Hello Dolly Bars [Magic Cookie Bars]

Hello Dolly Bars, aka Magic Cookie Bars, is a simple layered baked dessert that combines graham crackers, coconut, chocolate chips and pecans.

Three cut Hello Dolly bars stacked on top of each other on a white wooden table

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more about how affiliate links are used on this site.

I was first introduced to these decadent cookie bars as Hello Dolly Bars, allegedly named after the Broadway Show of the same name starring Carol Channing that was popular during the 1960’s when the recipe first came out. I’ve since discovered they go by many different names, include Magic Cookie Bars and Dream Bars. Whatever name you choose to call them, I think you’ll agree after one bite that these cookies bars do, in fact, taste like a dream.

Hello Dolly Bar ingredients include graham crackers, butter, sugar, chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and condensed milk

How to Make Hello Dolly Bars

As I mentioned, Hello Dolly Bars include several sweet ingredients layered on top of one another. The first is a layer of crushed graham crackers. You’ll need 10 full sheets of graham crackers finely crushed into crumbs.

Combine these with 1/3 cup of melted butter and three tablespoons of sugar until the crumbs are completely coated. Press this into the bottom of a lightly greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Bake the graham cracker layer in a 350-degree oven for seven minutes. Allow it to cool for a few minutes, but leave the oven at 350.

hand pressing graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of an 8 x 8-inch baking dish

Once the graham cracker layer has cooled, spread one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips over it. Follow this with one cup of sweetened, flaked coconut and one cup of chopped pecans. Pour one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk over the top.

Five steps to assemble Hello Dolly Bars - graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, chopped pecans and condensed milk

Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. I recommend cutting the bars as soon as they come out of the oven while they are still soft. It makes them a lot easier to cut. Allow the bars to cool completely before serving.

How to Store Hello Dolly Bars

Cooled Hello Dolly Bars can be left in their baking dish, just cover the dish with a layer of plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. They can be stored for three days at room temperature and up to one week in the refrigerator (if they even last that long!)   

Baked Hello Dolly Bars can also be frozen. If left in a baking dish, I recommend placing a layer of plastic wrap over the surface of the bars to prevent frost from accumulating, then covering the dish with aluminum foil. You can also wrap cut bars individually in plastic wrap, then store in a plastic freezer bag. Allow the bars to thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving.

Over head shot of four Hello Dolly Bars on yellow wrappers surrounded by chocolate chips, pecans and a pan of cut bars to the side

You Might Also Like:

Three cut Hello Dolly bars stacked on top of each other on a white wooden table
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Hello Dolly Bars

Hello Dolly Bars, aka Magic Cookie Bars, is a simple layered baked dessert that combines graham crackers, coconut, chocolate chips and pecans.
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 9 bars
Calories 241kcal
Author Lisa B.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups finely crushed graham crackers
  • 1/3 cup butter melted
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 1 (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom of a greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Bake the crust for seven minutes. Allow the crust to cool completely.
  • Layer the chocolate chips, coconut and pecans over the graham cracker crust. Pour the condensed milk over the top.
  • Bake for 25 minutes. Cut into squares before serving.

Notes

Cooled Hello Dolly Bars can be left in their baking dish, just cover the dish with a layer of plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. They can be stored for three days at room temperature and up to one week in the refrigerator.
Baked Hello Dolly Bars can also be frozen. If left in a baking dish, I recommend placing a layer of plastic wrap over the surface of the bars to prevent frost from accumulating, then covering the dish with aluminum foil. You can also wrap cut bars individually in plastic wrap, then store in a plastic freezer bag. Allow the bars to thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 22.7g | Saturated Fat: 5.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.7g | Cholesterol: 13.9mg | Sodium: 52.9mg | Potassium: 36.2mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 15.1g

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.