Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
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Hello Dolly Bars, also called 7-Layer Bars, Magic Bars, and Magic Cookie Bars, are easy cookie bars of a graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. They are an all-time crowd-favorite dessert!
Looking for more easy cookie recipes? I think you’ll love my best chocolate chip cookies recipe, coconut macaroons, and chewy sugar cookies! Yum!
These delicious cookie bars go by so many names! You may also know them as seven layer bars, magic bars, and even Dolly Parton bars. We love to call them by the name my Grandmother used for the recipe, but also because of our sweet Bernadoodle named Dolly. ♡
Table of Contents
How to Make Hello Dolly Bars Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Graham Cracker Crumbs – the base of these delicious cookie bars is a graham cracker crust made of graham crackers and melted butter pressed into the baking dish.
- Butter – used to make the graham cracker crust
- Chocolate Chips – use your favorite type of chocolate chips. The traditional type to use is semi-sweet as they aren’t overly sweet and work well with the other ingredients. You can also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate if you prefer. I’ve listed some recipe variations below that you may also enjoy.
- Butterscotch Chips – if you love butterscotch, then you will definitely love including these chips! If butterscotch isn’t your favorite, take a look at the recipe variations for substitutions and other flavor combinations you may love.
- Coconut Flake – use sweetened coconut flake in these cookie bars.
- Nuts – I love to use either pecans or walnuts in this recipe or even chopped peanuts if I’m making my peanut butter version. (See the recipe variations below.) Omit the nuts if you are serving to a crowd and aren’t sure about nut allergies.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – I love to use my homemade sweetened condensed milk, but I also love that the recipe uses a 14-ounce can of store-bought sweetened condensed milk.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease with butter.
Make the Graham Cracker Crust. Add the graham crackers to a large zip-top bag. Crush to fine crumbs. Add the crumbs and the melted butter to a small bowl. Stir to combine. Press the buttered graham cracker crumbs into the baking dish. Press the crumbs with the back of a measuring cup.
Add the layers. Add the chocolate chips, then a layer of butterscotch chips, then a layer of coconut flake. Pour on top the sweetened condensed milk. Remember, you can adjust these layers to use what you have or for your favorite flavor combinations.
Bake and serve. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Slice and serve.
Recipe Variations
While the classic Hello Dolly Bars recipe is delicious, you can also substitute most of the layers to use what you have and what you love! The possibilities are endless! Here are a few of my favorite combinations.
- Double Chocolate Hello Dolly Bars. Don’t care for butterscotch? Use two types of chocolate in these cookie bars and leave out the butterscotch! I love to make one layer of dark chocolate chips and another layer of semi-sweet chocolate chips, then proceed with the remaining ingredients according to the recipe. So perfect for the chocolate lover!
- Toffee Hello Dolly Bars. Replace the butterscotch with an equal amount of toffee chips.
- Butterfinger Hello Dolly Bars. Use an equal amount of Butterfinger chips for the butterscotch.
- Chocolate Chip Oat Hello Dolly Bars. Want something other than coconut? Replace the coconut with rolled oats.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Hello Dolly Bars. Love peanut butter? Replace the butterscotch with peanut butter chips and chopped cocktail peanuts for the nuts.
- Nut-free Hello Dolly Bars. While I love to use pecans, walnuts, and even peanuts, you can also omit the nuts and add more chips if you like or need a nut-free cookie bar!
Favorite Layered Cookie Recipe
Include your favorite cookie mix-ins for your cookie layers! See my Recipe Variations for ideas!
Storage Tips
To store. Once cooled, transfer the cookie bars to an airtight container and store them between layers of parchment paper for up to a week.
To make ahead. Make the Hello Dolly Bars up to a week in advance and follow the directions to store them in the refrigerator.
To freeze. Store the cooled Hello Dolly Bars in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
It isn’t really known why they are called Hello Dolly Bars. They became popular in the mid-1960s when the musical Hello Dolly was on Broadway.
They are also known as Seven Layer Bars, Magic Bars, and Magic Cookie Bars.
Yes! Adjust the cookie layers to your tastes. I’ve included some recommended flavor combinations in the Recipe Variations section of the post as well as in the Notes of the recipe card.
Here’s my favorite Hello Dolly Bars recipe. They make a delicious and easy layered cookie bar recipe! I hope you love them!
Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, about 12 graham crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk, or 1 (14-ounce) can, storebought
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly coat with butter.
- Make the graham cracker crust. Add the graham crackers to a large zip-top bag. Crush to fine crumbs. Add the crumbs and the melted butter to a small bowl. Stir to combine. Press the buttered graham cracker crumbs into the baking dish. Press the crumbs with the back of a measuring cup.
- Add the layers. Add the chocolate chips, then a layer of butterscotch chips, then a layer of coconut flake. Pour on top the sweetened condensed milk.
- Bake the bars. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Slice and serve.
Notes
Storage Tips:
To store. Once cooled, transfer the cookie bars to an airtight container and store them between layers of parchment paper for up to a week. To make ahead. Make the Hello Dolly Bars up to a week in advance and follow the directions to store them in the refrigerator. To freeze. Store the cooled Hello Dolly Bars in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months.Recipe Variations
- Double Chocolate Hello Dolly Bars. Don’t care for butterscotch? Use two types of chocolate in these cookie bars and leave out the butterscotch! I love to make one layer of dark chocolate chips and another layer of semi-sweet chocolate chips, then proceed with the remaining ingredients according to the recipe. So perfect for the chocolate lover!
- Toffee Hello Dolly Bars. Replace the butterscotch with an equal amount of toffee chips.
- Butterfinger Hello Dolly Bars. Use an equal amount of butterfinger chips for the butterscotch.
- Chocolate Chip Oat Hello Dolly Bars. Want something other than coconut? Replace the coconut with rolled oats.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Hello Dolly Bars. Love peanut butter? Replace the butterscotch with peanut butter chips and chopped cocktail peanuts for the nuts.
- Nut-free Hello Dolly Bars. While I love to use pecans, walnuts, and even peanuts, you can also omit the nuts and add more chips if you like or need a nut-free cookie bar!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I have been making these since the 1970’s. They are a family favorite and always made at Christmastime to give to friends and for my family to enjoy.
I love to hear you have been making these for so many years. I know your family and friends love that you make these bars for them.