These classic Hello Dolly Bars, also known as Magic Bars, begin with a buttery graham cracker crust and are layered with chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. Simple to prepare and absolutely delicious.
If you’ve ever tried a Hello Dolly Bar (Magic Bar), you know they’re irresistible. Despite their rich appearance, they’re deceptively easy to make. With just a few pantry staples and a 9 x 9-inch pan, you can have decadent bars ready in under an hour.
Preparation takes about 15 minutes and baking about 25 minutes. The technique is straightforward: press a buttery graham cracker crust into the pan, layer the toppings, pour on the sweetened condensed milk, then bake until golden.
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers (about 13 crackers)
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (bittersweet or semi-sweet)
- 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides for easy removal. Lightly butter the parchment and press a small bit of butter behind the overhang so it sticks to the pan sides.
- Place the graham crackers in a sealed gallon bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they resemble coarse crumbs. In a medium bowl, combine the crumbs with the melted butter until evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Layer the toppings evenly over the crust in the following order: (1) chocolate chips, (2) chopped pecans, (3) sweetened shredded coconut.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the layered toppings, spreading gently so it reaches the edges and corners. Using an offset spatula helps prevent the milk from pooling to one side.
- Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until the edges are a deep golden brown and the top is a light golden color.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. When cool, use the parchment overhang to lift the slab out and cut into 9 large squares or 18 smaller pieces.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For best results, let the bars cool fully before slicing so the layers set cleanly. If you cut them while slightly warm, they may be a bit gooey but still delicious.
You might also enjoy other classic bars like chess bars, lemon bars with a tender shortbread crust, or date bars. If you make this recipe, feel free to leave a comment and rating to share how it turned out.
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Hello Dolly Bars
- Author: Cindy @ My Country Table
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9 Large Bars
- Category: Bars/Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Hello Dolly Bars start with a buttery graham cracker crust topped with chocolate chips, pecans, and sweetened shredded coconut, then finished with a pour of sweetened condensed milk. Baked until golden, they become a chewy, crunchy, and sweet treat that’s hard to resist.
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers (about 13 crackers)
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9 x 9-inch pan with parchment paper and butter the paper so it adheres to the sides.
- Crush graham crackers in a sealed bag and mix crumbs with melted butter. Press into the bottom of the pan.
- Layer chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut over the crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.
- Bake 22–25 minutes until the edges are dark golden brown and the top is lightly golden.
- Cool completely, then cut into 9 or 18 squares.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.