Seven Layer Bar Cake
Seven Layer Bar Cake – layers of graham cracker crust, coconut chocolate chip cake layers, gooey coconut and pecan filling, butterscotch buttercream, and a chocolate drip.
Seven Layer Bar Cake
I know it’s not a Monday, but I couldn’t wait (and I don’t think you could either) for this recipe to go live! Let me introduce you to my Seven Layer Bar Cake, also known as, my birthday cake.
This decadent, Seven Layer Bar Cake is inspired by the popular 7-Layer Bars (or Magic Bars, to some). A traditional 7-Layer Bar is made up of seven ingredients:
- Butter
- Graham crackers
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Butterscotch chips
- Chocolate chips
- Coconut
- Pecans
Turning 7-Layer Bars into Cake
To turn this classic treat into a cake, I used all the flavors to inspire elements of the cake.
- Butter – you’ll find this element everywhere! We have it in the graham cracker crust (like the bars do), in the cake layers, in the filling and in the buttercream.
- Graham crackers – to keep the crunch of the 7-Layer Bar, I incorporate a graham cracker crust at the bottom of each cake layer.
- Sweetened condensed milk – I originally thought about doing a sweetened condensed milk frosting, but after making it, decided it actually didn’t provide the flavor I was looking for. When we bake 7-Layer Bars, the sweetened condensed milk turns into more of a gooey, caramel layer and tastes nothing like SCM at all! I scraped the SCM frosting and decided on this gooey, caramel-like filling adapted from a Milk Bar recipe. I use a similar version of it in my German Chocolate Cake, but made a few changes in this one.
- Butterscotch chips – for the butterscotch element, I did my butterscotch buttercream from my Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Cake. It’s such a smooth and creamy consistency. You’re going to love it!
- Chocolate chips – for the chocolate chips, I added mini chocolate chips in the cake layers and then added a chocolate drip to the top of the cake.
- Coconut – I incorporated the coconut in the cake layers and the filling. However, rather than using raw coconut like most 7-Layer Bar recipes, I used toasted coconut. Always!
- Pecan – I also toasted the pecans and added them to the filling with the coconut.
Tips for Making This Seven-Layer Bar Cake
- Plan ahead – because this cake has a lot of elements to it, plan ahead so you’re not trying to do everything within a couple of hours.
- Toss the chips – before you add the chocolate chips to the cake batter, toss them in a tablespoon of flour. This ensures the chips don’t sink to the bottom of the cake pan as the layers bake.
- Room temperature ingredients – remember to always start with room temperature ingredients to get the best rise out of your layers.
- Use a sharp knife – make sure to sharpen your knife before you cut this cake. The graham cracker crust makes it a little harder to cut through than a normal cake.
- Coconut pecan filling – this mixture will be jiggly and not cooked through as a solid when it’s finished in the oven. Once it cools and you add the coconut and the nuts, the mixture will be slightly thicker and more stable to add to your cake.
I hope you love this seven-layer bar cake as much as we did!
Video Tutorial
Make sure to check out my video tutorial below for tips on how to stack and decorate this seven-layer bar cake. And, follow me on Instagram @cakebycourtney for more tips and recipes on all things cake!
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Seven Layer Bar Cake
Coconut chocolate chip cake layers baked on a graham cracker crust, filled with a buttery coconut and pecan filling with butterscotch buttercream and a chocolate drip.
