Seven Layer Bars!

Around Christmas time I discovered Seven Layer Bars {also known as Magic Cookie Bars}. I was all about making them BUT I was 9 months pregnant - and exhausted - so I kept proscrastinating. Well...last night I had all the ingredients on my shelf and tried out the recipe and I gotta say...these cookie bars are dangerously yumm!!

Have you had these before? These are so easy to make! A great last minute dessert {comprised of minimal ingredients} that can easily be whipped together.

The seven layers consist of:

1. Graham cracker crust
2. Chopped walnuts
3. Semi-sweet chocolate chips
4. White chocolate chips
5. Butterscotch chips
6. Shredded coconut
7. Sweetened condensed milk

Be forewarned: you just may wake up in the middle night to sneak off to the kitchen to get another one!

photos and recipe credit: Brown Eyed Baker

Below is the recipe for Seven-Layer Bars {although in my case, I make 6 layer bars because I ommit white chocolate chips as I'm not a fan of white chocolate}.

Yield: 18 bars

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
9 graham crackers (5 ounces), crushed
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup butterscotch chips
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Line the pan with two overlapping pieces of foil or parchment paper, leaving overhang to act as handles for lifting the bars out of the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.

2. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake until the outer flakes just begin to brown, about 4 minutes. (Keep a close eye on it – coconut can go from slightly browned to burnt in a matter of seconds.) Set aside.

3. Melt the butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs in a small bowl. Toss with your fingers until the butter is evenly distributed. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan.

4. In order, sprinkle the walnuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and coconut over the graham crumbs. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the entire dish.

5. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours.

6. Remove the bars fromthe pan using the foil or parchment handles and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife or bench cutter, cut into 2 by 3-inch bars.

Enjoy!!