I used to beg my mom to make Seven Layer Bars when I was growing up. They were a staple. We called them Seven Layer Bars, not Magic Bars, but in googling I’ve found out that Seven Layer Bars and Magic Bars are one in the same.
My new twist on an old favorite will make you do the happy dance.
I am not sure if my mom used nuts in her bar recipe or not. I really dislike like nuts in baked goods so I omitted them from what I’m calling Magic Eight bars.
Well, I should clarify that statement about the nuts a bit because in many of my raw or no-bake desserts balls and bites, such as High Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, have cashews in them. A nut. And in raw unbaking, cashews really are the cat’s meow because of their versatility and fat content and how they can create authentic and amazing raw vegan desserts.
But don’t put walnuts in my chocolate chip cookies or slivered almonds in brownies. I despise that. And there are no nuts in these bars. I did add white chocolate chips which Seven Layer Bars don’t have. Now there’s eight layers.
And when you sink your teeth through each and every sweet, chewy-but-with-a-touch-of-crunch-layer from the white, dark, and butterscotch chips, you will be glad for all eight layers.
As if the can of sweetened condensed milk wasn’t enough, the addition of white chocolate chips makes the bars even sweeter. Too bad we don’t have dental insurance for all those cavities that we’ll probably get. But they’ll be well worth it.
Even if you don’t “love” coconut, you should try these bars. They are not overpowering in terms of being “too coconutty”. Which is nice, actually, because in addition to the coconut flavor, the great flavor combos of all the chips: butterscotch, chocolate, and white shine through. Heavenly.
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Magic Eight Bars
1/2 c butter, melted
1.5 c graham cracker crumbs
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 c chocolate chips
1 c butterscotch chips
1 c white chocolate chips
1 1/3 c coconut flakes (either sweetened or unsweetened)
1/2 c Heath Bar toffee bits (or use chopped nuts)
Directions:
Melt butter in microwave-safe bowl and add the graham cracker crumbs to it. Stir to combine and press crumb mixture into a foil-lined and cooking sprayed 9 x 13 pan (foil is optional but will really save with cleanup time)
Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.
Layer evenly with half the chips, i.e. 1/2 c of each kind of chip, then top with half the amount of coconut, i.e. about 3/4 c. Then add the rest of the chips and rest of the coconut. I did this so that the chips were evenly dispersed within the fluffiness of the coconut. But you don’t have to be so precise.
After the chips and coconut are layered in, add the the toffee bits (or nuts) to the top.
Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, or until top is barely browning. Start checking on it after 25 minutes. Allow to cool and slice. You can store extras in the freezer in case you want to make these ahead for unexpected company. Or unexpected munchies.
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The ingredients
Melt the butter, add the graham cracker crumbs, and stir
Press mixture into a foil-lined and cooking sprayed 9 x 13 pan
Add the sweetened condensed milk
Add everything else and bake
After 30 minutes at 350F, get ready to get your Magic on
These are the kind of bars that you bring to potlucks, baby showers, graduations, and everyone asks you for the recipe and they think they’re way more complicated than they really are. Which is all of about 5-10 minutes of active prep time, bake them, and you’re done.
Or just make them even if you don’t have somewhere to bring a dessert if you have random bags of chips, toffee bits, and graham cracker crumbs to use up.
Chips, Bits, and Crumbs. That should be the name of a restaurant.
A restaurant where they serve these bars. With 8 Ingredients, not 7.
And yes, they are Magic.
Even though I wished all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day in my last post, I’ll repeat that sentiment. And it’s nice to know that many of you were able to spend the day with your dad.
I loved hearing the stories about your dads, and the stories about your husbands or partners if you have children of your own. So much love in the air. Fun comments to read!
Questions:
1. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
Oh, these bars stole the show!
2. Did you celebrate Father’s Day in any way?
It was just me, Skylar, and Scott and we kept things very mellow. A couple cards and some time at the park. I have to work later on today and so we kept things simple. And oh yes, I took 111 pictures of Magic Eight Bars earlier.
The weather has been gorgeous all weekend here, too, which was wonderful.
3. Have you ever had Seven Layer Bars or Magic Bars?
They were a staple growing up in my house and I think everyone should try them! One of those life’s bucket list desserts.
The Magic Eight Bars + the Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting (No Bake) = you will use exactly one box of Honey-Maid graham cracker crumbs.
Imagine that. Better go buy that box of graham cracker crumbs!
