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Hello Dolly Bars

We're going old school!

Your mom might have called these magic cookie bars,

or seven layer bars,

or hello dolly bars.

Regardless of what they were called, who doesn't remember these treats from your childhood?

Honestly!  This was one thing my mom could . . .and would . . . whip up in a hurry!

These treats are easy to make and even easier to eat!

Originally, these were called magic cookie bars and the recipe was rolled out by the Eagle Brand Milk Company.

Today, though, there are so many variations and possibilities, that it's crazy.

But the basic of the recipe is still the starting point.

And that's exactly where I started!

But!  I didn't end up there, because I add a little treat of my own!

While I was in the kitchen making this little dessert for dinner tonight,

my girl cherub was doing school and she asked what I was making.

I told her.

"Have you ever made those before?" she asked.

Yeah . . .but not in a long time.

Like I don't think I've ever made them for my family.

The reason?

My Mr. and the two cherubs don't like coconut.

And that's how my mom made them.

With coconut.

So I stayed clear of making this dessert.

But then, today, I though, "heck!  make them without coconut."

That's what I did!

I also made a small pan of the bars, rather than a "regular size" 9 X 13.

I'll include the measurements, after each ingredient in [  ], should you want to make a 9X13 pan of these to eat share with others.  Otherwise, this recipe is for an 8 X 8 pan.

There are lots of great things about these bars:
  • they're delicious
  • they're easy
  • they're kid-cooking friendly
With little to do, except measuring, they're wonderful to make with your cherubs helping out.

Hello Dolly Bars

1 cup graham cracker crumbs [2 cups] -- I use gluten free graham crackers crumbs
3 TBSP butter, melted [1/3 cup]
1 1/2 TBSP brown sugar [3 TBSP]
1/2 cup (heaping) milk chocolate chips [1 cup]
1/2 cup (heaping) semi sweet chocolate chips [1 cup]*
1/2 cup (heaping) chopped nuts [1 cup]
1/4 cup caramel, heated to make it pourable [1/2 cup]
1/2 can (7 oz) sweetened condensed milk [1 whole can]

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 8X8 pan with Pam.

In a small bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together.  Pour in the butter and mix well.  Press the graham cracker mix into the pan.  Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven.

Layer:
1/2 cup of chips
1/2 cup of nuts
1/2 cup of other chips
drizzle caramel over this . . .if you even want to use the caramel.  You don't have to if you don't want!
evenly pour 7 oz (or 1/2 the can) of the sweetened condensed milk on top.

Do NOT stir this together!

Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into servings.

*If this is "too much chocolate" in a recipe for you; substitute coconut, or another kind of chip, like peanut butter, white chocolate, cinnamon, or butterscotch chips . .. or even double the amount of nuts!  It's your dessert -- do what you want!





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