Hello Dolly Cookies (also known as Magic Cookies or 7 Layer Cookies) are popular American dessert during the holiday season. Layered with Graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, coconut, and condensed milk, this recipe is easy to make for a Christmas Cookies exchange!
These Hello Dolly Cookies are one of the easiest recipes on the blog! Also known as 7 Layer Cookies or Magic Cookies, these famous cookie bars are made with graham cracker crust, and layered with your favorite chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, shredded coconut, and drizzled with condensed milk.
This recipe will be a perfect addition to your holiday cookie exchange party, along with my Orange Cranberry Biscotti, Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies, Danish Butter Cookies Recipe, Apricot Rugelach, Almond Spritz Cookies, Monster Cookies, Sour Cream Cookies, and Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make. This is really one of the easiest cookie recipes! All you need is to assemble the crust, layer a few ingredients, and bake to perfection!
- The best flavors combo! You cannot go wrong with Graham cracker crust, chocolate, nuts, and coconut.
- Customizable. I love this basic recipe, because you always can add more flavor, depending on what you want. Check out Option and Substitutions section below.
How to make it
Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line up an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a food processor, put graham crackers and grinds until fine crumbs.
Add 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup melted butter, and ¼ tsp salt in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, lined with parchment paper, and using a spoon or a spatula, evenly distribute. Then take a glass or a measuring cup and press it down into a pan to create a crust.
Then evenly layer with ⅔ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup butterscotch chips, ½ chopped pecans, and 1 cup coconut flakes. Pour over condensed milk.
Bake at 350˚F for about 25-30 minutes or until the center is set.
Remove from the oven and set on the counter to cool off completely. Then cut into 12 equal bars and enjoy!
Tips for best results
- Crust. Make sure you press the crust tightly, so it holds together when cutting into squares.
- Coconut. While some recipes ask for sweetened coconut flakes, I prefer to use unsweetened ones. Since this dessert is already sweet enough, unsweetened coconut will balance it out.
- Baking. Don’t forget to line your baking pan with parchment paper. If you skip it, the crust will stick to the bottom and it will be hard to take it out.
- Portions. Because this dessert is very rich, I like cut it in smaller portions, 12 or 16 pieces.
- Cutting. The best way to cut this into portions is to cool it off completely, so the chocolate and all the layers fully set. If you cut it while still warm, you might end up with messy crumbled edges.
Options and substitutions
- Graham crackers. If you don’t have Graham crackers, you can use vanilla wafer cookies instead. Just grind them and then mix with melted butter.
- Layers. The ingredients for layers I use is very classic. You can easily play around with the flavors and add other ingredients, like peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store them in an air-tight container, lining parchment paper in between of the layers, so they won’t stick to each other. They will stay fresh on the counter for 2-3 days and up to a week in the refrigerator.
More Dessert Ideas:
- Cinnamon Muffins
- Cinnamon Baked Apples
- Apple Crumb Cake
- Chocolate Cake from Scratch
- Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Cheesecake Brownies Recipe
Hello Dolly Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup pecans chopped
- 1 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- ⅔ cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line up an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a food processor, put graham crackers and grinds until fine crumbs.
- Add 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup melted butter, and ¼ tsp salt in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, lined with parchment paper, and using a spoon or a spatula, evenly distribute. Then take a glass or a measuring cup and press it down into a pan to create a crust.
- Then evenly layer with ⅔ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup butterscotch chips, ½ chopped pecans, and 1 cup coconut flakes. Pour over condensed milk.
- Bake at 350˚F for about 25-30 minutes or until the center is set.
- Remove from the oven and set on the counter to cool off completely. Then cut into 12 equal bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Crust. Make sure you press the crust tightly, so it holds together when cutting into squares.
- Coconut. While some recipes ask for sweetened coconut flakes, I prefer to use unsweetened ones. Since this dessert is already sweet enough, unsweetened coconut will balance it out.
- Baking. Don’t forget to line your baking pan with parchment paper. If you skip it, the crust will stick to the bottom and it will be hard to take it out.
- Portions. Because this dessert is very rich, I like cut it in smaller portions, 12 or 16 pieces.
- Cutting. The best way to cut this into portions is to cool it off completely, so the chocolate and all the layers fully set. If you cut it while still warm, you might end up with messy crumbled edges.
What a brilliant dessert idea. I love the flavors in this recipe and its simplicity. I’m going to save this to my Christmas baking list. Can’t wait to give it a try.
This looks amazing! And it’s so straightforward also. It’s like practically two steps. Love it.
These look wonderful! I love a good cookie with coconut in the mix! I think these would be wonderful to leave out for Santa this year!
These cookies are perfect for the season and I can’t wait to give them a go! I love how they look and they also look super delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
These cookies sound amazing for the holiday season! Definitely trying it out soon!
I had never had 7-layer anything and am so glad I tried these! They were quick, easy and tasted incredible!
These cookies were SO good! My whole family just adored them. And I loved how easy they were!
I am all about an easy recipe, especially for the holiday season! This looks delightful!
These sound addictively delicious. I would have to make a double batch for sure. Perfect for the holiday treat table.