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Seven Layer Bars with Gingerbread Crust

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IN THIS POST

A fun take on a classic holiday cookie recipe, these seven layer bars are perfect for you next holiday cookie board!

My sister, Kara, is going to kill me. I just know it. So hopefully, she reads this post after I talk to her and before she realizes what I have done. Kara is obsessed with seven layer bars. They are her all time favorite Christmas “cookie,” and I definitely forget to send a batch with her Christmas care package. Don’t worry Kara, I will be sure to send a belated care package with the best batch of seven layer bars I have ever come up with. Seriously, these are the best seven layer bars EVER. This time around, I decided to layer a gingerbread crust. They are literally bars of crack, which is why I had to get them up as a post before Christmas hit. I know, I’m cutting it pretty close as it is Christmas Eve. Hey, if you are looking for some last minute inspiration, then these are for you. They are incredibly simple. We paired these bars with one of my favorite ales of all time, so read ahead for the recipe!

Recipe Fun Facts:

This recipe is pretty straight forward, and your options are limitless on what you can layer. I go with my favorite toppings: butterscotch, white chocolate, dark chocolate, coconut, and nuts galore. You can add and subtract where you see fit. The condensed milk is pretty much mandatory, unless you have a good substitution. You really can’t have a seven layer bar without the stuff.

Be sure to par cook your cookie crust. This is an important step and will only take about 5 minutes out of your time. Also, please be sure you let the bars chill after you bake them. It will make your lives a whole lot easier when you go to slice them up.

Seven Layer Bars with Gingerbread Crust

Servings:

18 cookies

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 42 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup softened unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 16 oz sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a buttered 9x13inch baking dish with parchment paper (leaving enough overhang so that it''s easy to pull out later). Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, with paddle attachment fixed, cream together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add each egg, one at a time, until incorporated. Now add the vanilla extract and molasses and mix again until combined, about 30 seconds.
  • Very slowly, with the mixer running on low, add the dry ingredients into the wet until all has been added and a soft cookie dough forms. Pour the dough into the prepared baking dish and smooth it over with a rubber spatula. Bake the gingerbread crust for 5 minutes then remove from oven. Set aside.
  • Layer the butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and walnuts on top of the partially cooked crust. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the 6 layers. Top with more chips if you wish. Cover the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, removing the cover half way through cooking.
  • Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature for at least an hour, then cover and place in the fridge for another hour or two or until the top is set (I let mine sit overnight in the fridge). Cut into bars and store covered at room temperature, or for best results, store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

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Justine

Justine

I’m the voice, author, creator, and photographer behind Cooking and Beer. We started things about 10 years ago and Cooking and Beer has morphed and grown into what it is today: providing hundreds of recipes to thousands of people.

8 Responses

  1. Love the gingerbread twist in this recipe. Yummmm! In the ingredients list it says 4tsp. ground ginger. Is that right? Ginger is a pretty strong spice. Thanks for posting Justine. Merry Christmas!!

    1. Thank you Wendy! Haha, yeah that’s the right amount. It is a lot, but I’m a ginger freak. Feel fry to tone it tone a teaspoon or two ;). I hope you had a great Christmas and have an incredible New Year!

      1. Thank you Justine! I’ve just never heard of using that much ginger in a recipe. I’m loving your blog and the vast array of goodies that you have posted! God Bless and Happy New Year to you!!

  2. Where is the recipe?
    I see the ingredients, the anecdotes, a picture or two, but NO recipe!
    I’ve made these before (saved in my Pinterest) but looking at it now, there’s no directions!

    Help, these are my favorite!

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Hello! I'm Justine.

I’m a blogger and web developer from the beautiful state of Oklahoma, where my loving husband, two adorable kids, and two mischievous dogs keep me on my toes 24/7. My idea of heaven includes endless summer days, getting lost in a good book, and whipping up some delicious homemade bread.

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