7 Layers of Heaven

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How to make my all time favorite dessert, the 7 Layer Bar.

I am a sugar addict. I believe one can never have too many sweets. When it comes to the kitchen, my skills are best in the baking area. Especially when the baking is as simple as this recipe. I have grown up making this dessert and buying it from every bakery I could find. I can vividly remember first trying one at a small bakery in Austin, TX. I was in the 4th grade and after one taste I was hooked. Now I am here to welcome you to the 7 Layer Bar fan club.

This is my version, there are tons of ways you can make this and I will list all the different substitutions and add-ins at the bottom.

ingredients

Ingredients:

  • A bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

  • 1 cup of chopped Pecans or walnuts (or both if you’d like)

  • 1 pack of Graham crackers

  • 1 (14-ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

  • 1 stick of Butter

  • 1 ¼  cup of shredded coconut flakes (I use unsweetened)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  2. Crush the entire pack of graham crackers. Now you can do this many ways, a blender, a sealed plastic bag and a rolling pin, or put them in a food processor for a minute. The goal is to just crush the graham crackers until they are small crumbs.

  3. Melt a stick of butter and coat the bottom of your baking pan evenly in the butter. It’s ok if it seems like a lot of butter. That helps things get less crumbly later.

  4. Take the graham crackers crumbs and spread them evenly in the pan. I use a big spoon to smooth it all out and make sure its pressed well into the butter.

  5. Take half a cup of chocolate chips (I do not measure at all in this recipe and just spread a light layer of chocolate chips without measuring.) Spread a very thin layer of chocolate chips on top of the graham crackers.

  6. Now evenly pour ¼ of the cup of sweetened condensed milk over the chocolate chips and graham cracker layer.

    NOW the fun!

  7. Add an even layer of coconut flakes. You can make it thick or thin, however you like it. If you want to measure, add 1 and ¼ cup.

  8. Now add the layer of chopped nuts. Again, can be thin or thick. If you want to measure, add 1 cup.

  9. Next add another layer of chocolate chips. I go really heavy on my chocolate chips (huge chocolate fan) but you can again add as little or as much as you want. If you want to measure, add 1 cup.

  10. Now take that can of sweetened condensed milk and pour it evenly over everything until every last drop of the can is empty.

  11. Bake it until the corners are golden brown. Usually takes about 20-25 minutes.

NOW EAT THE WHOLE PAN!

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Substitution and add-in options:

To make dairy free- use sweetened condensed coconut milk and dairy free chocolate chips

To make gluten free- use gluten free graham crackers (I use gluten free ones and still think it tastes the same)

If you like peanut butter- add peanut butter chips!

If you like butterscotch- add butterscotch chips!

If you prefer a different type of nut- add almonds instead!

If you are allergic to nuts- you can add pieces of rice crispy treats for crunch!

If you want it to be a sweeter dessert- use sweetened coconut flakes, I do unsweetened to make them less sugary.

I hope you love this dessert as much as I do, if you bake this tag me in it on instagram stories. I would love to see you all enjoying this and making your own versions!

Happy baking!



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