Christmas 7 Layer Bars

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Christmas 7 Layer Bars are an easy holiday dessert loaded with chocolate, coconut, crunchy pecans and festive red and green M&Ms.

These sweet and chewy cookie bars start with a buttery graham cracker crust and are held together with rich, gooey sweetened condensed milk.

This fun Christmas twist on classic magic cookie bars is perfect for holiday parties, Christmas cookie trays and homemade edible gifts.

With just 15 minutes of prep time and no complicated steps, these colourful Christmas dessert bars are sure to become a holiday baking favourite!

Why This Recipe is a Winner!

• Easy to Make: Just layer the ingredients in a baking dish and pop it in the oven. No complicated steps or fancy equipment required!
• Only 15 Minutes of Prep: These easy Christmas dessert bars come together quickly with minimal effort.
• Great for Cookie Exchanges: These colourful bars are a fun alternative to traditional Christmas cookies.
• Easy to Customize: Swap the nuts, change up the chocolate chips or use different coloured M&Ms for other holidays.
• Great for Feeding a Crowd: One 9x13-inch pan makes plenty of rich, decadent bars for sharing.
• No Mixer Required: All you need are a mixing bowl, spoon and baking dish to whip up these festive treats.

Ingredients You'll Need

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs: Create a sweet, crunchy base for the bars. Store-bought crumbs or crushed graham crackers both work.
• ½ cup butter, melted: Combines with the crumbs to form a rich, buttery crust.
• 1 cup chopped pecans, divided: Add a delicious nutty flavour and crunchy texture throughout the bars.
• 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks: Add rich chocolate flavour and gooey pockets of melted chocolate.
• 1 cup white chocolate chips: Add creamy sweetness and balance the semi-sweet chocolate.
• 1½ cups sweetened coconut flakes: Give the bars their signature chewy texture and sweet coconut flavour.
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk: Holds all the layers together and creates a rich, gooey texture.
• 1 cup red and green M&Ms: Add festive Christmas colour and a sweet candy crunch.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don't miss out on any important tips and tricks!

Step By Step Instructions

 STEP 1: 

I combined graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together in a mixing bowl.

I pressed the mixture into a parchment paper lined 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

 STEP 2: 

I sprinkled chopped pecans, chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips over the graham crust.

 STEP 3: 

I spread coconut flakes over the chocolate and poured sweetened condensed milk evenly over the ingredients in the baking dish.

 STEP 4: 

I placed the dish in the oven and baked it for 25 minutes.

I removed it from the oven and topped it with chopped pecans and Christmas M&MS.

I gently pressed the ingredients into bars so that they would stick.

Every bite of these Christmas 7 Layer Bars is a delicious combination of buttery graham cracker crust, gooey chocolate, chewy coconut and crunchy pecans, with colourful M&Ms adding a festive candy crunch.

These rich, sweet and delightfully messy holiday treats are impossible to resist, and stopping at just one might be the hardest part of Christmas baking!

If you are looking for the perfect treat to brighten up your holiday cookie tray, then you need to try these Christmas 7 Layer Bars!

• Line Your Pan with Parchment Paper: Leave some overhang on the sides so you can easily lift the bars out of the pan once they've cooled.
• Press the Crust Firmly: Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the graham cracker mixture evenly into the pan so the bars hold together when sliced.
• Spread the Layers Evenly: Distribute the chocolate chips, pecans and coconut evenly so every bite has a little bit of everything.
• Don't Mix the Layers: The beauty of these magic cookie bars is in the layers, so there's no need to stir everything together.
• Pour the Condensed Milk Slowly: Drizzle it evenly over the entire pan to help bind all the ingredients together.
• Watch the Baking Time: The bars are ready when the edges are golden brown and the condensed milk is bubbling. Avoid overbaking, which can make them too firm.
• Add the M&Ms After Baking: Sprinkling the candies on while the bars are still hot helps keep their festive colours bright without cracking or melting in the oven.
• Gently Press the Toppings: Use the back of a spoon to lightly press the M&Ms and remaining pecans into the warm bars so they stick.
• Let Them Cool Completely: These bars need time to set before slicing. Cutting them while they're warm can result in a gooey mess.
• Chill for Cleaner Slices: Pop the cooled bars in the refrigerator for 30–60 minutes before cutting for neat, bakery-style squares.

