Hello Dolly Cookie Bars
These Hello Dolly cookie bars are truly so delicious and super easy to make! With layers of graham crackers, coconut, pecans, butterscotch and choco chips – your tastebuds are in for a yummy treat!
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 December 6th, 2023 at 02:21 pm
Oh Hello Dolly!! These sound so scrumptious! They would be perfect sitting on my counter waiting to be served up at brunch.
Anytime of the day is perfect for these yummy dollies! Thanks!
Oooo.. I want these right now! I don't have any of the ingredients in my house except the coconut though, because I got rid of our sweets for a 'healthy January.' I guess I could go buy more now that it's February hahaha
Yes, any excuse will do so you can enjoy this yummy treat! 🙂
Could you make them in a crock pot?
I haven't tried to be honest as it's so easy to make it in the oven but I can't see why not! Perhaps I will try that next time in the slow cooker. 🙂
I literally may make these today that is how much I love them. I'm a huge fan of seven layer bars and this is what they remind me of. Like you I always keep chocolate chips, coconut and pecans handy because you never know when a baking craving is going to happen and those are essentials!
They're probably the same but with a different name. Please enjoy Megan!
Well, who could so say to these?! I know I wouldn't be able to. I probably won't make them because I would eat at least half the pan on my own haha but I'll pin for later just in case I lose control!!
When you have guests, make this so you can all share the calories together for lesser guilt! LOL. 🙂
I love the name of these. So fun! And they look scrumptious. I like all the layers!
Thanks!
I love anything with coconut and chocolate in them. These remind me of some cookie bars my mom used to make growing up. You could never have enough of them and they would disappear way too quickly 🙂
That is so true and you can't go wrong with a tried and true classic!
I've had something similar to this only they were in layers. The Dollys look amazing and I simply love all the ingredients. Now, in order to prevent from snacking too much on these I'd have to put them in the freezer — even then they may not be safe. Looking forward to making them.
Hope you enjoy these! Thanks!
This has a lot of sweet goodness piled into one cookie bar! Genius if you ask me!!
Whoever invented this should be thanked profusely or recognized with the highest honors!!!
Oh wow! This is my type of cookie. So many wonderful ingredients and the fact that has coconut sold me! I love coconut everything!
I love coconut on anything, too! Thanks!
They look like they have great texture! Hubby would love them, I'd eat the grahams and chocolate chips long before they hit the pan LOL.
I have been tempted to do that exactly many times over!
One of my favorite things about Hello Dolly bars is that I usually have everything in my pantry to make them at all times. And they are always a huge hit!
I fully agree with that! Thanks!
What a fun name for these cookie bars! I have a bag of butterscotch chips which I brought back from my last trip to the US. I might need to try them in this recipe!
I can't think of a yummier way to enjoy butterscotch chips! Hope you like it!
Love the flavor of butterscotch chips in cookie bars and love the name that you have for the dish. This is such a simple recipe and I pretty much have everything in my pantry.
Hope you get to try this! Thanks!
what a fun way of making cookies!I like to add walnut instead of pecans.I am going to make this soon!
Walnuts are perfectly fine, too! Thanks!
Oh wow – I haven't had this (or thought about them) in YEARS! My mother always used to make a version when I was little and I loved them. Thanks for the fun trip down memory lane; maybe it's time to make a batch myself!
Oh certainly, any day is a perfect day to make Hello Dolly bars! Thanks!
I have never made Hello Dolly bars, but yours certainly look delicious. How long do you think these stay fresh? I think they would be a welcome part of some military care packages.
Hi Abby. Your cookie bars look super delicious! I love all the ingredients in them, so I'm sure they're a BIG success! Thanks for sharing and have a sweet day. ~Heather
YUM! These look amazing!
Can something else be used besides butterscotch, I can't eat that and I would like to make the bars. Thanks
You can use either mini-marshmallows or peanut butter chips! Thanks for asking!
My mom called them, Hello Dolly Bars in the 60’s we live in Minnesota. They were our favorite bars and I always make them. While traveling I noticed people called them seven layer bars. I was explaining to a Deli manager in San Francisco that we called them, Hello Dolly Bars. She said, how wonderful! I love that and I’m renaming them today. She took out a new display card and beautifully wrote: Hello Dolly Bars. My daughter and I smiled all day and my mom would be so happy
I am with you!! I prefer calling these in their vintage name and it sounds so perfect and cute, too. These are the best bars indeed. Thanks for sharing your story. 🙂
Tasty looking cookie bars!!!
One of my absolute favorite treats. I never make them because I could eat them all! Love your addition of butterscotch chips.
Wow this looks incredible, perfect for Christmas!
These look so amazing!
I’m not much on butterscotch, so thinking maybe dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. And walnuts instead of pecans. Might just have to try this
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.