Chewy Gluten Free 7-Layer Bars

As a busy momma, I love making dessert bars. They’re just so easy to throw together! I’ve been rotating Monster Cookie Bars, Gluten Free Lemon Bars, and S’Mores Bars lately—because who doesn’t love variety? But these 7-layer bars? I could have them every day.

Also known as Magic Bars or Hello Dolly Bars, these addictive goodies are loaded with all the classics: chocolate, coconut, butterscotch, graham crackers, and crunchy nuts, all tied together with sweetened condensed milk that turns ooey-gooey and caramel-like in the oven. The texture is out of this world—chewy, soft, crunchy, and perfectly sweet, with a hint of salt to balance it all out. Honestly, they’re so good that no one will even realize they’re gluten-free. And yes, I may or may not have eaten three in one sitting.

Can’t-Stop-Eating-‘Em 7-Layer Bars

Stop what you’re doing right now! Here’s why you need to make this 7 layer bars recipe:

• Something for everyone. Every bite of these bars is packed with big, satisfying flavor from a variety of classic dessert ingredients. Chocolate, coconut, butterscotch, and graham crackers all tied together with incredibly ooey-gooey sweetened condensed milk? There really is something for everyone here.
• None of the gluten, all of the goodness. Made with gluten-free ingredients, this recipe ensures everyone at the table can enjoy it.
• SO easy to make. Other than stirring together melted butter and graham cracker crumbs, this recipe is as easy as layering ingredients on top of a simple crust and popping it in the oven. 

What You’ll Need

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make this 7 layer bars recipe. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

• Gluten-free graham cracker crumbs – Use any gluten-free graham cracker brand, or make your own. Crush them in a food processor or seal them in a bag and crush with a rolling pin. Not gluten-free? Regular graham crackers work too!
• Melted butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter, but I prefer salted because it adds depth to the flavor profile.
• Shredded sweetened coconut – Raw or toasted. You could use unsweetened coconut if you prefer.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Milk or dark chocolate chips would also work.
• Butterscotch chips – Sometimes, I’ll go with white chocolate chips instead, just to mix things up.
• Chopped walnuts – Pecans will also do the trick. You can toast them first for a deeper, richer nutty flavor.
• Sweetened condensed milk – Be sure to read the label carefully. Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk look similar, but they are not interchangeable.
• Salt – Salt is key! It balances out the sweetness, elevating these bars from “awesome” to “irresistible.”

How to Make 7-Layer Bars

Here’s a basic overview of how to make these life-changing dessert bars. Check out the recipe card below for more in-depth instructions.

• Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
• Make the crust. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter, and press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

• Layer. Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, shredded coconut, nuts, and salt over the crust.

• Drizzle. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top.
• Bake. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• Cool. Cool the bars in the pan for 30 minutes.
• Cut. Use the parchment to lift the bars onto a work surface. Slice them into squares.

Tips for Success

• Read the label. Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk look similar and are often confused. But they are not the same thing! So make sure you grab the right one!
• Parchment paper hack. Use a little extra parchment paper so that it hangs over the sides. This will make removing the bars from the baking pan so much easier.
• Even distribution. Do your best to distribute each ingredient evenly over the crust (all the way to the edges and corners) so every inch gets a little bit of every goodie.
• Let ’em cool. These bars are pretty gooey straight out of the oven. Let them cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Otherwise, they won’t hold together as well.
• A note on serving size. I generally slice these into 15 pieces for nice, hearty servings. That said, if you’re making them as part of a larger dessert spread, you can cut them into 24 smaller squares.

Variation Ideas

One great thing about this 7-layer bars recipe is that it’s easy to customize. Here are a few fun ways to make it your own:

• Chip swap. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips, but feel free to swap them out for white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or some combination.
• Try a different crust. If you’d like to use Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers or Gluten Free Oreos instead of graham crackers, go for it! You won’t need as much butter if you leave the filling in the Oreos.
• Add a layer. Who says you have to stop at 7!? If you’re feeling extra indulgent, go ahead and add some chopped Heath Bar or Mini Reese’s. Got other ideas? Send me a note in the comments section below!

How to Store

• Counter/Refrigerator. Seal leftover bars in an airtight container with parchment paper separating any layers. You can store them at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Freezer. Arrange leftover bars on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours to firm up before transferring them to a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the bars at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy.

More Gluten Free Dessert Ideas

On the hunt for more gluten-free desserts the whole family will love? Here are some more top picks:

• Gluten Free Brookies
• Gluten Free Oreos
• Gluten Free Brownies
• Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Gluten Free Lofthouse Cookies