P.S. Taste of Adams Avenue Giveaway is still open.
And if you’re just catching up on posts from the weekend, here are mine since Friday:
- Happy Father’s Day
- Busy Baker
- Manly Food & Girly Food
- I Really Shouldn’t
- Caramelized Ginger & Olive Oil Roasted Beets
- NuNaturals Stevia Winners
- Naturally Sweet
- Bamboo & Lending a Hand
Have a great week!
Love your site! Recipes in pictures. You should write a book for Amazon. I know it would sell. You are so creative. I made Magic 7 bars when I was a young girl. We bought the Honey Made Graham Crackers and made the crumbs ourselves. My mom always thought it made them have a better texture. You go go go. This is wonderful find. Found you with StumbleUpon.
You are so kind! Thank you for all the great things you just said and I am glad that stumble brought you to my site! :)
we always called them “Hello Dollys” in my house. Love your magic 8s
These look so tasty! I am excited to try and create a version that is free from all of the commercial toxins. Thank you so much for the inspiration! You’re site is awesome! Excite the palate, heal the body, nourish the soul!!!
Is there something I could use in place of the coconut in this recipe? I hate coconut with a passion!!
not really but i promise you will like these. if you dont, give them to a neighbor or friend you will make their day, week, month, and year. i promise they’re not a coconutty dessert.
Oh my gosh, these bars may very well make all my dessert dreams come true. Your photos make them look absolutely delectable, and I want to make them NOW.
I am drooling at these photos! These look amazing! But I think I’ll have to refrain from making them… the pictures themselves have made me put on 5 lbs heehee :P
oh my amazing! These look SO good! i don’t like nuts in bakedgoods either! I always feel like they ruin a good cookie. Graham cracker base? LOVE! Perfection.
I have never heard of these bars, but they look delicious! Just gotta use some gluten-free “graham cracker” crumbs and I can eat and enjoy the yumminess.
And I am soooo with you on the no nuts in my baked goods thing. I hate biting into a decadent fudgy brownie and then crunching into a nut.
Oh my god!!!
A side note though, is it actually possible to eat a full size one of this slice without getting a sugar buzz after? Hahaha.
Your bars are going to be the end of me! :-)
I can only agree to what other´s have said already- your photography is getting more gorgeous with every post!
And those bars sound fanastic, so glad you finally revealed it ;) I am sure I could do a vegan version with sweetened coconut milk and vegan choc chips. Ah, I bet it´s heaven! Never tried those 7 layer bars, btw.
thanks for the praise! and yes coconut milk/agave would likely work.
Hi Averie – I know I don’t comment that often but this post is making me de-lurk. First, I LOVE Seven Layer Bars – haven’t had them in YEARS. I’m from outside of Chicago – could it be a midwest thing?!! SO YUMMY!!!!
Second, and more importantly, your photography looks fantastic! Like a previous poster mentioned, ever since your class, your pictures just look incredible. Very professional looking! This post in particular, I really feel like I could reach in and grab one of those bars. Maybe it is the little droplets of condensation on the chips…or the texture that just pops off the screen. I’m very excited for you and glad that we get to watch as you develop this skill. I am taking a class at the end of the year but it is to photograph jewelry – it is SO DIFFICULT. I struggle so much with it – I hope that after my class I am as comfortable as you have become with food photography.
Have a great day!!!
Thanks, Christine, for the compliments.
It’s not just “one class” that will change you (or changed me) with photography..it’s practice (I take 200+ pics a day, every day, as practice) and reading every book imaginable about photography that I can and look at tons and tons and tons of websites and try to emulate the pics of people I see…so it’s a combo of things. My class just made the lightbulb go off but it’s the follow thru and practice that is what really matters. So for you, just practice practice, read read, and have fun :)
I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to imply that you learned everything overnight. I understand it takes a lot of study, PRACTICE and patience. I seem to be lacking in the patience category! :-)
Oh wow, do those bars look amazing! Love that eighth layer you added — walnuts are brilliant!
actually didnt add nuts at all. Heath bar bits is what you’re seeing probably. Way better than nuts!
I spent the weekend in your stomping grounds, San Diego!!! Catching up on all of your wonderful posts. I thought of you when I saw the signs for the Greek festival!
Oh how fun! Well, you were probably close by me then! Hope you had a blast here!
I never called them anything because I’ve never eaten anything like this! But I think I want one now. For breakfast:) They look amazing. I love cookie bars even more than cookies themselves I think :) Bookmarking!