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Classic Chewy 7-Layer Bars

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A nostalgic 80s dessert featuring layers of graham cracker crust, toasted coconut, nuts, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk for a chewy, rich treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (90g) sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup (120g) chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
  • 1 (14 oz / 396g) can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
  2. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted unsalted butter, and granulated sugar. Stir until crumbs are evenly coated and resemble wet sand.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create an even, compact layer.
  4. Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant but not browned.
  5. While the crust bakes, toast the nuts and shredded coconut in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned, stirring frequently.
  6. Remove the crust from the oven and immediately sprinkle the toasted coconut evenly over it.
  7. Add an even layer of toasted nuts on top of the coconut.
  8. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the nuts.
  9. Pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top to bind the layers.
  10. Bake the assembled bars for 25-30 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until edges are golden brown and center is set but slightly soft.
  11. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out and cut into squares or rectangles.
  12. If bars are too soft to cut after cooling, refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.

Notes

Toast nuts and coconut carefully to avoid bitterness. Use parchment paper to prevent sticking. Cool bars completely before cutting to avoid crumbling. For cleaner cuts, warm and wipe knife before slicing. Variations include nut-free, dark chocolate, salted caramel drizzle, seasonal fruit additions, and gluten-free substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: 7-layer bars, classic dessert, chewy bars, 80s dessert, graham cracker crust, toasted coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, sweetened condensed milk

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/classic-chewy-7-layer-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-80s-dessert-guide/