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Sweet, chewy, and gooey Hello Dolly bars are a traditional treat layered with a mouthwatering array of textures and flavors. They’re quick, easy, and delicious!
Sometimes I crave desserts made with white chocolate, coconut, pecans, or graham crackers… and sometimes I want all of them at once! When those cravings hit, Hello Dolly cookie bars are just the thing. And the whole family loves them!
Why This Recipe Works
The different textures in each layer really set this dessert apart. As you’re chewing, you get to experience all of them: gooey, melty chocolate right beside a crumbly crust and all surrounded by crunchy nuts and chewy coconut.
Hello Dolly cookie bars are everything everyone loves about dessert all rolled, or should I say stacked, into one! They’re an indulgent mix of the most popular and delicious cookie ingredients. There’s a little bit of something for everyone in each bar!
Plus, they’re completely customizable. Any layer can be replaced or reimagined to include your family’s personal favorites. If you need a peanut-free, dairy-free, or vegan dessert, then you can change up this Hello Dolly bars recipe to be just that.
Ingredients Needed
Ingredient Notes
- Graham Cracker Crumbs: You can crumble the crackers in a food processor or freezer bag. Alternatively, you can find bags of graham cracker crumbs already prepared in most grocery stores.
- Pecans: These nuts have a gentle crunch and subtle sweetness. They can be purchased pre-chopped, or you can toast them yourself and give them a couple of pulses in a food processor.
- Shredded Coconut: This layer is the most common to be replaced. The best substitutions with similarly chewy textures would be caramel, oats, or butterscotch chips.
- White & Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: A combination of sweet and bitter chocolate lends to great variety and balance in your Hello Dolly bars. Don’t hesitate to customize!
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This sweet, sticky ingredient is necessary to pull everything together into a solid bar.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare to bake. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray or butter while your oven preheats to 350°F.
- Mix the crust. Add the graham cracker crumbs and sugar to a bowl. Whisk together, then follow with the melted butter, stirring the mixture until it becomes crumbly.
- Lay the crust layer. Press the crumb crust onto the bottom of the dish in an even layer making sure to fill in the corners and edges.
- Pour the milk foundation. Pour half of the sweetened condensed milk over the crust allowing it to spread.
- Layer each ingredient. Layer the ingredients one at a time: semi-sweet chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and white chocolate chips. Use your hands to gently press the layers into the crust.
- Bind with the remaining milk. Drizzle the last of the condensed milk over the Hello Dolly cookie bars, taking care to coat evenly.
- Bake. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the coconut flakes be your guide — when they’ve browned, it’s done.
Storage and or Freezing Instructions
- Make-ahead instructions: This Hello Dolly bars recipe is really best made fresh. The individual layers can’t be prepared separately ahead of time — it’s a recipe that simply requires assembly.
- Freezing instructions: Hello Dolly bars can be portioned and frozen for individual snacks in lunches or for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. I recommend storing them as individual pieces wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to thaw as needed.
- Storage instructions: Store the cookie bars at either room temperature or in the refrigerator – they’re delicious at either temperature. Either way, keep them in an air-tight container.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- The order doesn’t matter! The only ingredients that need to stay in the same spot are the crust and condensed milk. Every other piece is fair game for rearranging.
- Use parchment paper for a mess-free serving. Line the baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal from the dish. Be sure to allow the bars to cool before removing them, or they may lose their shape.
- Substitute with your favorite cookie ingredients. You can change all of the ingredients for other alternatives, except for the sweetened condensed milk. Any cookie can form the crumb crust, any kind of chocolate can take the place of another, and any nut will nestle in perfectly among the other layers. Empty your pantry, use your favorites, or buy what’s on sale!
- Let cool completely before serving. Give this dessert at least 10 minutes to cool before slicing, but preferably until the bars are room temperature.
FAQS
The Hello Dolly bars recipe is a fun reference to a 1960s Broadway musical of the same name. “Hello, Dolly!” was popular around the same time these layered cookie bars were as well.
Also known as “Magic Bars,” the recipe traditionally consists of 7 layers that always contain some mix of chocolate, coconut, pecans, and cookie.
These cookie bars will last up to 4 or 5 days on your countertop or in your pantry. Storing them in the refrigerator will extend that time to a week.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this Hello Dolly recipe dessert, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a photo and tag me on Instagram using @AimeeMarsLiving and #AimeeMars.
Hello Dolly Bars
Equipment
- 9×13 baking pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1/2 cup Butter melted
- 3 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 cup Pecans chopped
- 1½ cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes
- 1/2 cup White Chocolate Chips
- 1 14 ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- Prepare to bake. Grease a 9×13 baking dish or pan with cooking spray or butter while your oven preheats to 350°F.
- Mix the crust. Add the graham cracker crumbs and sugar to a bowl. Whisk together, then follow with the melted butter, stirring the mixture until it becomes crumbly.
- Lay the crust layer. Press the crumb crust onto the bottom of the dish using your hand or the bottom of a flat measuring cup.
- Pour the milk foundation. Pour just half of the sweetened condensed milk on top of the crust layer.
- Layer each ingredient. Layer the ingredients one at a time: semi-sweet chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and white chocolate chips. Use your hands to gently press the layers into the crust.
- Bind with the remaining milk. Drizzle the last of the condensed milk over the Hello Dolly cookie bars, taking care to coat evenly.
- Bake. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the coconut flakes be your guide — when they’ve browned, it’s done.
Notes
- The order doesn’t matter! The only ingredients that need to stay in the same spot are the crust and condensed milk. Every other piece is fair game for rearranging.
- Use parchment paper for a mess-free serving. Line the baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal from the dish. Be sure to allow the bars to cool before removing them, or they may lose their shape.
- Substitute with your favorite cookie ingredients. Aside from the condensed milk, every ingredient can be swapped out with an alternative. Any cookie can form the crumb crust, any kind of chocolate can take the place of another, and any nut will nestle in perfectly among the other layers. Empty your pantry, use your favorites, or buy what’s on sale!
- Let cool completely before serving. Give this dessert at least 10 minutes to cool before slicing, but preferably until the bars are room temperature.
Storage and or Freezing Instructions
- Make-ahead instructions: This Hello Dolly bars recipe is really best made fresh. The individual layers can’t be prepared separately ahead of time — it’s a recipe that simply requires assembly.
- Freezing instructions: Hello Dolly bars can be portioned and frozen for individual snacks in lunches or for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. I recommend storing them as individual pieces wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to thaw as needed.
- Storage instructions: Cookie bars can be stored either at room temperature or in the refrigerator — they’re delicious and served at either temperature. Either way, they will need to be stored in an airtight container.
