25 Bar Cookie Recipes That Are Perfect for Bake Sales, Potlucks, or Just Because

These coconut chocolate bars are an irresistible bar cookie inspired by a popular Southern dessert known as Hello Dollies, magic cookies, or seven-layer bars. They’re egg-free and packed with sweet ingredients.

A cookie crust made with graham crackers, sugar, and butter forms the base for a generous sprinkling of pecans and chocolate chips. The toppings get doused in sweetened condensed milk, followed by a dusting of shredded coconut. The mixture takes a quick turn in the oven, which transforms it into an ooey-gooey, rich, and decadent treat. For even more chocolate flavor, use chocolate wafers for the cookie crust.

Key Ingredients

Our coconut chocolate bars are an easy spin on Hello Dollies. They have a couple of key ingredients:

Sweetened Condensed Milk: The bars are egg-free so sweetened condensed milk acts as a binder as well as bringing a deliciously rich and sweet creamy flavor. Do not substitute evaporated milk, as it is not sweetened and has a different consistency. The two products are usually sold next to each other in stores but are not interchangeable.

Sweetened Flaked Coconut: Sweetened flaked coconut is sold in the baking aisle. It has a soft, chewy texture and keeps the bars chewy and moist. It’s grated, dried coconut meat that is soaked in a liquid sugar to make it super sweet. Do not use unsweetened coconut for these bars.