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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 8 Comments
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Hello Dolly Bars have been a Christmas tradition in my home for as long as I can remember. These cookie bars are also known as 7 Layer Bars and Magic Bars. They are made with butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, pecans, graham crackers, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.
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The Tradition of Hello Dolly Bars
We all grow up with different holiday traditions. In my home, Hello Dolly bars have been a Christmas tradition for as long as I can remember.
These cookie bars are also known as seven layer bars or magic bars. Whatever they are called, they are deliciously made with butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, pecans, graham crackers, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.
Not Your Everyday Cookies
I think these cookies are a real treat because normally we would have never have made something so fancy when doing everyday baking. I can always remember the holidays as the time to cook as fancy as we could.
Hello Dolly Bars were a staple in our cookie gift boxes. Along with chocolate covered peanut butter balls, pecan sandies, and Chex party mix.
Making these bars meant it was getting close to Christmas in my house when I was growing up.
Why are they called Hello Dolly Bars?
These gooey cookie bars deserve a rich history, which is all bound up with the history of condensed milk.
In 1853, Gail Borden began to market condensed milk as baby formula. It didn’t need refrigeration.
In 1856, he began selling a cookie creation of his from a street cart in New York City. It was made with condensed milk.
During the Civil War (1861-1865), enormous quantities of Borden’s condensed milk were handed out to soldiers as field rations. Each 14-ounce can pack a walloping 1,300 calories! The soldiers told everyone at home how tasty it was, and sweetened condensed milk became a home kitchen staple.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Butter
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Butterscotch chips
- Coconut
- Chocolate chips
- Pecans
- Sweetned coconut
- Sweetened condensed milk
How to Make Hello Dolly Bars
- Melt butter and pour into square baking dish.
- Sprinkle the dry ingredients evenly over the butter and in order as listed.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Cool completely then cut into squares.
Recipe Variations
If you want to be more adventurous with making your bars, you could:
- Change the nuts to hazelnuts, walnuts, or your favorite nuts.
- Swap out the butterscotch chips for peanut butter chips
- Use crushed vanilla wafers instead of graham cracker crumbs
Love cookies and cookie bars? Try these recipes!
- Cranberry Pecan Cookies
- Chinese Almond Cookies
- Black and White Cookies
- Almond Shortbread Cookies
- Cream Cheese Cookies
- Fudge Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Cornflake Wreaths
Favorite Christmas Candy
- Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark
- Rocky Road Candy
- See’s Fudge Recipe
Be sure to check out more of my simple cookie recipes and the best Christmas candy recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Hello Dolly Bars
Hello Dolly cookie bars are also known as 7 Layer Bars and Magic Bars. No matter what you call them, they are completely delicious.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 7 Layer Bars, Hello Dolly Bars, Hello Dolly Cookies, Magic Bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 208kcal
Author: Stephanie Manley
Ingredients
- 4 ounces melted butter
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 6 ounces butterscotch chips
- 1 cup sweetened coconut
- 6 ounces chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter and pour into an 8 by 8-inch baking pan.
Sprinkle evenly with the rest of the dry ingredients in order as written.
Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. After it has cooled cut into squares.
Nutrition
Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Source Virginia McDowell. Jefferson City, Mo. 1966.
About Stephanie Manley
I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.
Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
SUSAN MARIE DUSZA BARRETT
Should I use sweetened or unsweetened coconut. Thanks!
Reply
Stephanie Manley
I would use sweetened coconut.
Reply
I know you have a picture but d NOT give the size of the pan, 8 x 8, 9x 9 or 9×13?Reply
Stephanie
I used an 8×8 inch baking dish.
Reply
Ramona Cox
Vanilla wafers is the only way I ever made them and they are DELICIOUS,
Reply
Patti Rains
My mom’s recipe did not call for butterscotch chips (you could add them or not) but the biggest difference was crushed vanilla wafers instead of graham cracker crumbs. I’ve seen many of these recipes but never seen the crushed vanilla wafers except for my mom’s recipe & I loved hers!Reply
stephaniemanley
I would love to try these cookies with the vanilla wafers. I imagine they would add a nice touch.
Reply
Ginny Brown
I agree! :o)
