7 Layer Valentine Bars

These creamy, crunchy bars are a fan favorite. 

They'll be sure to please the romantic in you.

 

 

Cue the violins!  Happy heart day is on the horizon.  Do you celebrate?  Or does the holiday annoy you?  Either way these bars will not disappoint.

 

The husband's birthday falls two days prior to Valentine's Day so generally in the past {prior to kids} we shoved the two events together and just celebrated once.  Since kids, I'm lucky if we get a night out alone.  But we have made a point to let our kids know it is a day about being thankful for our loved ones.  The two older kids are already excited about their school Valentine's Day parties, and I am too as it is just plain fun to watch it through their eyes.

 

When I broke out the Valentine M&M's this weekend....you would have thought they won the lottery {if they knew what that was}! 

 

Nothing gets kids excited like holiday M&M's.

 

 

You might see other seven layer bars with a graham cracker crust, but I usually opt for the shortbread crust.  I just like it better?

 

The seven layers consist of this: shortbread crust, sweetened condensed milk {I know...}, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, pecans, coconut and M&M's.

 

And if you are counting right, you counted eight.  I listed the sweetened condensed milk, but really it doesn't count.  I don't want to get all technical, so lets just pretend there are seven.

 

Moving on.



 

Swap out these red, white and pimk M&M's for any holiday version and make these all year long!  I sent most of them to work with the husband and it sounds like they were a hit.  {And to think he didn't want to take them because he claimed only 80 year olds eat pecans in their dessert}.

Sheesh.

Make them for yourself, you have a bit over a week until the big day!

7 Layer Valentine Bars
Print this Recipe!

Shortbread Crust:
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg yolk
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 c. flour

Toppings:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/2 bag butterscotch chips
1/2 bag white chocolate chips
1 c. sweetened coconut
1 c. chopped pecans
1/2 bag of Valentine M&M's

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Combine the butter and butter.  Add in egg yolk to combine.  Sift in salt and flour until dough forms.
3.  Press dough into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake for 18 minutes.
4.  Remove from the oven and pour sweetened condensed milk over the hot crust.
5.  Sprinkle on remaining ingredients, leaving the M&M's for last {you don't want them to get buried}.
6.  Lightly press down the mixture with your hands.
7.  Turn up the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until edges are golden.
8.  Allow to cool and cut into bars.

Do you do anything special for Valentine's Day

or do you choose to ignore it?