These magic bars (also called 7 layer bars) are chewy, sweet little caramelized treats that require nothing more than a baking pan and seven ingredients to make.

Why this recipe works

The real magic behind these magic bars lies within the way all the ingredients meld together without the use of a typical dough you’d find in classic baked goodies. They’re basically an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink kind of dessert bar with pecans, chocolate and butterscotch chips, coconut, and graham cracker crumbs.

This vintage dessert recipe has gone by several names over the years – hello Dolly bars, magic cookie bars, and seven layer bars. This is one of the easiest recipes around, as it doesn’t require a bowl or even a mixing spoon. All you need is a pan and your ingredients!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CONDENSED MILK – Sweetened condensed milk is a must when making magic bars. It works as the binding agent, caramelizing as it cooks with the other ingredients and helping everything stick together. Do not skip or substitute this ingredient; after all, it’s the main source of the magic.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS – I prefer to use a mixture of semi-sweet and butterscotch chocolate chips, which you’ll typically find in most magic cookie bars recipes. You can easily substitute with white chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, or milk chocolate chips if preferred.

GRAHAM CRUMBS – You can purchase precrushed graham cracker crumbs from the grocery store, but if you can’t seem to find them, you can crush them yourself with a rolling pin and large ziptop bag (or pulse them in a food processor). You will need about 1 whole sleeve, or 7-8 whole graham crackers to yield 1 cup crushed.

NUTS – Again, the type of nut you opt for in these bars is entirely up to you. Pecans or walnuts are both great options!

How to Make Magic Bars

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt butter in the microwave and transfer to a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Sprinkle graham crumbs over the top of the melted butter. Sprinkle coconut over the graham cracker crumbs.
Sprinkle crumbs with chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Cover chips with sweetened condensed milk.
Sprinkle the milk layer with chopped pecans.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven to wire rack and allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I add other ingredients?

Absolutely. Though you’ll want to be cautious of how much extra you are adding, as too much of something can change the texture due to the ratio of condensed milk to dry ingredients. Instead, I would suggest swapping out ingredients such as one flavor of the chocolate chips for a candy addition (M&M’s are great!).

How do you store seven layer bars?

Store leftover bars in an air-tight container kept at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Can you freeze magic bars?

Yes! To freeze, allow the bars to fully cool, slice, then transfer them to a large ziptop bag. I would avoid stacking them unless they are individually wrapped so that they do not stick together. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Serving Suggestions

When I first made these back in 2014, one of my teenage sons had several friends over. Needless to say, it didn’t take long for half the pan to disappear. So be prepared.

I think these would be the perfect little bake sale treats wrapped in cellophane bags, but they’re always a hit at potlucks, parties, and family get-togethers as well. This is a fun recipe to make with kids as it’s super simple to prepare. Enjoy!

More Dessert Bar Recipes

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This post was updated with new photos and expert tips and originally appeared here on May 19, 2014.