Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
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Make these deliciously gooey Hello Dolly Bars for a favorite dessert everyone loves! Also known as Seven-Layer Bars and Magic Bars, this vintage cookie bar recipe features graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. Ready in 30 minutes with recipe modifications provided, these cookie bars are scrumptious anytime and always a winner!
Hello Dolly Bars are scrumptious and satisfying dessert bars that my family has loved for many years! They have just seven ingredients that make the most delicious, chewy dessert, perfect anytime, from holidays to parties, tailgates to picnics, an afternoon sweet treat, or a food gift for a neighbor. 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. ♡
Why You’ll Love This Easy Hello Dolly Bars Recipe
- Easy with Minimal Ingredients: Has just seven ingredients that require minimal preparation.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: Comes together quickly and bakes in under 30 minutes.
- Family and Kid-Approved: A sweet, gooey treat that adults and kids alike enjoy.
- Customizable for Dietary Needs: Ingredient substitutions given for special diet requirements.
- Make-Ahead and Freezer-Friendly: Stores in the fridge for up to a week and freezes well, too!
Vintage Cookie Bars are a Winner!
These easy, scrumptious Hello Dolly Bars have been a family favorite for as long as I can remember! Gooey and chewy, they are a perfect sweet treat any time you make them. So versatile, you can customize these cookie bars, make them ahead, and freeze them for later. I hope you enjoy these bars as much as my family does!
Ingredients for Hello Dolly Bars
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious cookie bars:
- Graham Cracker Crumbs – These form the crust base of this dessert.
- Butter – Melted butter combines with the graham cracker crumbs to make the graham cracker crust.
- Chocolate Chips – Use your favorite type of chocolate chips. Semi-sweet chips are traditional, as they aren’t too sweet and work well in the recipe. However, you can also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate.
- Butterscotch Chips – If you love butterscotch, you will enjoy including these chips in your cookie bars. If you’re not a fan, look at my recipe variations for substitutions and other flavor combinations.
- Coconut Flake – Use sweetened coconut flake in these cookie bars. See recipe modifications if you wish.
- 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 are unsure about potential nut allergies.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – I love using my homemade sweetened condensed milk, but you can use a 14-ounce can of store-bought sweetened condensed milk.
How to Make Hello Dolly Bars
These easy, delicious dessert bars have been a family favorite for decades and are great to serve year-round. Here’s how I make them.
Step by Step Instructions
- Add the graham cracker crumbs to the melted butter.
- Mix graham cracker crumbs and butter until combined.
- Add the graham cracker crust to prepared baking dish and press down with measuring cup.
- Make sure the crust is pressed well before adding other toppings.
- Top the crust with a layer of chocolate chips, then a layer of butterscotch chips.
- Add a layer of coconut flakes and chopped nuts.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk on top.
- 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. There are so many possibilities! 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 omit 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!
Storage Tips
Refrigerate. Once cooled, transfer the cookie bars to an airtight container and store them between layers of parchment paper for up to a week.
Freeze. Store the cooled Hello Dolly Bars in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Make Ahead. Make the Hello Dolly Bars up to a week in advance and follow the directions to store them in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
It isn’t entirely known why these vintage bars are called Hello Dolly Bars, but they gained popularity 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.
Looking for more easy cookie recipes? I think you’ll love my best chocolate chip cookies recipe, coconut macaroons, and chewy sugar cookies!
I’d love to hear how your Hello Dolly Bars turn out! Leave a comment, rate the recipe, or tag me on Instagram @addapinch with #addapinchrecipes.
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
-
- 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
These are so yummy! My grandmother made a version of these bars using cornflake crumbs rather than graham cracker crumbs. This might help those who are needing gluten-free–although that’s not why my grandmother used them. Just another option for people to consider.
Kristine, thanks for telling us about the way your grandmother made these. Though some brands of cornflakes may be gluten free, other are not so everyone still needs to be careful to make sure if they require gluten free.
My family loves these. We have made them for years but I just mix everything together! Love your reciles
Easy,quick and delicious!
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.