These Chocolate Coconut Bars are filled with a delicious coconut filling and topped with a sweet chocolate glaze. This is the perfect dessert for the coconut lover in your life.
Last week we were at the beach, and we decided to take a day to explore some state parks. Everyone had gotten a little sunburned throughout the week, and we thought a day out of the sun (kind of) would be best.
We packed up a cooler with some water and apples and headed out. It was about a 30 minute drive to where we thought the park was, so we let the kids play on their ipods until we got there.
As we got closer to the state park, the drive was getting prettier and prettier. The road we were on had trees growing up and around the road creating a tunnel of tree branches and Spanish moss. It was gorgeous!
We told the kids to go ahead and shut off the electronic devices and look at the beautiful scenery. Imagine our disbelief when our youngest piped up and asked "what is scenery?".
Kids these days are so used to being on their ipods, Xboxes, and TV that they are unimpressed with the nature and beauty that is all around them.
It might be a very long summer for our kiddos because we are giving them a set time limit each day for all those electronic devices. They are going to have to use their imaginations and their toys this summer.
We finally found one of the parks and set out on a trail. Of course I forgot to pack the bug spray. This made for a very interesting (and funny) hike.
There were some flies and mosquitoes that just wouldn't stop buzzing our heads. It was so comical as I watched our city kids walk the trail swatting the air like mad. I don't think they were liking this "scenery", but we pressed on and finished the hike.
We even found another park and did another 2 mile hike through the sand and forest. This one had a little less bug swatting. I think they were starting to get used to this outdoor scene.
It also might have been the snake we found up in a tree that had them distracted from the bugs. The rest of the hike everyone's eyes were looking towards the heavens. No one wanted a snake to drop down uninvited on their head.
Chocolate Coconut Bars
I wish I had been swatting away these chocolate coconut bars after I made them. They were so down right delicious that I just couldn't stop eating bite after bite. I have a thing for adding coconut to my baked goods. These Caramel Coconut Bars and these Lemon Magic Bars are two of my favorite coconut dessert bars.
Plus, cake mix bars are so easy to make. Cake mix, butter, and milk makes an incredible cookie base for the gooey coconut layer.
Lucky for me (and my jean capris), my husband decided to visit the guys from his old job the next day. I pretty much threw all the chocolate bars into a box and swatted them out the door. Then I promptly wished I had kept one hidden bar to munch on.
These coconut bars are dangerous to have in the house, just so you know. I wouldn't make them unless you have willpower of steel or have a picnic to go too. Just thought you might like to have that little warning before giving them a try.
But seriously, do make them!!! I promise you, if you love coconut and you love chocolate, these gooey bars will be your new best friend. I definitely can't wait to make another batch of these Chocolate Coconut Bars.
Looking for more coconut desserts?
- Coconut Cream Cheesecake Pie Bites
- Coconut Nutella Brownies
- Coconut Oreo Icebox Cake
- White Chocolate Funfetti Macaroons
- Coconut Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Coconut Bars recipe and video:
Recipe
Chocolate Coconut Bars
These Chocolate Coconut Bars are filled with a creamy coconut filling and topped with a chocolate glaze. Easy dessert bars to satisfy that chocolate and coconut craving.
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
- 1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Combine the cake mix, milk, and melted butter until it forms a dough. Press half the dough in the prepared pan. Set aside.
- Mix together the sweetened condensed milk and the coconut. Spread evenly over the dough in the pan.
- Crumble the rest of the dough over the top of the coconut mixture. Bake for 25-26 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Place the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute. Stir until creamy.
- Spread the chocolate over the top of the cooled cake bars. Let the chocolate set before cutting into bars. Makes 24 bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 102mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 22gProtein: 3g
Averie @ Averie Cooks
They look wonderful! I have some choc cake mix & cream cheese bars I made a couple years ago that use a choc cake with sweet cond milk but instead of coconut, use cream cheese. Yours look sooo fudgy and perfect!
