Hello Dolly Cookie Bars
Whip up these irresistible Hello Dolly Bars — a nostalgic layered dessert bursting with toasted coconut, buttery graham crackers, pecans, butterscotch, and melted chocolate chips! Perfect for holiday baking, potlucks, or anytime you crave an easy homemade treat. Pin this classic cookie bar recipe to try later!
In my pantry I have as staples chocolate chips, shredded coconut, pecans and condensed milk. I have them handy in case I need to make some delicious sweet treats for the kids and occasionally for a coffee break in our church.
In one of the old cookbooks I found in Goodwill, one of those produced for a school by some of the parents, I found this recipe for this southern vintage cookies – Hello Dolly Cookie Bars!
When I looked at the ingredients I was delighted to find out that I have most of them in my cupboard including another package of Butterscotch chips but minus the graham crackers.
So when hubby asked me if I wanted him to get something for me at the grocery (he was going out to buy some crickets for our little lovely pet, Rexie, at Petco), I kindly asked if he doesn’t mind making a quick trip to Stop and Shop to buy a box graham crackers. When he returned I immediately made this treat and couldn’t wait to taste it.
When hubby saw the finished product he immediately asked me when it would be cool enough to eat? I told him that he probably won’t like this as it has graham crackers; being English he prefers that I use digestive biscuits on anything that calls for graham crackers as he believes it is far more superior in taste!
He said it looked good and wanted to try it so I told him to be my guest. Well, well. he didn’t just have one but 2 bars immediately as he said it was so yummy and more-ish. Then my son who hates coconut came along and I warned him before trying this that it has coconut in them.
He wasn’t deterred and once again, he loved it and said, he didn’t mind the coconut at all. As you can see, it was a major success! I have to say it was really good and one slice is simply not enough.
I think what made this even more delicious is the combination of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips! So, if you’re going to make this, I suggest using both as it’s totally worth it!! Can you see all the yumminess – it’s buttery, chocolaty, nutty and totally fabulously good!
The best part, it’s super easy to make – it’s just a matter of layering and you have all these yummy flavors dancing on your tastebuds! Certainly, this will be a go-to dessert or snack bar for us all!
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INGREDIENTS for Hello Dolly Cookie Bars
Yields 24 bars
FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS, see recipe card below.
- Unsalted butter
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut (I find the sweetened coconut makes this too sweet but it’s your choice)
- Coarsely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
- Semisweet chocolate morsels or chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- can of sweetened condensed milk
Cooking Directions
- Butter the baking dish.
- Make the crust by pressing the graham crackers at the bottom of the baking dish.
- Layer the ingredients beginning with the coconut flakes then the chopped nuts, and the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk all over.
- Bake in the preheated oven. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Makes about 24 bars. Enjoy!
Hello Dolly Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted Butter, (one stick)
- 1½ cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked Coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels or chocolate chips
- 1 cup Butterscotch chips
- 1 (14) oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Melt the stick of butter in a 9 x13 pan in the oven. Remove once the butter is melted ensuring that the entire bottom of the pan and an inch up the sides are coated.
- Press the graham crackers to form a crust. Make sure the crust is spread flatly and evenly. Sprinkle the coconut flakes all over and then layer with the chopped nuts and the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk all over.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until it's fully set and a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into bars. Makes about 24 bars. Enjoy!
Last updated on November 10th, 2025 at 09:59 pm
I am unable to use any nuts at my house, I think I will try raisins as a substitute.
Does anyone know whay these are called “Hello Dolly Bars”? My mother had this recipe in the mid-1960s, and I assumed that they got the name from the Boradway musical, however, I do not know the connection. Looking forward to a reply……
Based on my google search, that’s what I’ve read from Dianna Rattray – I think it was based on that musical (or perhaps became popular when that musical was popular, too) but she didn’t mention who made the original recipe. But it’s the same as the Magic Bars, too which may be found at the back of the can of condensed milk. Who knows? That could have been the original and perhaps some in the South just called it hello dollies! 🙂
Ohhh such a perfect flavor combo… chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, and nuts!
My mom used to make something similar to these dolly bars and I love them – I will absolutely be trying this recipe!
These look so delicious! I know I’ll be snacking on waaaaay to many!!
MaMa Mia!! I can’t wait to try these hello dolly bars, they look amazing!!! I’m going to save this recipe. Thank you!
My neighbor used to make cookie bars like this when I was a kid. Haven’t had them in forever, but now I’m craving them!
These look exactly the same as the Magic Cookie Bars that my mom used to make. I am excited to make them because I remember that they were absolutely scrumptious. Thanks for sharing!
This looks really good. Please send me the website thank you.
You are on the website. You can print the recipe through the recipe card at the end of the post. Thanks.
Listen! This recipe is SO GOOD, and easy! I made these last month when Abby posted on FB. I’m ashamed at how many I ate because I couldn’t help myself and well, I have all the ingredients to make it again
I am so delighted you enjoyed these yummy bars! They truly are amazing! Thank you for letting us know.
At what temperature do we bake this at and for how long?
Please scroll down to the end to get the full recipe and instructions and to print it. The recipe card for printing is at the end of post. You can also use the jump to recipe button on top. That’s the shortcut provided so you can go straight to the recipe.
These are the same as 7 Layer Bars. just a different name. I Love these.