Hello Dolly Bars Classic Layers (Printable)

Layered bars combining graham crust, chocolate, nuts, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk into a chewy delight.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Layers

03 - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
04 - 1 cup butterscotch chips (optional, may substitute with semisweet chocolate chips)
05 - 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
06 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
07 - 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease lightly.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a medium bowl until fully blended. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Evenly sprinkle semisweet chocolate chips over the crust, then add butterscotch chips if using, followed by nuts and shredded coconut.
04 - Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over all layered ingredients to cover the surface completely.
05 - Bake for 23 to 27 minutes until edges are golden and the center is set.
06 - Allow to cool completely in the pan. Lift out with parchment paper and cut into 16 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No mixer required, no fussy technique, just layer and bake your way to dessert glory.
  • The condensed milk binds everything into a chewy, fudgy dream that tastes way more complicated than it actually is.
  • One pan means one cleanup, which might be the best part of all.
02 -
  • The condensed milk will keep baking even after you pull the pan out, so stopping right when the edges turn golden keeps the centers from getting too firm and losing that fudgy chew.
  • Letting them cool completely in the pan is non-negotiable—cutting them warm turns everything into crumbles, no matter how careful you are.
03 -
  • Press the graham cracker crust down firmly with the bottom of a measuring cup—it keeps everything bound together and prevents a crumbly bite.
  • Pour the condensed milk slowly and deliberately so it actually soaks into the layers instead of just coating the top.
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