Bring layers of flavor to your holiday cookie plate with these Seven Layer Cookies.
Made with a buttery graham cracker crust and stacked traditionally with gooey layers of chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, and sweetened condensed milk, these cookies are as easy to make as they are delicious. Easily customizable to allergies and preferences (we never add the coconut), seven layer cookies are the perfect addition to your seasonal baking lineup.
Family Lore
Like the chocolate fudge, this recipe also comes from my great aunt Mamie.
To be completely transparent, I have never actually had a true seven layer cookie. My entire family dislikes coconut so we make a pan of five/six layer cookies (we only add the walnuts to half of the pan.)
My preference is actually the five layer versions as I don’t love walnuts in desserts. However, when looked these up (I think they’re also known as Magic Cookie bars) I saw that people sometimes use pecans instead of walnuts and I just might need to give that a try…
Original Recipe
Like the fudge recipe, this is also written on a yellowed note card in my mothers hand writing.
Some fun observations:
- The recipe title reads “6 *or* 7 Layer Cookies” with coconut later crossed off.
- With three different temperatures listed (300℉, 325℉, and 350℉), I really couldn’t tell you what to bake these at. I just default to 350℉ and then bake until the sweetened condensed milk is totally golden and bubbly.
Check out all of my Family’s Christmas Cookies here.
Seven Layer Cookies
Equipment
- 13×9 glass pan
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 18 Graham Crackers (2 Packets)
- ¾ Cup Unsalted Butter melted
- ½ tsp Salt
- 6 oz Chocolate chips
- 6 oz Butterscotch Chips
- 1 Cup Chopped walnuts
- 14 oz Sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
- *Optional: 1 Cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and grease a 13×9 glass pan.
- Using a food processor, blend the graham crackers into crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the melted butter and salt.18 Graham Crackers, ¾ Cup Unsalted Butter, ½ tsp Salt
- Press into the bottom of the pan using your hands or a fork to pat it down.
- Add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in an even layer, making sure they're evenly distributed.6 oz Chocolate chips, 6 oz Butterscotch Chips
- Sprinkle on nuts (and coconut if you're using it.)1 Cup Chopped walnuts, *Optional: 1 Cup shredded coconut
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk over everything. Try your best to get an even layer but it will also spread out as it sits and bakes.14 oz Sweetened condensed milk
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the evaporated milk has turned golden and bubbly through the center of the pan.
- Let cool and then cut into 48-54 pieces.
