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!
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!
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.
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Recipe
Potato Chip-Crusted 7 Layer Magic Bars
- 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
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 9x13 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
7 Layer Pumpkin Butter Bars
Chocolate Peanut Layer Bars
Sippity Sup says
No I would not use th word cringe! GREG
Abbe Odenwalder says
And what would you use?
Balvinder Ubi says
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 says
It was a good twist!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
These magic bars look so wonderful and so full awesome colors too. Addition of smoked almonds in these sounds incredibly yummy!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Quite a change from the traditional! But a yummy one!
Kelly Stevens says
I'm a sucker for anything sweet and salty. These look and sound amazing!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Kelly! They went down easy!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
What a great combination of flavors! Love the addition of smoked almonds in these and potato chips too? Awesome!
Abbe Odenwalder says
When you got the munchies, this has it all!
Juliana says
So interesting these magic bars...and I am sure I would love a couple of them..especially because has some salty layers mixed with sweet ones...
Have a wonderful week Abbe 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
A good mix, eh Juliana?
Karly says
Potato chips and chocolate and candy. HOW could you go wrong!?!?! These look too darn good!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Karly! I gave them away becaue they are too darn good!
Tricia Buice says
I haven't made these in years! But I've never made them with candy corn and potato chips - what a fun combination.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It was a great combo! And the smoky almonds work well, too!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Good grief those look good. Pinning.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Always love it when someone tells me something looks good! Thank Lea Ann!
Liz Berg says
I love 7 layer bars and now I have an excuse to make a new variation!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Liz, do you eed an excuse? Love all the varieties though!
Chris Scheuer says
Happy Halloween, these bars sounds so fun. Love sweet and salty!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Chris! Bet you had fun with all your grandkids!
Kitchen Riffs says
Happy Halloween! We only eat a bag of candy corn a year, but always enjoy it. Next year I'll have to get two bags -- one to eat, and one to use to top this! Fun stuff -- neat way to use potato chips. Thanks!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Never can have to much candy corn, John!
Cheri Savory Spoon says
Happy Halloween Abbe, love how you put your own stamp on these bars. The candy corn looks so festive, (I'm a closet candy corn person myself). Great review, I love that cookbook!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Candy corn always looks pretty right? Tough I'm not sure about the Xmas colors! Good cookbook; I agree!
La Table De Nana says
I bet the salty /sweet is delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
You got that right!