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Homemade Samoa Bars

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Homemade Samoa Bars | Inside BruCrew Life
Is there anyone else who thinks the tiny boxes of girl scout cookies are a rip off???

Now don’t get me wrong, I supported one of our local troops and bought a few boxes.

There are not enough cookies for the price. This is just my own ranting soap box here. Please don’t take this personally if you have a girl in scouts!

I would just rather bake my own homemade girl scout recipes.

I tried these homemade  Samoa Bars last night…mmmm…I think these are even better than the real deal.(I could eat the whole pan, but I won’t because summer is right around the corner)

Pair it with a cup of coffee and you have a real treat. Maybe even a great breakfast…but I wouldn’t know about that! Wink, wink!

Homemade Samoa Bars | Inside BruCrew Life

Yes!!! They are as yummy as they look.

Ready, Set, GO BAKE!!!!

Homemade Samoas recipe:

Homemade Samoa Bars

Homemade Samoa Bars

Yield: 24 squares

Homemade Samoa Bars - shortbread cookies topped with a caramel coconut layer and dipped in chocolate.

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Topping

  • 3 cups shredded coconut
  • 12-oz chewy caramels, I used Kraft
  • 3 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 2 teaspoons shortening

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread the coconut evenly on a baking sheet and toast for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
  2. Readjust the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
  3. In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and butter, until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Slowly beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly.
  4. Pour the dough crumbs into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The edges should be lightly brown. Cool completely on a wire rack before adding the topping.
  5. Unwrap the caramels and place in a small sauce pan with the salt and milk. Heat on medium low heat until melted and creamy. Stir in the toasted coconut.
  6. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Let cool completely. Cut into 24 squares.
  7. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Continue heating for 15 seconds, stirring after each time. Do not over heat.
  8. Dip the bottoms of the bars in the chocolate and place on a piece of wax paper to set.
  9. Place the remaining chocolate in a small plastic bag and cut off one corner. Drizzle the chocolate over the tops of the bars. Let set. Store in a sealed container on the counter. Makes 24 squares.

Notes

Lightly adapted from these Samoas Bars

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life

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Jocelyn is the owner and creator of Inside BruCrew Life where she loves to share semi-homemade recipes with flair that anyone can recreate in their own kitchen. Jocelyn is married and has three kids. She loves to workout, enjoys trips to Disney, and relaxing at the beach.

Learn More About Jocelyn

Comments

  1. Donna says

    I have a question, the photo shows a creamy layer between the crust and the caramel layer yet there are no ingredients listed for this layer. Am I missing something?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      That isn’t a creamy layer…it’s the crust. The very bottom of the crust is dipped in chocolate, so it makes it look like a three layer dessert. I hope that helps and you enjoy the bars!

      Reply

  2. Jessica says

    I made these last night and are delicious. I have a question about the recipe: I only see one measurement of salt in the ingredients, but two mentions of it in the directions. How much salt do I add to the crust?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I’m so sorry about that. Somehow I forgot to add the salt in the ingredients for the caramel layer. The recipe has been fixed. Thank you so much for letting me know. I’m glad you enjoyed the bars!

      Reply

  3. Tiffany says

    These look amazing! Thank you so much 🙂
    Also, I wasn’t sure, but can I substitute the shortening? And with what would you suggest?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      I use shortening to help thin the chocolate and also to keep it from getting clumpy when it heats up. You can melt it without it, just do it slowly, or you can use a little bit of butter or oil.

      Reply

  4. Bonnie says

    Hi there!

    My husband asked me to add this cookie to our Christmas Cookie Day list (my family and I make 10-12 different kinds of cookies the Sunday before Christmas – super fun, but super exhausting!) so we’ll be trying out this recipe today! One thing I noticed in reading the recipe is in the second step, you say to slowly beat in flour and salt, but you don’t list salt in the crust ingredients. I checked the recipe you adapted, so I’ll be fine for today, but wanted to give you the heads up! Thanks for all the great recipes – I love your blog!

    Merry Christmas!
    Bonnie

    Reply

  12. Amy says

    Oh my – those looks good. I think I might have to cook those.

    Just visiting our followers – Wishing you a Happy Spring.

    Reply

  14. brandy says

    Jocelyn, thanks for linking back to my blog and leaving a comment! I received many comments, but nobody gave feedback on whether or not they made them. I’m going to try some of the other GS cookie recipes from Baking Bites soon!

    Off to browse the rest of your blog… 🙂

    Reply

  15. Traci says

    All your goodies get my sweet tooth aching…cupcakes, samoa bars…oh, my goodness!
    Thanks for sharing! And I too think those GS cookies are a rip-off!

    Reply

  29. GroverFamily says

    Thanks for stopping by on Friday Followers! Im now following you back…and I totally agree on the tiny expensive box of girl scout cookies…i love them but i dont like paying the price…homemade is a great idea!

    Reply

  32. The Phillips Place says

    Samoa’s are my husband’s fave! I am checking the pantry now to see if I have what I need…and send most of them to work with him, because you are sooo right about summer being just around the corner!! 🙂

    Reply

  40. Adie says

    These are my favorite girl scout cookies! I did not buy any this year but trust me I have sent a few to campo in previous years!

    Reply

  41. Mindy says

    You spoke right to my heart.. or my stomach. 😉 I LOVE Samoas!! I also have a hard time dishing out the cash for so many (read sarcasm) cookies. I will have to try this one for sure, and there is a bonus in there: I won’t have to share very much, only me and a couple of kiddos like the things!

    Reply

  42. LeAnna says

    You are single handedly going to be responsible for all the weight I gain this pregnancy. I hope you can live with that.
    Those look incredible.

    Reply

  47. amy says

    Those look delicious! I agree with you on the cookies. Especially when I eat a whole row in one sitting; there’s not much left after that. hehe

    On a side note, I responded to the frosting tip question on my blog. :o)

    Reply

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