7 Layer Cookie Bars

One of my closest friends sent me a message a few days ago asking me about this 'cake' that had layers of biscuits, chocolate chips, nuts, dessicated coconut and condensed milk, and if I could make it for her.

 

Straight away, I knew that this 'cake' she was referring to was actually called a cookie (I don't really understand why, I mean you know when a cookie's a cookie and this is not a cookie), the 7 layer cookie. I knew this because a few months ago my American friend had made a batch for us. I had never heard of them before (not sure if its an American thing?), and I could not stop eating them.

And here, we're all about the cravings (what? the blog name didn't give it away?). So when my dear friend was craving these cookies, I searched for a recipe that used the word 'bars' in them - because I feel silly calling them cookies - and off to the kitchen I went. 5 minutes of manual work, and 25 minutes of waiting work later, my cookie bars were done. Just like that. And you might just win nicest friend of the year award, you know, for all your hard work.

7 Layer Cookie Bars

Adapted from Allrecipes.com 

120 grams unsalted butter, melted.

400 grams digestive biscuits

1 (397 grams) can condensed milk

A pinch of sea salt (optional)*

150 grams dark chocolate chips

150 grams butterscotch chips

100 grams chopped walnut

100 grams dessicated coconut

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Prepare a 9x13 inch pan by covering with foil and greasing the foil. Set aside.

Put the biscuits in a food processor and process until fine crumbs. Mix together with the melted butter until evenly distributed, then press into the pan. Pour the condensed milk over the pressed biscuit crumbs, and sprinkle a little sea salt on top. Layer the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts and coconut. Put in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let it cool completely, then cut into pieces (I sped up the process a bit by placing it in the freezer for 20 minutes).

*I added some sea salt because I like the contrast of sweet and a little salty and thought it would work well here. And it did. I kept having more and more just to get a bite with a little salt.