Seven layer bars are a delightfully sweet, chewy bar dessert. A graham cracker crumb crust is topped with layers of chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and chopped nuts.
Have you ever smelled a fleeting scent or taste, heard a song or laugh, and were transported back to a memory? We make memories many ways -the linger of a touch, a taste, a kiss, a flavor. Memories come in all forms, good and bad. Sometimes I close my eyes in search of a particular memory. If I’m very quiet, I can bring back the smell and feeling, if only for a moment, and smile.
For some odd reason, the smell of resin instantly transports me back to the age of 4. I don’t smell it often, who does? But when I catch that whiff, I am in a little French pre-school (not in France), making a paperweight.
My grandma Grace, from Chicago, came out to visit us every year for Christmas. These seven layer bars remind me of her. There aren’t actually seven layers, but rather, 7 ingredients are used to make them.
It’s not an unusual or a unique recipe. There are dozens of variations. You don’t cut them into cute Christmas shapes or sprinkle them with red and green sugar. But they still remind me of Christmas…and my grandma. They are a memory. The yellowed scrap of paper in my recipe file, has to be at least 40 years old.
Enjoy the seven layer bars. Here is the recipe!
Seven Layer Bars
Ingredients
- 4 ounces unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 1/3 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Melted butter in the bottom of a 13 X 9 in square pan, then layer in the following order:
- graham cracker crumbs
- chocolate chips
- butterscotch chips
- nuts
- coconut
- top with sweetened condensed milk and bake at 350* F for about 25-30 minutes or until coconut is golden brown. Let cool
Nutrition
Looking for more vintage recipes?
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Karen G says
This is the first recipe for 7 Layer Bars that I have heard the nuts are optional. I have always loved these but cannot eat them anymore because of the nuts. Now I think I will try to make them and leave out the nuts. Someone told me to try adding chopped pretzels in place of the nuts. Might try that, too.
Cynthia says
Karen, some people are allergic to nuts, pretzels would be a good substitute and add crunch!