7-Layer Cookies (aka: Magic Cookies)

July 5, 2022
Seven simple ingredients layered in a pan come together to make amazingly delicious (and amazingly easy!) 7-Layer Cookies. There's just no way to go wrong when chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and pecans bake up to create this classic favorite.

Stack of 7-Layer Cookies Image

Merry Christmas in July!

While I choose to live in denial that some local stores already have their Christmas decorations out (I kid you not -- two weeks ago I saw one store putting them out!), their (over?) exuberance for the holiday has inspired me to share one of our family's favorite Christmas-time cookies in honor of the occasion.

Now, I say Christmas-time cookies, not simply "Christmas cookies," because the beauty of these sweet layered treats is they're not truly Christmas cookies. -- Which means we can enjoy their layered deliciousness any time of the year!

Seven simple ingredients layered in a pan come together to make amazingly delicious (and amazingly easy!) 7-Layer Cookies.

It just so happens that 7-Layer Magic Cookies were always a staple on my Mother-in-Law's Christmas day cookie tray. So our family does tend to think of them as a Christmas cookie, as I'm sure many others do, as well.  I did not have the pleasure of meeting my husband's Dad, as he passed just before we met. -- But the story goes that 7-Layer Cookies one of his favorites.  It's been told that, several years, my mother-in-law had to make more of these right before Christmas day because my husband's dad had eaten them all before the Christmas festivities arrived.

But with coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and pecans layered on top of a graham cracker crust? -- Who can blame him? Because, man, these classic beauties are sure hard to resist.

Pan of 7-Layer Cookies Image

What's to Love About This Recipe?

  • SUPER easy to make - Melt some butter in a baking dish, sprinkle on layers of ingredients on top of that butter, and pour on a can of sweetened condensed milk to do its "magic" as the cookies bake. -- That's truly all it takes.
  • Fabulous flavor - A combination of butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and coconut create 7-Layer Cookies' signature flavor. And what truly fabulous flavor it is!
  • A classic favorite - Magic cookies are a classic favorite just adored by all.
  • Freeze very well - 7-Layer Magic Cookies freeze beautifully, making it super easy to make them well ahead of time.

Plate of Magic Cookies Image

7-Layer Magic Cookie Ingredients:

As their name implies, it takes just seven ingredients to make 7-Layer Magic Cookies. To whip up a pan, you'll need:

  • Butter - Melted in the bottom of the baking pan, butter begins the layering of these tasty cookies.

  • Graham cracker crumbs - As the second layer, graham cracker crumbs mix with the melted butter below to create the crust of the cookies. Use boxed graham cracker crumbs for ease and convenience, or make your own from whole graham crackers.

  • Coconut - Sweetened flaked coconut creates the fourth layer of the cookies.

  • Chocolate chips - Semi-sweet chocolate chips bring the cookies' classic chocolate element.

  • Butterscotch chips - Found right alongside chocolate chips in the grocery story baking aisle, butterscotch chips bring amazing flavor to the cookies. The pairing of butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and coconut truly create 7-Layer Cookies' signature flavor.

  • Sweetened condensed milk - Serves as the "magic" element of Magic Cookies, binding the seven layers together as they bake.

  • Pecans - A sprinkling of chopped pecans finish off the layers of these classic little cookies.

7-Layer Cookie Ingredients Image

How to Make 7-Layer Magic Cookies:

7-Layer Magic Cookies are truly super easy to make. It simply entails melting some butter in a baking dish, sprinkling layers of ingredients in on top of that butter, and pouring on a can of sweetened condensed milk to do its "magic" as the cookies bake.

To get a pan of these delicious little beauties started, cut a stick of butter into a few chunks and place them in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven (that's preheated to bake the cookies) until the butter is melted in the bottom of the dish.

Take the pan out of the oven and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over the melted butter. Then press them down slightly with a fork to moisten crumbs. This creates the graham cracker crust of the magic cookies.