Substitutions and Variations

• Swap the Pecans: Use chopped walnuts, almonds or macadamia nuts instead of pecans for a different flavour and crunch.
• Make Them Nut-Free: Leave out the pecans and replace them with extra chocolate chips, coconut or crushed pretzels. Check ingredient labels if serving someone with a nut allergy.
• Try Different Chocolate Chips: Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate, dark chocolate or a combination of your favourites.
• Use Butterscotch Chips: Replace the white chocolate chips with butterscotch chips for a delicious caramel-like flavour.
• Switch Up the Crust: Use crushed vanilla wafers, digestive biscuits or Golden Oreos instead of graham cracker crumbs.
• Add Some Peanut Butter: Swap some of the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips for a chocolate and peanut butter twist.
• Skip the Coconut: Not a coconut fan? Replace it with extra chopped nuts, chocolate chips or crushed pretzels for added texture.
• Make Them Extra Festive: Add Christmas sprinkles along with the red and green M&Ms for even more holiday colour.
• Try Different M&M Flavours: Use peanut, peanut butter or mini M&Ms instead of regular milk chocolate M&Ms.
• Add a Salty Crunch: Sprinkle crushed pretzels over the crust for a sweet and salty combination.
• Make Them Gluten-Free: Substitute gluten-free graham cracker crumbs and make sure your chocolate chips, candies and other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Add a Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle cooled bars with caramel sauce for an extra indulgent holiday treat.
• Try a White Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled bars for a pretty finish that's perfect for Christmas dessert trays.
• Make Them for Other Holidays: Swap the red and green M&Ms for pastel candies at Easter, red and pink for Valentine's Day or orange and brown for Halloween.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Christmas 7 Layer Bars ahead of time?

• Absolutely! These bars are perfect for making ahead because they need time to cool and set. You can prepare them a day or two before serving and store them in an airtight container.

Why are my 7 Layer Bars falling apart?

• This usually happens when the bars haven't cooled completely before slicing or the graham cracker crust wasn't pressed firmly enough into the pan. Make sure to let them set fully before cutting.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?

• No, evaporated milk is not a suitable substitute. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sugary, which helps bind the layers together and gives these bars their signature gooey texture.

Do Christmas 7 Layer Bars need to be refrigerated?

• Not necessarily. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days in a cool environment. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week.

Can I freeze Christmas 7 Layer Bars?

• Yes! Once completely cooled, cut the bars into squares and place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.

Christmas 7 Layer Bars

Yield: Serves 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Christmas 7 Layer Bars are easy and festive holiday dessert bars with a buttery graham cracker crust, crunchy pecans, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, sweetened coconut and gooey sweetened condensed milk, all topped with red and green M&Ms.

These rich and chewy Christmas magic cookie bars are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges and Christmas dessert trays.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans, divided
• 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 ½ cups sweetened coconut flakes
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup red & green M&Ms

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment and set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter. Stir until well combined.
3. Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the parchment lined baking dish.
4. Sprinkle half of the chopped pecans over the crust.
5. Sprinkle the chocolate chunks, and then sprinkle the white chocolate chips.
6. Then, add the coconut, spreading out evenly.
7. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over top, evenly.
8. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and add the remaining pecans, and sprinkle the M&Ms over top.
10. Gently press the added ingredients into the bars using the back of a spoon.
11. Cool completely, then cut into bars.
12. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 877Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 27gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 408mgCarbohydrates: 111gFiber: 8gSugar: 79gProtein: 10g

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