7-Layer Bars with Pretzel Crust
Also known as Hello Dolly Bars, 7-Layer Bars are a delightfully popular dessert bar. With layers of buttery pretzel crust, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and nuts, the result is pure melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Other dessert bar recipes we love include Caramel Cracker Bars, English Toffee Bars, and Sheet Pan Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars.
7-Layer Bars Recipe
7-layer bars have been a part of my life for a very long time. I’m not even sure when I first had them, but it was as a child. I’ve been making them ever since, and now they’re just as popular with my own family–and everyone else I make them for! Just like other favorite recipes, like No-Bake Chocolate PB Oat Bars and Lemon Meltaways these are on repeat at our house.
Traditionally they have a graham cracker crust, which I also make sometimes. But when we were getting ready to move I was trying to use up all of our food, and thought I’d try a pretzel crust instead. It was SO good, and added a depth of flavor that’s really unbeatable. If you love a sweet and salty combo, it’s perfection. Best of all, it’s a very easy recipe that doesn’t take much time to put together!
Table of contents
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Ingredients
You can find the printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Pretzels: I like to use the skinny pretzel sticks, but you can use whatever type you have!
- Butter: Unsalted butter is my preference in this recipe, because of the salt in the pretzels.
- Chocolate chips: Milk chocolate is my go-to, but you can use any type you like.
- Butterscotch chips: These add a rich flavor that can’t be beat.
- Shredded sweetened coconut: You can leave this out if you really don’t like coconut!
- Chopped pecans or walnuts: Either buy them chopped, or chop up whole pieces.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This is what binds it all together, and makes them chewy!
TIP: You can omit the chips, coconut, or nuts–and even substitute another favorite like white chocolate chips, craisins, etc.
Equipment
How to make
Crust: Crush the pretzels into pieces. You can use a food processor, or put them in a large plastic bag and pound them with a rolling pin! Place them in the bottom of a lined 9×13 baking pan that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. You can lift them out of the pan once cooled, and easily cut into squares. Melt the butter, and pour over pretzels–mix with a fork to combine. Bake for 6 minutes in a preheated 350° oven.
Layers: When the crust comes out of the oven, add your layers! The order doesn’t matter, but I’m a creature of habit, and usually start with milk chocolate chips, followed by butterscotch chips, and chopped nuts.
Pour: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top, then sprinkle with coconut.
Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.
TIP: Let them completely cool before cutting, so the condensed milk can set. Otherwise, they’ll fall apart and be too runny.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Just a different name for the same yummy dessert.
You can certainly omit the coconut or nuts, and sub out some of layer toppings for other favorites. You’ll need the sweetened condensed milk, but the others you can substitute.
Storage and freezing
Store: Once the bars are cooled, cut them into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze: To freeze, place cut bars in a freezer gallon bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter until no longer frozen.
🖤 Looking for easy dessert recipes? Try German Chocolate Brownies, Texas Sheet Cake, or Lemon Lush Dessert!
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7-Layer Bars with Pretzel Crust
Print Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 12 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Crust: Crush the pretzels into pieces. You can use a food processor, or put them in a large plastic bag and pound them with a rolling pin! Place them in the bottom of a parchment lined 9×13 baking pan that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Melt the butter, and pour over pretzels–mix with a fork to combine. Bake for 6 minutes in a preheated 350° oven.
- Layers: When the crust comes out of the oven, add your layers! The order doesn’t matter, but I’m a creature of habit, and usually start with milk chocolate chips, followed by butterscotch chips, and chopped nuts.
- Pour: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top, then sprinkle with coconut.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown. Let cool completely, then lift parchment paper out of the pan, and cut into squares.