Graham Cracker Crumb Layer in Baking Dish Image

On top of the butter and graham cracker crumb layers, sprinkle on layers of coconut, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, sprinkling each ingredient evenly over the previous layer.

7-Layer Cookie Ingredient Layers in Baking Dish Image

Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top, using the entire 14-ounce can.

Pouring Sweetened Condensed Milk to Make 7-Layer Magic Cookies Image

Sprinkle on some chopped pecans as the cookies' 7th layer, then pop the pan in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. While the 7-Layer Cookies bake, the sweetened condensed milk works its "magic" to adhere the seven layers together into their classic cookie deliciousness.

Cool the baked cookies completely, and then cut into small squares to enjoy. 

Believe me, once you cut into 7-Layer Magic Cookies, their layered awesomeness is revealed!  And loaded up with the combination of coconut, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, layered awesomeness it truly is.

7 Layer Cookies Cut to Show Each Layer Image

Check out these other classic cookie favorites:

Stack of Magic Cookies Image
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

7 layer cookies, 7 layer magic cookies, Christmas cookies, magic cookies, magic cookies recipe
Cookies & Bars
American
Yield: about 24-30 cookies
7-Layer Cookies (aka: Magic Cookies)

7-Layer Cookies (aka: Magic Cookies)

Seven ingredients layered together in a pan come together to make amazingly delicious (and amazingly easy!) 7-Layer Cookies. There's just no way to go wrong when chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and pecans bake up to create this classic favorite.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 32 MinTotal time: 42 Min

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c. unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 c. flaked coconut
  • 1 c. (6 oz.) chocolate chips
  • 1 c. (6 oz.) butterscotch chips
  • 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (fat free works just fine)
  • 1 c. chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325℉.
  2. Lightly spray a 9x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cut butter into a few chunks and put it into the baking dish. Place in preheated oven for about 2 minutes until butter is melted in the bottom of the dish.
  3. Remove baking dish from oven. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over melted butter. Press down slightly with a fork to moisten crumbs.
  4. Sprinkle on layers of coconut, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, sprinkling each ingredient evenly over the previous layer. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top. Sprinkle on pecans.
  5. Bake at 325℉ for 30 minutes.
  6. Let cool completely in the baking dish. Cut into small squares.
Did you make this recipe?
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7-Layer Magic Cookies ~ Seven simple ingredients layered in a pan come together to make this amazingly delicious (and amazingly easy!) classic favorite.  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.

40 comments

  1. these are my favorite things in the world, so much so that they were made on my birthday(in May!) It just now occurred to me that maybe they became my favorite b/c they were made so often, and they were probably made so often b/c they are so fast and easy for my busy Mom! Whatever the reason, I loved seeing them on your blog! Merry July!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your memory of these cookies! They are indeed delicious, aren't they? And, yes ... super fast and easy to whip up!

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  2. I have never made these...how can that be?
    Mom

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    Replies
    1. Well, Mom ... you'll just have to fix that. They're in the family cookbook!

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  3. Oh my goodness! These are a true tradition in our family, too! We've always poured the condensed milk over all of the layers. It's so good either way! Thanks for sharing and givng me some delicious(!!) nostagia!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  4. These are, hands down, some of my favs! I can see why they'd all mysteriously disappear before Christmas!

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  5. This is utterly delicious. I must make it soon. Thanks for the recipe. keep posting..:)

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  6. 7 layer bars are awesome!!! I am to blame for most our ours disappearing at Christmas too:-)

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  7. Hi Tracey,
    These are just awesome cookies, I am making them for my grandchildren that are coming to visit soon. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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    Replies
    1. Oh, your grandchildren will love them, Miz Helen! Have a wonderful time with them.

