cutting into squares with a butter knife.

The next 4 steps for making the Hello Dolly Cookie recipe including adding the coconut and chopped walnuts, drizzling on the can of sweetened condensed milk, and baking the cookies.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

To freeze, place the bars in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Natalie’s Pro Tip

Instead of melting the butter in the microwave and pouring it into the pan, place the stick of butter on the baking sheet and place it in the oven while it's preheating. This will melt the butter quickly and easily. Keep a watchful eye on the butter, as it can burn easily. When the entire stick is almost completely melted, remove the pan from the oven and let the residual heat finish melting the stick, covering the whole pan.

This recipe works in either a 10"x15" or an 11"x17" shallow pan. Some people call this type of pan a jelly roll pan. The baking time is the same. With the larger pan, the recipe will make a few more bars, but they will be thinner..

Three cookies sitting on a piece of brown parchment paper and being propped up by another cookie behind it,

Notes/FAQs

Should I line my pan with foil or parchment paper?

Many other versions of this famous recipe use foil or parchment paper to line the baking sheet. I don't usually have trouble getting the bars out of the pan. However, if you'd like to use one to help lift the bars out of the pan, you are certainly welcome to do that.

Can I use graham cracker crumbs?

Sure. You can use boxed crumbs instead. As listed in the recipe card, you will need about 1 ⅓ cups.

Can I use a different type of crust?

Absolutely! Vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies, or Ritz crackers all make excellent substitutions for graham cracker crumbs.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes! These bars are even better the next day as the layers meld together. Perfect for planning ahead for parties or special occasions.

More Holiday Recipes You'll Enjoy

  • Gingerbread Cupcake Recipe
  • Christmas Tree Cherry Hand Pies
A Hello Dolly Cookie bar learning up against a stack of cookies in the background,

Hello Dolly Bars

Here is a delicious recipe for Hello Dolly Bars that’s sure to become a family favorite! Whether you call them Magic Bars, Seven-Layer Cookies, or Hello Dollies, the layers of graham cracker, chocolate chips, and gooey coconut create the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.
Happy baking, and don’t forget to share your finished product with me! I’d love to hear about your variations and tips in the comments below.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 191 kcal

Equipment

  • Large rimmed baking sheet
  • Rolling pin or kitchen mallet
  • Ziploc Bag

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1⅓ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 1 full sleeve or 9 full graham cracker sheets)
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1½ cups sweetened, shredded coconut
  • ¾ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉.
  • Melt the butter and pour it into a rimmed baking sheet, spreading it evenly over the bottom of the pan.
  • Put graham crackers in a ziploc bag and crush them into fine crumbs using a rolling pin or mallet.
  • Add graham cracker crumbs to the baking sheet, and spread them into an even layer with a fork.
  • Add semisweet chocolate chips spreading them in an even layer over the crumbs.
  • In the same manner, add the rest of the ingredients, pouring the entire can of sweetened condensed milk for the final layer. Make sure to drizzle it evenly, covering the top of the coconut and chopped nut layer.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are bubbling and golden brown.
  • Cool completely and cut into squares.

Notes

Storage and Freezing

Store at room temperature in an airtight container or bag for up to a week.
Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Please refer to the blog post for additional tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar cookieCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 101mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 131IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword 7 Layer Bars, Hello Dolly Cookie Recipe, Magic Cookie Bars, Seven Layer Bars
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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