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Potato Chip-Crusted 7 Layer Magic Bars

7 Layer Bars with a potato chip crust is a great twist on classic hello dolly bars. Perfect for adult with added smoked almonds, but kids devour them fast!
Potato Chip Crust Layer Bars

Halloween has arrived and I’m trying quickly to make sure this posts. As you can see my candy corns dutifully melted and yes, I do believe the rumurs are correct that they contain a waxy substance. In any case, I do admit to being a fond lover of candy corn, waxy or not. And yes, this recipe can easily be made without it and probably would be better off!

As part of Blogging for Books, I received the book, ” Modern Potluck” by Kristin Donnelly. It is an array of fun, more hip versions of food designed for modern potlucks. Unlike recipes of my era that often contained ingredients from cans and other processed goods, this is a book for my kid’s generation and yes mine too, and yes again, we will all probably be better off for it. In fact, Kristin would probably cringe in horror at my addition of candy corn to her layer bars. Well, it is Halloween so I guess cringing is in order!

Potato Chip Crust Layer Bars

These layer bars, compared to the original version, are less sweet, which is what the author intended. I’ll let you be the judge when you make them to see which you prefer. Her addition of a potato chip crust and smoked almonds, plus coconut chips rather than sweetened shreds, certainly turns these into a more adult version of 7 layer bars, though I am sure  no kid would turn up their nose at these. What a creative use of ingredients she has put together!

Lest you think you won’t find recipes for things like three bean salads and potato salads, well guess again! There are potato salads for each season and the bean salad contains a wide array of fresh and dried beans, plus fresh herbs and such. Potlucks can be so challenging these days with having to worry about dietary challenges and pressures to make stand out dishes due to Instagram, and even issues like sustainability deserve thought. Kristin wrote this book with those things in mind. This book filled with fool-proof modern recipes and gorgeous photos would be a great addition to any one’s cookbook library.

Layer Bars with Candy Corn

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Hello Dolly Bars
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Magic Layer Bars

Potato Chip-Crusted 7 Layer Magic Bars

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  • Author: Abbe Odenwalder
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 30-40 Minutes
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 1 13 x 9 pan 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Food Processor
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These adult 7 layer bars have a potato chip crust. Add in some smoked almonds and see what these are irresistible!


Ingredients

Scale

1 10 oz bag plain salted potato chips, not thick cut

3 T all purpose flour or rice flour

4 T unsalted butter, melted

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c large unsweetened coconut flakes

1 c salted, smoked almonds or your choice, roughly chopped

1 c candy corn (optional)


Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350. Butter a 9×13 pan, preferably metal, and line with parchment paper so it overhangs on the long sides of the pan.

In a food processor, pulse the potato chips with the flour until they resemble coarse bread crumbs. Pour in the butter and pulse until the chips are evenly moist and finely chopped. Press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crust and tip the pan so it forms an even layer. Scatter the chips, coconut and nuts on top and use a fork to press ingredients into the condensed milk.

Bake for about 30 minutes, then top with the candy corn, pressing it in, if using. Bake another 5 minutes or so until the coconut is toasted and the condensed milk is lightly browned at the edges. (If you are using candy corn and overbake it the candy corn will spread into a molten mess!) Let cool on a rack.

When pan is cool, lift out the parchment paper by the sides and cut into bars. Enjoy!


Notes

Thanks Modern Potluck!

More  7 Layer Bars:

 Original Magic Layer Bars   

Classic Magic Layer Bars 

7 Layer Pumpkin Butter Bars   

MagicLayer Pumpkin Butter Bars

 

Chocolate Peanut Layer Bars

Chocolate Peanut Layer Bars

           

 

 

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Sippity Sup

Friday 4th of November 2016

No I would not use th word cringe! GREG

Abbe Odenwalder

Monday 7th of November 2016

And what would you use?

Balvinder Ubi

Friday 4th of November 2016

Sounds good! The potato chips are a nice twist. Good idea to place the candy corns at the end so they look prettier. :)

Abbe Odenwalder

Monday 7th of November 2016

It was a good twist!

Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

Thursday 3rd of November 2016

These magic bars look so wonderful and so full awesome colors too. Addition of smoked almonds in these sounds incredibly yummy!

Abbe Odenwalder

Monday 7th of November 2016

Quite a change from the traditional! But a yummy one!

Kelly Stevens

Wednesday 2nd of November 2016

I'm a sucker for anything sweet and salty. These look and sound amazing!

Abbe Odenwalder

Monday 7th of November 2016

Thanks Kelly! They went down easy!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen

Tuesday 1st of November 2016

What a great combination of flavors! Love the addition of smoked almonds in these and potato chips too? Awesome!

Abbe Odenwalder

Monday 7th of November 2016

When you got the munchies, this has it all!