7 Layer Bars Without Graham Crackers

7 Layer Bars Without Graham Crackers

These 7 layer bars use a crunchy Chocolate Chex crust instead of graham crackers, so they're gluten free. Toasted cashews, butterscotch, chocolate, and coconut bake over sweetened condensed milk in a 9x13 pan.

4.34 from 6 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 30

Cooling Time: 1

Total Time: 1 35

Servings: bars

Calories: 228kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups Chocolate Chex crushed into small chunks (1 1/2 cups after)
1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
3/4 cup cashews toasted and chopped
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups unsweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

Toast the cashews in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, shaking the pan constantly, until fragrant and light golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Move them to a plate immediately so they don't burn. Let cool, then chop.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add butter to a 9x13 pan and place it in the oven for about 5 minutes while it preheats.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
While the butter melts, pulse the cereal in a food processor 20 times, or crush it in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin, until you have small chunks but not crumbs. Open the sweetened condensed milk and set aside.
2 1/2 cups Chocolate Chex
Once the butter melts, remove the pan from the oven. Spread the cereal over the butter in an even layer and press it into the butter to form the crust.
Pour sweetened condensed milk over crust layer evenly.
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Sprinkle the cashews over the top, then the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. Finish with the coconut.
3/4 cup cashews, 3/4 cup butterscotch chips, 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips, 1 1/4 cups unsweetened flaked coconut
Bake for 20-25 minutes until coconut is toasted and golden brown.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan, at least one hour. Run an offset spatula around the edges, then cut into 24 bars with a bench scraper.
Store in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to three days, or wrap tightly and freeze for up to two months. Do not refrigerate.

Equipment

Non-Stick 9 x 13-Inch Pan

Rolling Pin

Bench Scraper Multi-tool

Notes

Toast the cashews up to 2 days ahead and store them in a tightly sealed container on the counter.
Use a mix of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and semisweet chips for the best flavor.
No butterscotch chips? Use the same amount of extra chocolate chips, or try white chocolate or peanut butter chips.
For more tips and tricks, be sure to read the full article above.

Nutrition

This site uses an online source to provide nutrition estimates as a courtesy. If you need exact values, please calculate yourself.