Ingredients
FOR THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- 25 (380 g) graham crackers full rectangle cracker
- 3/4 cup (165 g) unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp (5.6 g) salt
FOR THE COCONUT CAKE
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 8 egg whites at room temperature (carton egg whites work too)
- 1 cup (231 g) coconut cream from the can, melted
- 1 tbsp (16 g) coconut emulsion
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 3 1/4 cups (367.25 g) cake flour
- 1 tbsp (14 g) baking powder
- 1 tsp (5.6 g) salt
- 1/2 cup (93 g) mini chocolate chips
FOR THE FILLING (adapted from Milk Bar)
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (96 g) brown sugar
- 4 tbsp (32 g) milk powder
- 1 tsp (5.6 g) salt
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter melted
- 6 tbsp (87 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp (2 g) vanilla extract
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup (93 g) shredded, toasted coconut
- 1 cup (125 g) chopped, toasted pecans
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
- 2 cups (454 g) unsalted butter slightly cold
- 10 oz. butterscotch chips
- 1/4 cup (57.75 g) heavy whipping cream
- 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
- 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- *This amount will give you enough to fill and frost your cake. If you want more for piping, I suggest adding an additional 1/4 to 1/2 batch.
FOR THE DRIP
- 1/2 cup (93 g) dark or semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup (77 - 115 g) heavy whipping cream
Instructions
FOR THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- Preheat your oven to 375 F. Spray three 8-inch round pans or four 6-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper and spray again.
- In a large food processor or blender, pulverize the graham crackers to a fine, sand-line consistency.
- Add the melted butter, sugar, and salt (can all be done in the food processor). Mix until the graham crackers look "wet."
- Firmly press about 7 ounces of the graham cracker mixture into each pan to create a crust at the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust for about 5 minutes. Let cool a little while you make the cake batter.
FOR THE COCONUT CAKE
- Reduce the oven temperature to 325 F.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar. Mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Gradually add egg whites in three additions, making sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl between each addition.
- Stir in the coconut emulsion.
- With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture with the melted coconut cream, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Only mix until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
- Toss the mini chocolate chips in a tablespoon of flour, and then fold them into the cake batter.
- Evenly divide the cake batter into the pans with the graham cracker crust in them. You'll pour the batter right on top of the crust and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs on it.
- Let cool in pans for about 15 minutes before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely.
FOR THE FILLING
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9x13" with with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, brown sugar, milk powder, and salt. Mix on low speed until evenly blended.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the melted butter and stir for one minute until all the dry ingredients are wet.
- Add the heavy cream and vanilla and continue mixing on low speed for about one minute, until any of the white streaks from the cream have completely blended into the mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the egg yolks, stirring them into the mixture until combined. Be careful not to over beat (aerate) the mixture, but certain the mixture is glossy and homogenous.
- Pour the filling into the prepared pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You want the filling to be firmer and more set toward the outer edges of the baking pan but slightly jiggly and loose in the center. If the filling is still jiggly all over, give it another 2 to 3 minutes. But it's going to be soft! Once you add the coconut and pecans, and cools, it starts to set a little and will thicken.
- Let the filling cool slightly and add the toasted coconut and toasted pecans. The filling can be used immediately or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy, about two minutes.
- While the mixer is beating the butter, heat the cream and then pour it over the chips to melt the chips. Stir until smooth. You may need to microwave the mixture for 20 to 30 seconds to get the chips totally melted. Let cool for a few minutes.
- With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the butterscotch mixture. This will likely soften your butter a bit, but don't worry, you can refrigerate it to set it.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix for about 2 minutes.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla, pinch of salt and gradually add the powdered sugar.
- Once everything is added, mix again for about 2 to 3 minutes.
FOR THE DRIP
- Heat the cream in the microwave and then pour over the chocolate chips to melt the chips.
ASSEMBLY (see video for demo)
- Place your first cake layer, with graham cracker side on the bottom, on a cake board or cake stand. Evenly spread about 1/2 cup of buttercream over the cake layer and then pipe a rim of buttercream around the edge of the cake.
- Fill the cake with about 1 cup of the filling, making sure to get eye level with the cake to ensure the filling goes on evenly.
- Place the second cake layer on top of the filling and repeat these steps.
- The last cake layer will also go on with the graham cracker side on the bottom.
- Apply a thin layer of buttercream over the entire cake. This is the crumb coat. Place the crumb coated cake in the freezer for 15 minutes to set.
