Seven-Layer Cookies

Seven-layer bars, also known as magic cookie bars, first showed up in magazines and news stories in the 1960s, and they’ve been popular ever since. This contest-winning version offers a slightly different take on the seven-layer bar, using sandwich cookies to form the crust and changing a few other ingredients. It’s quite easy to make, and quite delicious too.

Ingredients for Seven-Layer Cookies 

• Oreo cookies: Crumbled sandwich cookies serve as the delicious crust or bottom layer in these seven-layer cookie bars.
• Butter: Melted butter coats the crushed cookies, which helps them stay pressed in place in the bottom of the pan.
• Flaked coconut: Flaked coconut has a large surface area, providing loads of crunch and flavor in these layered cookies.
• Crisp brown rice cereal: Crispy rice cereal adds a playful crunch as one of the layers in this cookie bar.
• Dulce de leche: A delicious caramel-like sauce, canned dulce de leche makes this dessert decadent and delectable.
• Pecans: Chopped pecans add crunch and protein to the seven-layer cookies; they also taste amazing with the coconut and with the dulce de leche.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the lower layers

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pulse the cookies in a food processor until they’re finely chopped. Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter, then press the mixture into the bottom of a greased, foil-lined 13×9-inch baking pan. Spread the flaked coconut over the crust, then sprinkle crisp rice cereal on top.

Step 2: Prepare the remaining layers

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Combine the dulce de leche and water, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Pour it over the cereal in the pan. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the dulce de leche, pressing down lightly so they stick.

Step 3: Bake the treat

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Bake until the edges of the layered mixture are set, but the center is still soft, about 30 minutes (do not overbake). Remove the pan from the oven, and immediately sprinkle sea salt over the dessert. Cool the pan completely on a wire rack before cutting the treat into 24 squares.

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Seven-Layer Cookie Variations

• Toast the coconut: Toasted coconut makes this treat even more delicious. Wondering how to do it? Here are several ways to toast coconut.
• Use chocolate crispy rice cereal: Chocolate crispy rice cereal makes these seven-layer cookies more chocolaty; for even more variation, use regular crispy rice on one side of the pan, chocolate crispy rice on the other.
• Make a saltine crust: Replace the Oreo crumbs with saltine cracker crumbs for a somewhat salty bottom layer that balances the sweet ingredients. For another layered bar cookie that uses saltines, try these contest-winning lemony layer bars.

How to Store Seven-Layer Cookies

Store seven-layer cookies in an airtight container; they’ll keep at room temperature for a few days, or in the refrigerator for five to seven days.

Can you freeze seven-layer cookies?

Yes, these cookies freeze well; keep them in an airtight freezer-proof container and use them within a month for the best flavor. To keep them from sticking together, either place layers of parchment paper between them or freeze them for a couple hours on a cookie sheet, then transfer them to a container or zippered freezer bag.

Seven-Layer Cookie Tips

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I have shredded coconut, can I use that instead of flaked coconut?

Yes, shredded coconut can be used in place of flaked coconut, but they’re not exactly the same. Shreds of coconut are rather small, like what’s used in this coconut macaroon cookie recipe, while flakes are quite a bit larger and thicker. Here’s the difference between flaked vs. shredded coconut and when to use each type.

What is dulce de leche?

Dulce de leche is creamy and similar to caramel, though it’s not as sticky. It’s typically made by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk (it’s name literally means “sweet made from milk”), whereas caramel is made by heating sugar. If you’d like to try making your own, here’s how to make dulce de leche.

Could I add chocolate chips to this recipe?

Yes, chocolate or even peanut butter and chocolate chips are a nice addition to this seven-layer cookie recipe, and make them more like a traditional seven-layer bar. Add a layer of the flavored chips just before the dulce de leche.