When I was a child I loved musicals. We’d go see stage productions in San Francisco when visiting my Grandparents during the holidays. I loved getting dressed up and seeing all the ‘fancy’ people who also were in attendance.
I especially loved musical movies. Being a child Mary Poppins was probably one of my oldest memories. I think everyone can picture Julie Andrews with her feet neatly in a wedge position floating into the sky with her parasol. Sound of Music; loved it. Knew all the songs and actually ended up working as an adult with a decendent sdent of the actual Von Trapp family with fascinating stories to be told.
When I was older I developed a bit of a thing for Barbara Streisand musicals. Funny Girl? Made when movies still used grand sets and opulent propping as the backdrop for the story and songs. More than anything I loved, loved, loved Hello Dolly. ‘HellO, Dolly, Hello Dolly; it’s so nice to have you back where you belong’ (that from memory not internet surfing for lyrics). I loved Dolly’s character; her gregarious presence, her fast talking wit and all the costumes. As an adult I bought the movies on VHS and from time to time, often around the holidays, would pop them in the VCR for a flashback.
Have you ever heard of Hello Dolly bars? They don’t seem to be that common but are really a close relative of the 7 Layer Bar or Magic Bars; a graham cracker crust layered with chocolate, coconut, nuts and sweetened condensed milk. The history of the bars is a bit fuzzy. During the mid-1960’s when the play Hello Dolly was on Broadway, a food journalist who wrote a weekly newspaper column featured a ‘Hello Dolly Cake’ created by an 11 year old girl. It supposedly contained similar ingredients to the now well-loved bars.
An evening news program also featured a recipe for ‘Hello Dolly Cookies’ which could have been the forerunner of the bars. No one knows exactly how they were developed but one thing is for sure, they are a favorite of many families especially during the holidays.
I wanted to create a version that would be fun to have around during Thanksgiving (although I’ll tell you now, they are very difficult to keep around so you’ll want to hide them!). This version uses both the traditional semi-sweet chocolate chips as well as Pumpkin Spice baking chips which are widely available at this time of year. Combined with shredded coconut and pecans makes them irresistible!
The recipe can be made either with traditional graham cracker crumbs (with gluten) or gluten-free. I make my own graham cracker crumbs by adding gluten-free graham crackers to the food processor and pulsing them to a crumb consistency. In my experimentation I’ve found gluten-free graham cracker crumbs do not as readily absorb the melted butter so adding an extra ½ cup works perfectly as noted in the recipe.
The consistency of the bars is a bit chewy in the very best way, and the flavor chocolatey with a touch of cinnamon and pumpkin! These bars are simple to make and I find keeping them in the refrigerator once cut into bars is best. I’m really wishing I had some in my refrigerator right now.
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Pumpkin Spice Hello Dolly Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free Graham Cracker Crumbs (or 1 ½ cups regular graham crackers if not gluten-free)
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter , melted
- 1 14- ounce can Sweetened Evaporated Milk
- 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Pumpkin Spice baking chips
- 1 cup Shredded Sweetened Coconut
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans
Instructions
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Butter or spray with non-stick spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
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In a medium mixing bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter. Mix well and spoon into the prepared baking pan. Press down into pan to form a crust.
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Drizzle half of the sweetened evaporated milk over the graham cracker crust and smooth out with the back of a spoon.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate and pumpkin spice chips, coconut and nuts. Toss to fully combine. Distribute evenly over the crust.
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Drizzle the remaining sweetened evaporated milk over the entire mixture in the baking pan.
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Bake the bars for 25-30 minutes until the coconut begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully before slicing. Tip: after the bars cool to room temperature, put them in the refrigerator to chill before cutting. This allows firm bars to be cut.
