Seven Layer Squares aka (Hello Dollys & Magic Bars)

Ingredients

• 1/4 lb unsalted butter
• 1 & 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 6oz package semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 6oz package butterscotch chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F

1. Put butter in 13x9x2" baking pan and place in oven until melted. Swirl to coat bottom and sides with butter.
2. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over bottom of pan.
3. Sprinkle coconut over crumb layer.
4. Layer in chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.
5. Pour condensed milk over chips and sprinkle with walnuts.
6. Bake in preheated oven until edges are golden brown, about 30–35m.
7. Let cool completely and cut into bars.

Comments

This recipe came from Grandma (Bunny) Lawrence. Once again, it looks like we have Gail Borden to thank for this piece of 1960’s childhood deliciousness.

Historical Record

The web page for Hello Dolly Bars in Southern Living Magazine offers the following explanation for the number of aliases that this dessert has:

These bars go by a few different names, including magic bars, coconut dream bars, seven-layer cookies, and of course, Hello Dolly Bars. Recipes for these bars began to pop up in the 1960s, both on the back of the Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk, as well as submissions in various publications.

The name Hello Dolly Bars most likely stemmed from the popularity of the Broadway show Hello Dolly, which starred Carol Channing around the time this recipe began circulating, although the connection is unclear.

Hello Dolly name attached was introduced to the public in Clementine Paddleford’s food column in The Week magazine on September 19, 1965. Paddleford featured a recipe shared by 11-year-old Alecia Leigh Couch, of Dallas, which she had learned from her grandmother. The recipe included the now familiar combination of graham cracker crumbs, flaked coconut, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and condensed milk. The name was reportedly Alecia’s idea.

In 1964, Gail Borden featured this recipe on the back of his label of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. It was called Magic Cookie Bars and still can be found on the labels today.

Hello, Dolly! debuted at the Fisher Theater in Detroit on November 18, 1963, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and produced by David Merrick. It starred legendary stage performer Carol Channing as Dolly Gallagher Levi. The show moved to Broadway in 1964, winning 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Channing.