- Once the crumb coat is set, continue to frost the cake with the remaining buttercream and then apply the drip.
- With the left over filling, roll into small balls and freeze for 15 minutes and then place onto the cake.
- The video above has step-by-step instructions for assembly.
I’m so excited to try this cake! I’m getting my ingredients together. Question-Where do you find coconut emulsion? Is this something you can make or substitute something?
You can find it at stores like Micheals, Walamrt, Amazon.
Excited to finish this one! Question about the filling, mine came out very gooey and oily, I’m not quite sure I got it right but I did everything exactly step by step. It took about twice as long to set as the recipe said though. Did I miss something? Or is it right?
It will be very gooey. Some ovens take longer than other so as long as you let it set, you should be fine!
how did you make the coconut cookie dough looking balls on the top of the cake.
With the left over filling, roll into small balls and freeze for 15 minutes and then place onto the cake.
I am trying this recipe today. I am currently making the filling and it is taking 3 times as long in my oven to even get it past liquid. It is finally starting to thicken and hopefully become gooey. I don’t know what I did wrong
Certain ovens might take longer.
I’m such a Cake By Courtney fan!!!!
But this filling is messing with me. The first batch looked like melted better. The second batch I cut down to half a cup of butter…and it looks better but nothing is jiggly, still all melted.
I’ll try a third batch. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
I really want to make this cake! It looks delicious! Have you ever tried making cupcakes from this recipe?
Not yet!
I love your recipes! Always a hit at my house. I’m making this for my husband’s birthday and the filling was very greasy with the full cup of butter. Is this correct? In your other similar filling recipes it’s 1/2 cup butter so just wondering about the ratio.
It’s right!
I just posted about the filling issue in you’re cool book and was reading comments. Above you say the cup of butter is correct however again in your cookbook it calls for half a cup. And it is greasy but then your cook book left our the milk powder. First cake I’ve made out of your book. Worried there are more issues
Can I use coconut extract instead of coconut emulsion? I am having a hard time finding it at the local stores.
Yes you can!
Looks divine. I’m gonna make it for our families Sunday get together. Do you think I can make the filling two days ahead of time?
yes keep it in the fridge.
Hi! Definitely going to make this cake. What is coconut emulsion? Thanks
It’s just like coconut extract but a little thicker! Either can be used.
This cake tastes just like the bar when together and each part is amazing on its own. It was a bit on the extra sweet side. I used coconut extract and the top of a cold can of coconut milk as subs to the emulsion and cream that I could find.
I’m making this cake right now and I thought the filling was odd your cook book doesn’t have the milk powder listed. Like it does online here.
Did Courtney ever respond? How did this cake turn out for you?
I’m a little nervous after reading a few comments. Thanks!
Do you think a chocolate cake would taste good with this filling and frosting?
Totally!
Is there any possible way to make this without the pecans? Diverticulitis and pecans are not a good combo for me 😔
Can you have other nuts? If there’s another nut that works for you, you can replace it.
What kind of coconut cream do you use?
WOW! This cake is something else. It was amazing. I over the Graham cracker crust with the cakes. What level of difficulty would this be??
I’d say this is advanced. Meaning – it just takes more time than others.
Wonderful! Probably the most involved cake I’ve made but I planned and spread the work out over two days and was so worth it! Hands down best cake, maybe best dessert, I ever had. I searched out a recipe for our daughters birthday after she told me her favorite sweet flavor profile was chocolate, butterscotch, and coconut after I made seven layer bars. Now this is my go to site when I want to make something special.
This cake looks amazing!! If I were to make this as a chocolate cake, which chocolate cake recipe would you suggest that would hold up the graham cracker layers? Can’t wait to make this! TIA Del
My 9-year-old daughter and I made this over the weekend. It is AMAZING. The flavors are so good together. 10/10!!! And we had a lot of fun together making this! The recipes we have used so far are so well written that I let my daughter take the lead. She just follows the steps and I help when needed. Thank you!