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Rebecca Swenor says
These Pumpkin Spice Hello Dolly Bars sound and looks so delicious and I will be making these for sure. When I go grocery shopping I will be picking these ingredients up for sure. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Ann Bacciaglia says
I love Hello Dolly bars but I have never tried them with pumpkin spice. That recipe sounds really good and the spice would be a tasty addition,
Debra says
Those look amazing. They definitely wouldn’t last very long in my house – the kids would have fight me for the last bite!
Kelly Hutchinson says
I have not heard of the Hello Dolly cake or bars. These look just mouth watering!
Christie says
You’re taking me back to childhood right now. I haven’t had a Hello Dolly in years, so yummy!
diana elizabeth says
Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies too! I’ve never heard of a dolly bar before but these look delicious. I’m always amazed by recipes because I can only mix cereal and milk together, my creativity is limited so I love these!
Allison says
These look mouth watering! You had me at pumpkin spice!
claudia krusch says
I’ve never heard of these bars. But I love how great they look!
Tracey says
I love Hello Dolly bars! Never considered a pumpkin spice one, that is genius!
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I have never heard of a hello dolly bar before. It looks like it’s got nice texture.
Kristi says
I love seven layer bars but looks like I need to add Pumpkin Spice baking chips to my shopping list and try the new way. My Mom would always tell me not to make those if we were going to a potluck or gathering… she said they were the most expensive bar to make, I didn’t care because I always wanted to bring something I liked!
Chasing Joy says
I’ve never heard of Hello Dolly Bars. They look yummy but I’m not sure about the coconut.
Chrystal | YUM eating says
Hello Dolly bars are a huge weakness for me. I love anything pumpkin spice related. I am pretty sure I would just devour this whole pan.
Dawn says
This looks so delicious. I love anything that has pumpkin, especially around this time of year.
Donna says
I love anything pumpkin. These sound and look delicious! I can’t wait to try them.
Marcie W. says
In our family these bars are known as Camp Cookies and were introduced to me by my husband’s grandmother before she passed away. We still make them every holiday season and I look forward to trying this unique version with a pumpkin twist sometime soon.
Liz Mays says
My goodness, these sound way too good to be true. That graham cracker flavor with chocolate and pumpkin spice….yum!
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
I’m so glad your post was relevant to the musical, because I started singing when I read the title! I’ve been in theatre since I was seven, but never heard of these bars before!
Toni Dash says
Well we are definitely twins in that way since I still remember all the words of the song without peeking! I don’t think this name for the bars is very well known but it did seem perfect for this version!
Lisa Joy Thompson says
I must be living under a rock because I’ve never heard of pumpkin spice baking chips! I’ll have to go looking for them because you’re recipe looks amazing!!!
Toni Dash says
I think they are pretty new, Lisa. We were shopping somewhere and one of my kids grabbed them knowing I have a ‘collection’ of seasonal candy and baking chips in the freezer at all times. This would be the time of year to find some!
Jennifer Mercurio says
so glad this can be made gluten free! It looks so amazing!
Toni Dash says
Me too! The one thing I’ve found, as mentioned in the recipe, is that gluten-free graham crackers don’t absorb as much moisture so you need to use a bit more than if making them with gluten graham cracker crumbs. Otherwise they are the same!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
OMG, yes! These Hello Dolly bars are a perfect example of why I love pumpkin spice everything during the fall.
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) says
I’ve never heard of these bars. But I love the history and how yummy they look.
MJ L says
This recipe looks amazing!! This would be a perfect dessert to serve at Thanksgiving for sure!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
I want to eat them ALL! Wow, they sound fantastic.
NancyB says
Oh my, yum!! I remember first coming across the “hello Dolly ” bar recipe in Texas while going to college in ’66-’67. Since my sister’s name is Dolly, I had to make them when I went home for Christmas, and of course, we’ve made them many times since then, under many different names, but always so good! Adding pumpkin chips is a great idea. And musicals…one of my favorite memories is the night my mom let me stay up past bedtime to finish an old Jeannette McDonald/Nelson Eddy movie on tv. I think the first musical I remember seeing in the theater was Gigi…loved every one since then!