The Original Hello Dolly Cookie Bars {Granny's Recipe}

Hello Dolly Cookie Bars are one of my all time favorites at Christmas. I remember my Mother would make these at Christmas time just before I got married in 1972. She gave me a cookbook "What's Cookin'? at Pine Tree School" compiled by Pine Tree Classroom Teachers Association. This cookbook had the recipe in it along with other recipes that you would call somewhat of classics today, which I consider Hello Dolly Cookies to be. Though the original recipe was called Hello Dolly Cookies, there was another name used sometimes which was called “Magic Cookie Bar“. The name was different, but the recipe was the same.What makes this cookie an original is that the recipe is only made with graham cracker crumbs, semi-sweet chocolate, coconut, pecans, and sweetened condensed milk. Recipes that have followed through out the years have change with adding walnuts, white chocolates, butterscotch chips, and etc..

I have kept the tradition going on in my family today. Some time around a week before Christmas I will begin to bake cookies for Christmas. You could say I have made "tons" of these cookies since 1972. It is not at all unusual for me to bake several batches of Hello Dolly Cookies through out the holidays. In fact, there is one member of the family who considers Hello Dolly Cookies to be his favorite cookie in the whole world, so his wife or I will make sure some are made for him to satisfy his taste for the saltiness of the crust and the sweetness of the condensed milk mixed with richness of the chocolate.

The Original Hello Dolly Cookies

1 stick butter
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 325 degrees F if you're using a glass baking dish. Melt butter in a small bowl in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Combine graham crackers with the melted butter and place in an 9" x 12" baking dish, patting the crumb mixture down evenly with your hands. Layer the chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts on top of the graham cracker mix. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is light brown. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

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