Animal Cracker Seven Layer Bars is a recipe I came up with years ago when I needed to use up some condensed milk, but didn't have the graham crackers for the traditional version of Seven Layer Bars. I haven't made them in a while, but the recipe has become pretty popular here on Cookie Madness. It's also a good excuse to treat yourself to a box or two (or a bag) of Barnum's Animal Crackers. Hide them from the kids!
I'm looking at the photo and thinking it needs an update. Or am I just looking for an excuse to buy some Barnum's?
Tip: To cut them neatly, chill them or freeze them then cut with a chef’s knife.
Animal Cracker Seven Layer Bars
1 ¾ cups animal cracker crumbs (or just use graham crackers)
8 tablespoons butter, melted
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup butterscotch chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
⅔ cup white chips
1 cup pecans, chopped
½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
1 (14 oz) can condensed milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. If using a glass pan, use 325 degrees F. I like to use a 13x9 inch metal pan lined with foil or parchment. If using foil, it’s a good idea to grease the sides.
Mix together crumbs and melted butter; press into bottom of pan.
Mix all the chips, coconut and nuts together in another bowl and sprinkle all but about ½ cup of the mixture over the crust. Drizzle the condensed milk over top. Sprinkle remaining chip mixture over top and press down firmly with back of a greased spatula or a sheet of parchment.
Bake on center rack for about 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Lift from pan, trim edges, and cut into bars. Makes about 32 bars
Lily says
I'm going to try these! And uh, it will have many substiutes!
Jenney Marie says
I am sooooo excited to try this out! I was eating some Barnum Animal Crackers today and desided to look up recipes using them. I was thinking of how good they would be as a cust or something. (Side note: I use Nilla Wafer crust for pumpkin pie- it is AMAZING!!!!) I found your site and this recipe, I will be making these soon!!!! lol. Thanks so much. I love the site and look forward to finding more recipes.
Jasmine says
I made these yesterday with my extra box of animal crackers! i was a bit short so i added corn flakes too..turned out GREAT. i didn't have the nuts either but they were amazing! the 2nd day especially..unfortunitly very few make it to the 2nd day : )
janet says
I'm sold....I bought animal crackers to make these this next week! They look soooo good. Thanks, Anna!
Anna says
That's so funny that CI used animal crackers in the crust. Had I known that, I wouldn't have crossed my fingers when I put the bars in the oven! In the end, the crust was almost better than graham crackers.
hulagirl247 says
hi anna!
you must have received a psychic message from me last night - i made my version of these (mine are slightly different than yours) and wondered if they would ever make the cookie madness post of the day!
i'm at work so i can't give you the differences measurement-wise between your recipe & mine - but my end result looks twice as thick as yours.
glad to see this old stand-by made the hit parade!
have a terriffic weekend!
~hula~
Jen says
Jessica - Cooks Illustrated had a recipe a few years back for key lime bars that used animal crackers in the crust. They were great! These look good, too, but I can never keep animal crackers around long enough to use them in baked goods. I think they are my favorite cookie!
Jessica says
What a fun idea! I wonder what other cookies/ pies one could incorporate animal crackers into...
KAnn says
Oh, 7 Layer Bars are so good, aren't they?! I have mixed a little cinnamon in the crust which is good, too.
C L says
Love this idea! Animal crackers would probably make the bars a teeny bit less sweet but oh so delicious. 🙂 Must put these on my "must make" list (which is getting longer every day). LOL 😉
Emily says
Gah! I saw huge bags of animal crackers at the dollar store today and didn't buy any! I'm so mad at myself. These look great.
Steph says
OMG!! Those look very yummy and addicting!
JohnGL says
Anna, these are worth the animal (cookie) sacrifice! I,too, am drooling.
HeartofGlass says
ATK did a lemon cheesecake with an animal cracker crust, but this looks even better--I loved animal crackers as a kid. I probably couldn't bear to break them all up if I made these and would have to leave some of them whole.
Lifting lions will keep your bones strong!
Shoshana says
I love the addition of peanut butter chips! It makes them even more decadent with very little work!
Emily L. says
wouldn't it be cool if you cut them into animal shapes! Next time.
Denise says
What a great way to use animal crackers up. They look yummy
janet says
How cool to use animal crackers in lieu of grahams! Thank you, they look delicious...I could eat them right off the screen;-)
Kerstin says
7 layer bars are the best! I like your animal cracker crust too 🙂
Kay says
I oughta try that sometime! Usually around my house, it's more like I'd get in the mood for these bars, be out of graham crackers, stare in the cupboards for a substitute, and find the animal crackers, instead of deciding to do it on purpose. 😉 Anyway, I love 7-layer bars! Gotta make them again soon!
snooky doodle says
oh I m drooling!
dawn says
I love 7-layer bars and 7-layer dip.
I must try this recipe using the animal crackers
Mrs. L says
I love that these were made with Animal Crackers. I'd of course have to buy double the amount because I couldn't use the ones that weren't "full" animals...those broken ones would have to get eaten so they didn't go to waste.
Katrina says
Fun yumminess!
VeggieGirl says
Love the use of the animal crackers!!
Patti says
Hey it says right on the package "good source of calcium" so no worries, right?
Louise says
Your 7 Layer Bars look good. The ones I usually see here have a goopy layer of condensed milk that puts me off.
Claire says
Wow...these are 7-layer bars "kicked up a notch!" I'm going to have to try them...with all the different flavors of chips they sound amazing!