Best of Baking: A Taste of New Hampshire's 1785 Inn (Recipe: Seven Layer Cookies & How They Became 10)

My biggest fault as a cook is often my greatest blessing: rarely can I prepare a recipe as-is. My general rule is to prepare a recipe once as directed, then tailor it on subsequent remakes. But sometimes the adventurous side of me takes over and my good intentions go out the window.

Case in point, this very competent Seven Layer Cookie recipe from the 1785 Inn: when prepared as directed, I have no doubt it produces one heck of a cookie. But because I believe in transparency, I admit to tweaking this recipe before making it through even once. Was it a wise move? Only your taste buds can decide.

Fair warning: my adapted version of this cookie is sweet, moreso than the original recipe. I found my version like fudge---love it, but a little goes a long way. Mr. Inn Cuisine, on the other hand, ADORED these cookies (and you know what they say about the way to a man's heart).

In all fairness to the 1785 Inn, I'm going to provide their original recipe, then include my tweaks at the end. I didn't necessarily change their recipe (i.e. make substitutions), as much as I added extra ingredients to it. Hence, this is how Seven Layer Cookies become Ten Layer Cookies (and I'm even including a tip for turning these into Eleven Layer Cookies which I think would be divine).

Whichever version you try, it is my sincere hope you enjoy them. And should you find the adventurous baker in you shining through, I encourage you to make your own adaptations as well!

Seven Layer Cookies (& How They Became Ten Layer Cookies)

A "Best of" Inn Cuisine, original recipe courtesy the 1785 Inn as featured in the 13th Annual Holiday Inn to Inn Cookie & Candy Tour presented by the Country Inns in the White Mountains, adapted versions courtesy Inn Cuisine.

Yield: One 13x9-inch pan of layered cookie bars (12-24 cookies, depending on size cut)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• 1 & 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups butterscotch chips
• 7 ounces flaked coconut
• 2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Melt the butter in a saucepan and mix in the crushed graham crackers.  Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9”x13” pan.  Layer in the chocolate chips, layer in the butterscotch chips, layer in the coconut, layer in the walnuts, and cover with the condensed milk.  Bake at 350^oF for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.  Cool and cut into squares.

To Make As Ten Layer Cookies

As pictured with this post 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 & 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup dark chocolate baking chips
• 1 cup butterscotch baking chips
• 1 cup Heath Milk Chocolate English Toffee baking chips
• 7 ounces sweetened angel-flake coconut
• 2 cups chopped walnuts
• 7 ounces canned Dulce de Leche
• 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Melt butter in a saucepan and mix in the crushed graham crackers. Press the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13"x9" pan. Layer in the semisweet chocolate chips, layer in the dark chocolate baking chips, layer in the butterscotch baking chips, layer in the Heath Milk Chocolate English Toffee bits, layer in the flaked coconut, and layer in the chopped walnuts. In a small bowl, mix 7 ounces EACH (14 ounces in total) canned Dulce de Leche and sweetened condensed milk (warm in the microwave for a few seconds if necessary to blend and make pourable). Pour mixture evenly over layered ingredients. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan and cut into squares. Serve at room temperature.

Note: like many prepared dishes, I found these cookies to taste even better the day after they were baked. Also, if you're interested in turning Ten Layer Cookies into Eleven Layer Cookies, consider adding a layer of miniature marshmallow as well (1 cup).

Printer-Friendly Recipe (Adaptations Included)

Comments

[Arena]

These look seriously amazing.

Thanks for linking up the recipe on the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies! :)

Arena
aka The Nerds Wife
http://www.thenerdswife.com

[Dana]

Those look amazing!!! I have been a huge fan of 7 layer cookies since I was a kid, and I am definitely going to make the 10 layer ones! Thanks for sharing!

[Lisa L]

OMGosh!! How much sweet does it take to blow my mind!! These bring back memories of high school and bake fairs!!
I am with you on the tweaking habit, just can't leave a recipe alone!! Mostly for the better I would like to think!! hahaha Have a great day!!

[charlotte]

Tried this last night and ... gave the two batches away this morning. They came out great, but I think even 8 hours after tasting just a little bit, my blood glucose is still at 700 or so. Great recipe for folks who like things super sweet, though.

[Patty A.]

I made the 1785 7 layer cookies on Sunday, and they are delicious, however, I think the graham cracker crust was a little thin for a 13 x 9 pan. Next time, and there will be a next time, I may make them in a smaller pan. Thanks for allowing us to enjoy this recipe.

[Cate O'Malley]

I know the 7-Layer Bars well - these look positively decadent!

[Kathy]

I love 7-Layer Bars, but the additional layers here sound amazing! I will have to try these for sure!

[Diane Abel King]

My mom used to make these 40 years ago, love them but we make them with saltine crackers instead of graham and I like them even more, kind of gives it the tinge of salt it needs.