Most people call these delicious treats Magic Cookie Bars, but my mom always called them Hello Dolly Bars. I’ve also heard them called Seven Layer Bars. My mom got this recipe over 50 years ago from friends she met when she was living in Hawaii. Her friends called them Hello Dolly Bars, so that’s what we call them, too. Anyone else call them that?
My mom loved making a treat on Sunday nights and this was one of her go-to picks. I have to admit that as a kid I wasn’t a huge fan. I would still eat one, though, because they were a treat, but I think it was the coconut that turned me off.
I’m not sure when the switch happened, but I sure do love them as an adult. I actually have to make sure I have somewhere to take at least half of them when I make them, or I will just keep picking at them until I make myself sick. It’s the combo of the buttery graham cracker crust with the chocolate and the chewiness from the sweet and condensed milk. So yummy!
Hello Dolly Bars are a classic treat that is perfect for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or any time you need to bring a treat somewhere. They also come together soooo quickly, especially if you use the graham cracker crumbs you can buy instead of crushing graham crackers yourself. Such a fun recipe!
More Delicious Bar Recipes
- Loaded Peanut Butter Reese’s Bars
- Golden Graham Smore’s Bar Recipe
- Oatmeal Chocolate Fudge Bars
- Swig Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Frosted Banana Bars
- Cowboy Cookie Bars
Step-by-Step Pictures for How to make Hello Dolly Bars
Tips for making Hello Dolly Bars {Magic Cookie Bars}
- For ease, use pre-crushed graham crackers. If you choose to crush your own graham crackers use a food processor or put them in a large Ziploc bag and roll over them with a rolling pin until they are evenly crushed.
- Spray the pan with cooking spray so bars won’t stick.
- Layer things in this order: graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut, nuts, chocolate chips, and sweet and condensed milk.
- Bars are done when the sweet and condensed milk looks slightly browned.
- Let bars cool completely before cutting.
- Keep bars refrigerated.
More Delicious Desserts
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 7 tbsp of butter, melted
- 1⅓ cup shredded coconut
- ½ cups chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 (14 oz) can sweet and condensed milk
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a small or medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs. Mix well and pour into the prepared 9x13 pan. Press down evenly and firmly.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded coconut over the graham cracker layer.
- Next sprinkle on the walnuts or pecans, then the chocolate chips.
- For the final step, drizzle the sweet and condensed milk over the entire dessert, use the entire can and scrape out every drop. 🙂
- Bake for 25-27 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
- I prefer to keep these bars refrigerated, but it is not necessary. They can also be kept at room temperature.
- Enjoy!
Reader Favorites
My mom called them Hello Dollys too!! I might just have to make these this weekend 😋
Yay! I love that you grew up calling them Hello Dolly’s too!
These are one of my favorites but I’m the only one in my family who likes them, so they only get made at Christmas time, otherwise I’d eat the whole pan!
#marchgiveaway
I didn’t like them when I was a kid, but as I grew I started to love them. Maybe your family will come around. 🙂
Oh boy, these look just as tempting as your individual Berry Cobblers! I’m trying to decide which to make for our Sunday dessert tomorrow. Decisions, decisions… haha. #marchgiveaway
I feel that! I always have too many treats I want to make and too little time.
I did not line my pan will they come out or am I stuck in a pickle , haha
My mom never lined her pan and they came out fine. Especially if you let them cool completely, they should come out Fine.
These are one of my favorites, too. Also came from my mom many years ago. Hers were called 7-layer bars. She used half chocolate and half butterscotch bits. I use a 9 x 13 pan; never had to grease it.
Yum, I will have to try it with butterscotch bits.