Coconut Bars
There are few things in this universe that I like more than coconut. And for all of you coconut lovers out there, this recipe is for you! I’m keeping this post short and sweet so that you can get out there and make these for yourself. The recipe is super simple and you can mix the ingredients all in the same bowl, no special tools or techniques required. And the ingredients – nothing exotic here and all easily accessible no matter where in the globe you are. And the taste – dreamy! Crunchy, toasted coconut on top, followed by a sweet, creamy coconut layer followed by crispy, delicious shortbread. So go on, hurry…make these! The only problem you’ll have with these is deciding whether to have an inside, edge or corner piece. To keep the integrity of the blog, I sampled all three and every one was better than the last.
Coconut Bars
Ingredients:
For The Crust
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons packed light brown sugarFor The Topping
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of cinnamon
2 cups shredded sweetened coconutDirections:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch by 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
To make the crust, mix the butter, flour and brown sugar in a large bowl with a wooden spoon finishing it with your hands. Spread the dough evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan, flattening it with your fingers. Bake for 10 minutes or until crust is light golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
While crust is baking, beat both sugars, eggs and vanilla until well combined in the same bowl the crust was mixed in. Add the condensed milk and blend thoroughly. Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon directly into the batter. Gently mix the batter until well combined and no trace of dry ingredients remain. Add the coconut and mix well.
Spread the batter evenly onto the crust and return the pan into the oven for an additional 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely before serving.
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Angie — January 16, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
These look so good! I am a huge fan of coconut. You just got the touch for baking, girlie.
Eliana replied: — January 16th, 2011 @ 8:34 pm
Gracias
vanillasugarblog — January 16, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
man i love coconut so much. i think i made something like this before w/ chocolate or cream cheese? whatever. these look good ms thing. happy weekend darling.
Rachel — January 16, 2011 @ 8:57 pm
Scrumpdiliyumptious!
Amy — January 16, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
You had me at coconut. And I’ll keep my comment short, so I can get to making these….printing!
Cynthia — January 16, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
Although I am not a huge fan of coconut..these look very tempting! Hmm..lol
Wendy — January 16, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
Those look awesome and I do love coconut. I have that cookbook on my wishlist.
Pamela — January 16, 2011 @ 10:12 pm
Gosh, those look good!
The Duo Dishes — January 17, 2011 @ 12:21 am
Corner, all the way. You get the best of all three worlds. That gooey layer right under the coconut crust looks like it actually might be the best part no matter which piece you get.
Rosa — January 17, 2011 @ 3:32 am
Lovely bars! So scrummy.
Cheers,
Rosa
Katrina — January 17, 2011 @ 4:13 am
These look amazing! I adore coconut bars!
Michelle — January 17, 2011 @ 7:53 am
My mom and sister are major coconut nuts. I’m passing this on right now.
Brian @ A Thought For Food — January 17, 2011 @ 10:39 am
I have always been a huge fan of coconut and I just LOVE this recipe! Great post!
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) — January 17, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Oh man, oh man!!! Look at that beautiful golden top! These look like absolute heaven!!!
ingrid — January 17, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
Looks real good, Eliana and I have a lot of coconut in the pantry. You know for just in case of a shortage!
~ingrid
Jennifurla — January 17, 2011 @ 2:06 pm
I will take 3 please. Looks scrumtptious and I have a bag of coconut.
Julia — January 17, 2011 @ 11:42 pm
Uyyy que rico! I have to make a few for mom too.
Raquelle — January 18, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
I’m so sad that you decided to shut off full RSS feeds. I am dependent on my Google Reader for blog reading and I cut out ones that truncate their feeds. I’ll miss the posts!
jenna — January 18, 2011 @ 6:08 pm
The Fat Witch cookbook is wonderful! I’ve made the cranberry bars “many” times…really good. Can not wait to try these.
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction — January 18, 2011 @ 9:07 pm
These look absolutely lovely!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets — January 18, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
Gotta say I’m not that big a fan of coconut flakes but you’re really luring me in with those photos and the generous use of sweetened condensed milk. Mmmm.
Paula — January 19, 2011 @ 12:19 am
These look great and love the way that the top of the bars look. A bit of a nice crunch when you bite into them
Biz — January 19, 2011 @ 3:39 pm
My husband adores coconut – I’ll have to make these for him soon. I feel bad because since I don’t bake much, my family is being deprived of baked goods! I need to fix that this year.
Thanks for the recipe Eliana!
Patrice — January 19, 2011 @ 7:28 pm
Goodness these look divine! Nothing like a corner piece with the crunchy edges…my fave!
aionaccount — January 19, 2011 @ 9:56 pm
I would go nuts with this coco bars. Love the texture and moist of crust with the coconut meat. Nom nom nom.
Spike — January 20, 2011 @ 1:04 pm
I’m with you- coconut is the bomb!
Emily — January 20, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Wow, these look delicious! I’m crazy about coconut, too.
steph (whisk/spoon) — January 21, 2011 @ 10:14 am
they sound so good! i can never understand the coconut haters out there…
jenn manzetti — January 21, 2011 @ 12:15 pm
I love coconut…and these look mouth-watering! simple but tasty. I’m trying it this weekend!
Elizabeth Pound — January 23, 2011 @ 5:19 pm
Looks yoummy! I love coconut and I can’t wait to try these out!
Elizabeth (Goodies by bthe Pound).
Amy — January 23, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Made these today. My waistline already hates you. Good lord…yum.
Velva — January 23, 2011 @ 7:27 pm
Oh yes! Love, love, love coconut. Love these bars!
Velva
justcooknyc — January 24, 2011 @ 10:41 pm
i’m totally with you on the coconut thing
Florentina — January 25, 2011 @ 2:31 am
I just bought a bag of shredded coconut and had no plan for it, then i saw this, how delicious! Can’t wait to make these!
snooky doodle — January 28, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
these look super delicious
Bren — January 30, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
ay mija. ay poco mas rico que dulces de coco. que delicias mas deliciosas! fantastic!
Lori — February 1, 2011 @ 10:43 pm
I am crazy about coconut too. These look so good, my kind of dessert! I really think I just need to create you a category with my bookmarks, I mark so many of your recipes!
Erin ~ The Sisters Cafe — February 14, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
Yum! I am definitely going to give these a try. We love toasted coconut…
Rose — February 15, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Oh dear, Adam is nuts about coconut! He’s going to flip for these
YUM!
Jessica — February 16, 2011 @ 1:17 pm
I love coconut and these bars look so seriously amazing! I’ll have to make them when there are lots of people to share with me.