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  8. I love bar desserts. This one has it all!! I'd love to have you link this up to Tasty Thursdays on The Mandatory Mooch. It's a new linky party starting today. Hope to see you there. Thanks, Nichi
    http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/07/tasty-thursdays-1.html

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  9. Oh my gosh. These look like heaven on a plate. Can't wait to try them! P.S. I am officially your newest follower. Yay for being blog friends! :)

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    Replies
    1. Heaven on a plate is a great descriptions! Thanks for following ... welcome to The Playground!

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  10. These are divine! My mom makes them with Ritz crackers instead of graham crumbs, that gives them a little salty/sweet edge. I know how you love to try different versions! Hope you can try the Connie-version sometime! Xoxo

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  11. Those look wonderful! Yummm!!

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  12. Oh lalala!...man-o-man this is tooo scrumptious,I want some right now,anything with chocolate...I'm new follower!

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  13. CONGRATULATIONS your recipe has been chosen to be on Today's Feature Post from Cast Party Wednesday! Thank You for sharing your recipe with us! ---Sheryl @ Lady Behind The Curtain---
    http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=32286

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  14. Oh I love these layered cookies! This is such an easy recipe! My kind of sweet! Thank you for being such a great blogging buddy and giving me such a nice shout-out!
    Thanks for bringing this sweet treat to ON THE MENU MONDAY!

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  15. oooh I love Christmas in July!!! But I REALLY love these bars! Look at those chocolate chips, oh be still my heart.

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    Replies
    1. And the butterscotch chips aren't too shabby, either. Hee, hee.

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  16. They're making my mouth water. I love those bars!

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  17. Another great recipe! So excited to let you know that I'm featuring your recipe today! Pop on over! http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/2012/08/scrumptious-sunday-22-features.html

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  18. I love these-- we call them 'magic cookie bars'. Soooo good! Thanks for linking up at Pin It Thursday!

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  19. Decadent! I'll have to put these on my list for the holidays! thanks for sharing.

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  20. These are my FAVORITE Christmas cookies! :)

    http://eventfulexistence.wordpress.com/

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  21. Who doesn't like these? You make them look better than ever!

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  22. Your 7 Layer Cookies look wonderful! I remember a similar recipe from when I was growing up and they really are delicious - I also love how easy they are to make! Thank you for sharing with us at Hearth and Soul.

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  23. I am not a fan of butterscotch chips, but I made a layered cookie bar that was similar to this (without the butterscotch chips) years ago and cannot find the recipe. what would you think about making this a 6 layer bar?

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  24. Congratulations your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Thanks so much for sharing it with us and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

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  25. Hi Tracey - These look delicious and I'm adding them to my cookie basket delivery to all of our friends this year. I'm got so much to make the next 4 weeks I have to time it all out exactly. So...how well do these freeze? I need to get as many in the freezer as early as possible to leave the non-freezing kind until the very last week.

    I'm adding a few of your other recipes to my baskets this year too. The Pound Cake Cookies (already done and frozen) were AWESEOME! Including the 7 Layer Cookies, how well do the Gingerbread Magic Cookies and Turtle Cookies freeze up? Are they best left to the last minute or can I get these out of the way early? Thanksgiving officially ends in 1 hour 47 minutes and it's Christmas Baking Season. YAY!!!!!

    Thanks and Happy Baking Season To You!
    Jess

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Jess! Happy baking season to you, too! These 7 Layer Cookies freeze beautifully, so you're good to go to make them pretty much as far in advance as you'd like. Gingerbread Magic Cookies freeze just fine, as well. I would save the Turtle Cookies 'til last minute and not freeze those if at all possible. If you do have to freeze them, freeze just the chocolate cookie part, and add the caramel after thawing.
      Enjoy the season!!

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  26. These lol great but I’m not a big fan of butterscotch chips is there another kind of chips anyone could recommend that they think will be good. Maybe white chips or salted caramel? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated .

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  27. Yum! I haven't had these in years!!

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  28. Printed and pinned - OMG These look amazing!!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! I hope your week is going fantastic!

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