Chewy Coconut Bars

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By: ShellyPosted: Aug 22, 2016Updated: Mar 30, 2023 117 Comments

★★★★★5 from 40 reviews

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TheseChewy Coconut Barsare so simple, sweet, perfectly chewy and loaded with natural coconut flavor. I love them so much I could eat one every day!

Easy and Delicious Chewy Coconut Bars

I bake a lot of dessert recipes…obviously. And coming from a family where everyone has a different favorite dessert recipe it’s hard to please everyone. And of course coconut is one of those ingredients that people seem to love or hate, but luckily in my house everyone happens to like love coconut! So when I made these coconut bars, and not only did everyone love them, they went back for seconds (and thirds) I knew I had a winner of a recipe on my hands!

What To Expect With This Coconut Bars Recipe:

This recipe is simple in flavors (and prep) and undeniably delicious…crackly on the top, perfect chewy edges and loaded with coconut!
10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of bake time means dessert in 30 minutes! Of course they will be too warm to cut immediately out of the oven, but a large spoonful topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce is also a pretty delicious option!
The edges of these bars are chewy, so if you are an edge lover, this recipe is perfect for you. The buttery crisp edges are caramelized and outstanding while the centers stay chewy and sweet.

Chewy Coconut Bars | Easy Coconut Dessert Bars Recipe (2)

Ingredients:

Butter
Light brown sugar
Large eggs
Vanilla extract
Kosher salt
Baking powder
All purpose flour
Sweetened flaked coconut

Chewy Coconut Bars | Easy Coconut Dessert Bars Recipe (3)

How To Make Coconut Bars:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat. Once butter is melted, continue cooking until it boils, swirling the pan constantly so the butter doesn’t burn. Slowly the butter will begin to brown. Once it has reached an amber color remove from the heat and stir in the brown sugar until completely combined. Using a rubber spatula stir in the eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder.
Next stir in the flour until incorporated and then finally the shredded coconut.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. The edges will be golden and the center will be almost set.
Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Chewy Coconut Bars | Easy Coconut Dessert Bars Recipe (4)

Common Questions:

Is 2 cups of sugar right?Yes, there are 2 full cups of light brown sugar in this recipe.
Can I reduce that amount of sugar?The answer is yes…and no. The sugar adds to the chewiness of this recipe, and of course the flavor. You can reduce it down to 1 1/2 cups with minimal issues to the integrity of the recipe, but for the best outcome, 2 cups is how it’s written and how these bars are intended!
My bars sunk in the middle, is that normal?Yes, these bars tend to rise a little higher on the outside and sink a touch in the middle when they bake. It’s ok…actually it’s preferred. Those golden brown edge pieces are where the chewy magic happens, and this is coming from an “I hate brownie edges” girl.
Why are my bars are so gooey?Let them cool completely and I promise you they will firm up. The centers will be soft when right out of the oven, and while they still stay soft, they firm up as they cool, so be patient!

Chewy Coconut Bars | Easy Coconut Dessert Bars Recipe (5)

Can I Add In Chocolate Chips To These Bars?

Sure! I would receommend adding in 1/2 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips if you are looking for a little chocolate. I wouldn’t recommend milk chocolate or white chocolate as they are both more sweet and these bars are sweet enough!

You can even add in some chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans if you love that nutty texture!

How To Store Coconut Bars:

I store mine airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days for best freshness. You can also freeze these in an airtight container for up to 30 days. Allow the bars to thaw at room temperature.

Love Coconut? Here Are More Coconut Recipes To Try:

Coconut Butter Bars
The BEST Coconut Cake
Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Coconut Stuffed Brownies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 40 reviews

Description

These Chewy Coconut Bars are so simple, sweet, perfectly chewy and loaded with natural coconut flavor. I love them so much I could eat one every day!

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup butter
2 cups light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat. Once butter is melted, continue cooking until it boils, swirling the pan constantly so the butter doesn’t burn. Slowly the butter will begin to brown. Once it has reached an amber color remove from the heat and stir in the brown sugar until completely combined. Using a rubber spatula stir in the eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder.
Next stir in the flour until incorporated and then finally the coconut.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. The edges will be golden and the center will be almost set.
Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.