Hello Dolly Bars are a layered cookie bar with a buttery cookie crust topped with a rich and gooey layer of coconut, pecans and chocolate chips. These bars are a timeless classic!
What are Hello Dolly Bars?
Hello dolly bars are a layered cookie type of bar that are also called magic cookie bars, dream bars, 7-layer bars and so on. There are so many names for these bars! Where did the name Hello Dolly come from? They were thought to be named after Hello Dolly, the popular Tony winning Broadway musical that debuted in 1964. Even though these bars were around before the musical made their debut, the name Hello Dolly stuck!
There are so many different variations of ingredients for these layered cookie bars that have evolved over the years. I found several different versions in my recipe collection; it was hard to make it through a cookbook without seen one! One recipe even referred to this cookie bar as a home economics class recipe.
Some versions, like this recipe, have more of a traditional cookie crust while others have a graham cracker or chocolate crumb crust. In addition to the coconut, there are various types of baking chips in some versions like chocolate, butterscotch or white chocolate chips and a variety of nuts have been used. Early versions of the recipe call for a mixture of eggs, sugar, flour and baking powder to hold layers together. Later versions call for sweetened condensed milk (a common pantry item!) to all of the ingredients together instead. No matter which way these bars are made, they have remained a classic favorite for many over the years.
About this Recipe
This recipe is incredibly simple to make and is made with common pantry ingredients. Most older versions of this recipe feature only coconut, chocolate chips and nuts but other ingredients can be added too, according to personal preferences. See tips below on adding various ingredients.
The crust is made up of butter, brown sugar and flour. This mixture is pressed into a standard 9″x”13″ pan where it is partially baked. The different “layers” of shredded sweetened coconut, chocolate chips and pecans are sprinkled over partially baked crust and then sweetened condensed milk is poured evenly on top, holding all of the ingredients together. After returning to the oven to bake until they are set, they are cooled completely before cutting.
Tips for Hello Dolly Bars
- These bars are soft and gooey; bake an additional 3-5 minutes if you prefer a cookie bar to be more set
- Various types of baking chips can be added or substituted such as butterscotch, white chocolate or peanut butter chips
- Any type of nuts can be substituted for the pecans
- Store bars in an airtight container for up to three days
- Freeze any baked bars for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator
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Want more bar cookie recipes? Check out these bar cookies:
Hello Dolly Bars
Equipment
- 9"x13" standard baking pan
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 (14oz). can sweetened condensed milk
- 6 oz. chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup sweetened, flaked coconut
Instructions
- Combine the softened 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar until crumbly. Press into ungreased 9"x13" baking dish and bake for 15 minutes @350°F.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle 1 cup sweetened, flaked coconut , 6 oz. chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped pecans over partially baked crust. Pour 1 (14oz). can sweetened condensed milk over all ingredients.
- Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Allow to cool completely before cutting.
Notes
- These bars are soft and gooey; bake an additional 3-5 minutes if you prefer to be more set
- Various types of baking chips can be added or substituted such as butterscotch, white chocolate or peanut butter chips
- Any type of nuts can be substituted for the pecans
- Store bars in an airtight container for up to three days
- Freeze any baked bars for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator