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    Home » Desserts » Cookies, Bars & Brownies » Peanut Butter Pretzel 7-Layer Magic Bars

    Peanut Butter Pretzel 7-Layer Magic Bars

    Sep 10, 2015 · by Valentina · 6 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These Peanut Butter 7-Layer Magic Bars have endless layers of deliciousness composed of sweet butterscotch, chocolate, peanut butter, salty pretzels and coconut. They're 100% satisfying for anyone's sweet tooth!

    Three seven layer pretzel bars in a stack with parchment paper between each one.

    I once had a magic bar, also called a 7-layer bar, at a local café I'll never forget.

    As I ate the outrageously decadent dessert, I could not stop thinking about employing all of the ingredients -- and a couple more -- in my own baking pan.

    This version of 7-layer bars includes a handful of sweet and salty ingredients, that together make for one incredible dessert.

    The Ingredients

    • pretzels - Any shape works, just as long and they're not oversized.
    • unsweetened butter
    • peanut butter - Be sure to get salted peanut butter. It can be smooth or chunky.
    • sweetened condensed milk
    • milk chocolate chips
    • butterscotch chips
    • peanut butter chips
    • sweetened shredded coconut
    • pecans - If you can get pecan pieces, it'll save you a couple of minutes.

    (See recipe card below for quantities.)

    Substitutions

    • The pretzels are fun because they're not as commonly used as graham crackers, and they add the salty quality. That said, of course you can make a graham cracker crust if you'd prefer. The measurements of butter and crumbs are the same, but add a few tablespoons of sugar.
    • To save time you can buy graham cracker crumbs and substitute the pretzels with them.
    • Gluten-free? Use gluten-free pretzels or gluten-free graham crackers.
    • If you're not into coconut, skip it. It doesn't need a substitute.
    • Use semisweet chocolate chips if you prefer them to milk.
    Peanut Butter Pretzel Seven Layer Magic bars

    Recipe Tips

    • Since they're very rich and sweet, they're best cut into small squares, as all you'll need is one or two bites.
    • It's really helpful to shape the pretzel crust by pressing down on it with a flat-bottomed metal spatula.
    • My best advice for the magic 7-layer bars is not to fret too much over the order of things or how neat it is. The truth is, now matter how you layer these ingredients, they will still be magical.

    How to Make Them

    - Add the pretzels to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and blend until they’re fine crumbs. Pour this into a large mixing bowl and mix in the melted butter. Press this into a parchment-lined, 9 x 9-inch baking pan. (It helps to use a flat-bottomed metal spatula.)

    Pretzel crumbs pressed into a square baking pan to form a crust.

    - Drizzle the crust evenly with sweetened condensed milk. Then sprinkle evenly with pecans and coconut.

    Coconut and pecan pieces in a parchment paper-lined square baking pan.

    - Add the peanut butter and semisweet chocolate to a small sauce pan and place it over low-medium heat. Heat just to melt the chocolate, and then mix. Now drizzle this on top of the coconut and pecans, and spread it evenly.

    Chocolate filling a parchment paper-lined square baking pan.

    - Sprinkle evenly with more pecans and coconut.

    Chocolate coconut and pecan pieces in a parchment paper-lined square baking pan.

    - Combine chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and butterscotch chips with more sweetened condensed milk, coconut and pecans. Pour all of this on top and spread it evenly.

    - Place in a 375°F oven just until the top is golden, about 20 minutes

    Peanut Butter Pretzel Seven Layer Magic bars

    - Let it cool completely, at least for 1 hour, before lifting it out of the pan with the parchment paper. Slice into approximately 20 evenly sized pieces.

    Peanut Butter Pretzel Seven Layer Magic bars

    (More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

    More Peanut Butter Deliciousness

    • Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Meringue Pie Recipe
    • Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

    Making Them Ahead and Storing Them

    • Room temperature. You can store your Magic Bars at room temperature in an airtight container for about 3 days.
    • Refrigerator. The bars will keep well in the refrigerator for about a week.
    • Freezer. These will freeze really well in an airtight container or freezer bag for about 6 months.

    I hope you love my 7-layer magic bars with pretzels and peanut butter.

    Peanut Butter Pretzel Seven Layer bars in a stack with parchment paper

    Peanut Butter 7-Layer Magic Bars Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    These Peanut Butter 7-Layer Magic Bars have endless layers of deliciousness composed of sweet butterscotch, chocolate, peanut butter, salty pretzels and coconut. They're 100% satisfying for anyone's sweet tooth!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20 bars
    Calories 300 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9 x 9 inch baking pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups pretzels (see notes)
    • ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
    • ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, divided
    • 1 cup pecan pieces, divided
    • 1¼ sweetened coconut flakes, divided
    • ½ cup creamy salted peanut butter
    • ½ cup finely chopped semisweet chocolate
    • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
    • 1 cup peanut butter chips
    • 1 cup butterscotch chips

    Instructions
     

    • Set the oven and prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a square (approximately 9 X 9-inch) baking pan with parchment paper. (Use a large piece that will cover the sides and cut slits in each corner so that it will lay flat.)
    • Make the crust. Add the pretzels to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and blend until you have a mostly smooth powder. Pour this into a large mixing bowl and mix in the melted butter. Now press this into the parchment-lined baking pan. (It helps to flatten it out with a flat-bottomed metal spatula.)

    The layering process

    • Drizzle the crust evenly with 3 tablespoons of the sweetened condensed milk, then use a small flat-bottomed spatula to carefully spread it out. Sprinkle evenly with ½ cup of the pecans and ½ cup of the coconut.
    • Add the peanut butter and semisweet chocolate to a small sauce pan and place it over low-medium heat. Heat just to melt the chocolate, and then gently mix the two together. Drizzle this evenly on top of the coconut and pecans, and then gently spread it out.
    • Now sprinkle evenly with ¼ cup of the pecans and ¼ cup of the coconut.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and butterscotch chips with the remaining ¼ cup of the sweetened condensed milk, remaining ½ cup of the coconut and remaining ¼ cup of pecans . Pour this over the last layer and then use your hands or a spoon to move it around so that it's as even as possible.
    • Place in the preheated 375°F oven just until the top (mostly along the edges) is golden, about 20 minutes.
    • Let them cool completely in the pan, at least for 1 hour. Then gently lift it out of the pan, carefully holding the edges of the parchment paper. Lift it onto a cutting board and then slice into approximately 20 evenly sized pieces.

    NOTES

    Nutritional information is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 222mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 257IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keywords dessert bars, dessert bar recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David

      September 12, 2015 at 5:06 pm

      Okay, I'll bite. Literally. I want to bite into these now. xo

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 12, 2015 at 8:59 pm

        Sorry David, my son just ate the last one. 😉 xo

        Reply
    2. Deb|EastofEdenCooking

      September 12, 2015 at 5:15 pm

      Oh my goodness! My mom made these decadent bars with gusto and abandon! I suppose that's why I have no fear of desserts... This version with pretzels sounds divine!

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 12, 2015 at 9:03 pm

        I think I would have liked your mom! 🙂 We should all bake that way. xo

        Reply
    3. Sippitysup

      September 15, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      This is indeed wild and crazy. I love your experimental nature too. GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 15, 2015 at 10:37 pm

        Experimental it is. 😉 Thanks, Greg.

        Reply

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