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These easy Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie bars will replace your original 7 layer bar recipe and become a family favorite.
Do you ever make the recipes on the side of cake mixes, bags of flour, or cereal boxes? I frequently cut them out and store them in my recipe binder. Sometimes I go back and make them but more often than not they are “lost” until I lug out the binder to try something new. This Easy Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bar Recipe is one of those recipes. I found it on the back of the box of Ghirardelli brownies years ago and rediscovered it at Christmas. Yesterday I finally made them and they were with the wait, they are ooey, gooey, chocolaty and delicious. This recipe could not be easier, all you do is layer the ingredients and voila, Magic Bars.
What are Seven-Layer Cookie Bars?
Layered cookie bars that are made using the seven ingredients, butter, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk and walnuts.
The next time you decide to make magic cookie bars, you know they one with the buttery graham cracker crust, try this brownie layer bar recipe instead. They will become your new favorite cookie bar.
The History of Seven Layer Cookies?
The original recipe was called Hello Dolly bars, and since then the name has changed to 7-layer bars, Magic bars, or Coconut Dream bars, whatever you call them they are an old-fashioned layered cookie bar treat. Their origin is not clear, some say the recipe came from the back of an Eagle Brand Milk can and was created by Gail Borden. Others mention, Alicia Leigh Couch, an 11 year old girl who sent her grandmothers’ recipe to food journalist Clementine Paddleford. Paddleford then published the recipe in her weekly recipe swap column in This Week magazine on September 19, 1095. Still others claim the recipe and cookie are from Hello Dolly the musical which was popular at the same time.
Ingredients for Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bars
To make these cookie bars you will need:
- 1/2 cup butter, melted, unsalted butter can be used as well. Add a pinch of salt if you use unsalted butter.
- 1 Ghirardelli chocolate brownie mix, the base layer of the cookies.
- 1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-sweet chocolate chips or 60% dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup Butterscotch chips
- 1 cup Coconut
- 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions for Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bars
- Line a 9 x13-inch pan with parchment paper or foil, spray the pan with cooking spray.
- Pre- heat oven to 350.
- Melt butter in the microwave, on the stove or in the pan.
- Pour melted butter in the bottom of the prepared pan, make sure to coat bottom of the pan with the butter.
- Sprinkle brownie mix over the melted butter. Stir the brownie mix into the butter just as you would with graham crackers in traditional 7 layer bars.
- Layer coconut, flakes, semisweet chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and walnuts, then pour the can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.
- I like to sprinkle a few extra chocolate and butterscotch chips on the top before I bake them to make them extra gooey and chocolaty.
- Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Then remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Note: You do not make the brownie batter as directed on the box, you sprinkle the dry brownie mix over the melted butter.
Variations and Additions
- White Chocolate chips
- Bittersweet chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
- M & M candy
- Toffee Bits
- Chopped dark chocolate
- Peanuts, pecans, walnuts
- Substitute any one of your favorite Ghirardelli brownie mixes.
- All toppings are suggestions, if you have an aversion or food allergies to nuts, coconut, chocolate omit that ingredient and add additional ingredients of the things you like.
Notes
- You DO NOT follow the directions in the brownie mix. For this recipe you are only using the dry brownie mix.
- When you pour the brownie mix over the melted butter, I like to mix it around a little just as you would the graham cracker crumbs in traditional 7 layer bars.
- All ovens are different, your oven might be hotter or cooler than mine. Watch the bars to see if the edges are bubbling and turning golden brown, that is when you remove them from the oven. The middle will still be a little wiggly.
- Let the bars cool all the way before you cut them. You can even place the cooled bars in the refrigerator overnight and then cut them.
How do you store Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bars?
Store room temperature seven layer bars in an airtight container. Bars can also be wrapped in plastic and foil or placed in an airtight container and frozen for up to 3 months.
Where do you buy Ghirardelli Brownie mixes?
Ghirardelli brownie mixes come in many flavors, including Dark Chocolate, The Ultimate Chocolate, Chocolate Supreme and Double Chocolate. You can find the brownie mixes at Walmart, Costco, Target and all of your local grocery stores.
If you like Magic bars, try Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cup Magic Cookie Bars or Double Chocolate Pretzel Magic Bars. Prefer brownies, try this Condensed Milk Brownie Recipe.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
I hope that you enjoyed this Easy Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bar Recipe.
Don”t forget to Pin the recipe and share it with your friends. It is perfect for bbq season, movie night, picnics, pot luck or even a weeknight dessert.
What is your favorite seven-layer bar recipe?
Do you call these sweet treats Magic Bars, Hello Dolly Bars or 7 Layer Bars?
Have a great day friends.
You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!
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Print Easy Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie Bar Recipe
These easy Ghirardelli Seven Layer Brownie bars will replace your original recipe and become a family favorite.
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 24 cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
Line a 9 x13-inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, spray the pan with cooking spray.
Pre- heat oven to 350.
Melt butter in the microwave, on the stove or in the foil lined pan.
Pour melted butter in the bottom of the prepared pan, make sure to coat bottom of the pan with the butter.
Sprinkle brownie mix over the melted butter. Stir the brownie mix into the butter just as you would with graham crackers in traditional 7 layer bars.
Layer coconut flakes, semisweet chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and walnuts, then pour the can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.
I like to sprinkle a few extra chocolate and butterscotch chips on the top before I bake them.
Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Then remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Cut and enjoy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
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