So simple, with just a few pantry baking staples these Simple 7-Layer Bars can be whipped up in no time! And, they’re perfect for a pantry clean-out! Layer up whatever you have, and you’ve got sticky sweet goodness to enjoy.
This is an old, old recipe. If I understand my sister right, it came from one of her former co-workers back in the 1970s. It circulated to my mom at some point, then ended up in my hands. I’ve even seen it at some bakeshops and cafes…it’s just that good! The best thing is that while the recipe calls for specific layers, the truth is you can layer just about anything. If you’re like me, you end up with little bits of pieces and parts of former recipes just hanging out. There’s not enough of any one thing to make a whole something, so there that bag sits…just hanging out.
A few years ago, I got smart and got a small airtight container to store all these random pieces and parts, knowing if I contained them in one spot 1) I’d know where they are; 2) nothing would get shoved to the back of the shelf, unseen; and 3) I’d eventually accumulate enough to make “layer bars.” So, while the recipe calls for specifics, the picture above is “pieces-parts”!
So here’s where the magic begins… let me know what you think!
Simple 7-Layer Bars
Ingredients
- 1/3 C butter, melted
- 2 C graham crackers, crushed
- 1 C shredded coconut
- 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 6 oz butterscotch chipos
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 C chopped nuts your choice of nuts; can substitute with pretzels!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and liberally spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, melt butter. Stir in crushed graham crackers. Press into bottom of baking pan. Sprinkle coconut, then chocolate chips, then butterscotch chips over graham cracker bottom. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over all, leaving about 1/2" of gap on all sides of pan. Sprinkle with nuts (or chopped pretzels) and lightly press into the milk layer. Bake 30 minutes. Remove immediately from oven, run a knife around the edge of the pan to make sure sides aren't sticking, and cool.
Notes
A couple things to be aware of. Remember that sweetened condensed milk effectively can turn to hard and sticky caramel when it's cooked too long. That's another reason to leave a 1/2" border around the edges. If it looks like the milk is starting to get very brown, turn the oven down to 300° for remainder of cook time. With the exception of the graham cracker bottom and the can of sweetened condensed milk, all the other layer quantities can be adjusted based on what you have on hand. Just be sure to have a good thickness of the graham crust so you have a strong base, and use the full can of milk so it pulls everything together. ALTERNATE LAYERS
Pretzels, Heath chips, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Potato Chips, cooked & crumbled bacon, white chocolate chips, peanuts, raisins, craisins, dried berries, walnuts, pecans, cashews, hickory nuts, sunflower seeds, peppitas... You could even toss in some flax or chia seeds!