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik
These sound heavenly...! And that sounds like a good call with the electronics - I'm sure it will be good for them, although they might now see it that way 😉
Happy Valley Chow
What a wonderful recipe, those bars look and sound delicious! Can't wait to try 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
Oh em gee, Jocelyn-- these brownies are the ultimate! Like Mounds bars but BETTER because they're chewy chocolate brownies with frosting! Bring these to BHF, will ya? 🙂
Carol
Oh you've hit my weak spot! Definitely need a hike to walk these off!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats
Oh these look amazing! I think I'm drooling just looking at them. I love coconut in treats!
Nicole Underwood
I need these, in my mouth....RIGHT NOW!!!
Shiloh Barkley
My hottie is going to love these!
Kristi
I have been having the same feeling with electronis lately. It frustrates me so much sometimes that kids would rather sit with an electronic then get outside.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I know!! My siblings and I practically lived outside when we were growing up!!
Tieghan
Well, I am sure you have noticed, but I love coconut! Actually, I think I am becoming a tad obsessed. I hope my readers do not mind. Anyway, these bars are incredible! YUM! YUM!
Sounds like you guys had a fun time even with the bugs and boy are you brave for limiting the electronic time this summer! Way to go you and I hope it goes well!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!! I have noticed! Great minds think alike 🙂 Coconut is one of my all time faves. I'm sure your readers don't mind. I certainly don't!
Wendy
I think you are amazing, Jocelyn! You take something as average as cake mix and turn it into this incredible chocolate coconut confection! I don't know how you think these things up, but I sure am glad that you do!
Limiting screen time for kids is usually harder on the parents (because we have to listen to the moaning and groaning and pleaaaaaasing) than on the kids 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you SO much Wendy!! I just love sprucing up cake mixes! 😉 And you are absolutely right. It really will be harder on us than them.. I'm going to have to put my ear plugs in a lot! Lol
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
I don't think the tropics ever looked more tasty! Jocelyn these look like my favorite mounds bars turned into fudgy perfection 😀 No wonder they are too dangerous to leave in the house!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Awwww thanks so much Jess!! They do resemble the Mounds bars, but I think these are just a little better! 😉 Yes, they had to leave the house immediately!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
Heavenly Jocelyn - just heavenly! I am going to have to be imposing electronic limitations myself this summer - we'll see how the boys deal 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks so much Trish!! Good luck to both of us then!! ☺
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
What a great recipe! Coconut and chocolate - YES. I hope you had a great trip! I'm worried about electronics over summer. She's going to use them too much I think!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!! We did have a great trip! We were sad to see it end. Yes, those electronics... It's so easy to just let them use them... It's gonna be an interesting summer!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
You come up with the BEST coconut treats!! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Awe, thanks so much Jennifer!! 🙂
Vanessa
Kids nowadays don't seem to appreciate the simple things It's nobody's fault, it's just a generational thing as I'm sure there are things my grandmother or great grandmother, and so on, would cringe at, things that I don't know about that they did.. There is so much beauty in this world, good for you for "forcing" them to enjoy it. Lol.
Those bars looks amazing. I don't know if I would have the willpower to not eat the entire batch.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks so much! I definitely agree on it being a generational thing. Who knows how it will be for our grandchildren! Yikes! Haha!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Yes! Love that I am not the only parent who thinks nature and life should awed at! This looks delicious!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!! There are so many beautiful places and things out there, and I'm glad we got to experience it some last week! 🙂
Jess
Oh my goodness these look like heaven! PINNED!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much!! They seriously tasted like heaven too! 🙂
Jenn
These look fabulous and there is no way I could resist them.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jenn!! I had no will power over these, so I'm glad I got them out of the house!! 😉
Cathy
I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven't already this week. The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday's at midnight.
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/. AND starting Wednesday June 4th I will be hosting a Wordless Wednesday link party. Hope you will join us!
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy