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!
Yes!!! They are as yummy as they look.
Ready, Set, GO BAKE!!!!
Homemade Samoas recipe:
Homemade Samoa Bars - shortbread cookies topped with a caramel coconut layer and dipped in chocolate.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 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
- 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.
- Readjust the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Let cool completely. Cut into 24 squares.
- 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.
- Dip the bottoms of the bars in the chocolate and place on a piece of wax paper to set.
- 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
amy says
March 18, 2010 at 3:21 PMThose 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)
gina says
March 18, 2010 at 3:28 PMYUMMY!!! Those GS cookies are MY favorite, but only 15 come in a box- 15!!
The Crispins says
March 18, 2010 at 3:35 PMI am so glad you posted this! Can’t wait to try it!
Angie S says
March 18, 2010 at 3:59 PMYum! I’m gonna have to bake some up!
Brandi says
March 18, 2010 at 4:14 PMJocelyn,
Oh my goodness! These look so yummy! You should make up batches of these and sell them on Etsy! Ha Ha!
Brandi
LeAnna says
March 18, 2010 at 4:20 PMYou 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.
Mindy says
March 18, 2010 at 4:21 PMYou 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!
Adie says
March 18, 2010 at 4:27 PMThese 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!
Kaz and Amy says
March 18, 2010 at 4:29 PMThose look so delicious! I can’t wait to try them!
Have a wonderful Thursday!
carissa @ lowercase letters says
March 18, 2010 at 4:32 PMoh heavens… bless you for sharing this sweet goodness with all of us!
Jessica says
March 18, 2010 at 4:35 PMgoing to have to try those for sure!
MrsB says
March 18, 2010 at 6:26 PMthey look INCREDIBLE.
Courtney Baker says
March 18, 2010 at 8:12 PMOh my. Seriously those look AMAZING!
Amber Zimmerman says
March 18, 2010 at 8:46 PMThose look soooooo yummy! I just downed an entire box of thin mint cookies BY MYSELF! Oy! Those things are the devil.
Sarah says
March 18, 2010 at 10:49 PMOh I am so gonna try these, asap! Thanks Jocelyn!! xoxo
The Phillips Place says
March 18, 2010 at 11:10 PMSamoa’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!! 🙂
Jenni says
March 19, 2010 at 2:12 AMOH YUM! going to try these!
Kelly L says
March 19, 2010 at 2:53 AMYum!
Love,
Kelly
GroverFamily says
March 19, 2010 at 2:49 PMThanks 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!
Sweet and Savory says
March 19, 2010 at 5:28 PMThese look really good. I have to try these.
Melissa Cornell says
March 19, 2010 at 8:10 PMyou are evil!!! They look delish!!
LLL with Leslie says
March 19, 2010 at 9:11 PMThank you for the follow. I am following you back 🙂
Have a great day!
Leslie
http://www.livelovelaughwithleslie.com
Mich says
March 19, 2010 at 11:17 PMYummy!
Have a great weekend!
Jennychick says
March 20, 2010 at 4:17 AMSamoas are my favorite!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I am so excited to try it!
ReJOYce! says
March 20, 2010 at 5:07 AMYummy! You are so right: pair it with a cup of coffee, Mmmm… DELISH! Have a Great Weekend!
Winter says
March 20, 2010 at 7:53 PMWOW! Those look good! I love seeing all the good stuff you make! 🙂
Sarah Ann says
March 20, 2010 at 9:04 PMYUM!!! Those boxes are definitely a rip-off… So why do I buy them?!
I’m doing a giveaway – come check it out @ sarahannrogers.com
Q, La, and Gooner says
March 20, 2010 at 9:11 PMThat is complete wow! They are SO tasty but such a rip off! I can’t wait to try these AFTER I heal all up and in moderation!
Evelyn Perkins says
March 21, 2010 at 5:53 AMWow!!! I don’t even like coconut and my mouth is watering just looking at these!! YUM!!
Taija says
March 21, 2010 at 11:07 PMYUM-O!! Those sound/look incredible too!! Thanks for sharing such great recipes!
Candace says
March 21, 2010 at 11:19 PMYUM-O! Enough said…mostly because drool will fall out of my mouth at any second!
Miss Jody says
March 21, 2010 at 11:21 PMOh.my.gosh.
You.
My friend.
Make life worth living.
I can make dozens!!!
and eat them all.
by myself. 🙂
Traci says
March 22, 2010 at 1:45 AMAll 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!
brandy says
March 22, 2010 at 2:11 AMJocelyn, 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… 🙂
Kiana says
March 22, 2010 at 3:29 AMOh no, Samoa’s are my husband’s favorite! I almost feel obligated to make these for him and he doesn’t even know about it lol. And yes, those boxes are way small!
http://www.dottheiwedding.com
Amy says
March 22, 2010 at 5:05 PMOh my – those looks good. I think I might have to cook those.
Just visiting our followers – Wishing you a Happy Spring.
Mrs. Dunbar says
March 23, 2010 at 3:45 PMOMGoodness Samoas are my absolute favorite girl scout cookie! I will most definitely try these, thanks for the tip.
Cassie says
March 24, 2010 at 7:52 PMThose look super yummy! If I liked coconut, I’d be sold!
chubskulit says
March 26, 2010 at 8:12 PMHi there, following you from Friday Follow.. Hope you can hop over my place when you get a chance. It’s nice meeting new friends!
Kari Day says
March 26, 2010 at 8:40 PMOk, those make me soooo hungry! YUMMY! And yes, I think they are a rip-off… I try to think of it as a donation.
http://setfreetosucceed.blogspot.com
http://psalm118–5.blogspot.com
Iva says
April 6, 2010 at 6:01 PMthose look amazing!!
Vicki Bensinger says
June 8, 2013 at 8:47 AMWow these are so simple. Who wouldn’t want to make these. Although with swimsuit season here I may have to give them away after sampling one of them.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 9, 2013 at 3:40 PMI hear you…swim suit season came way too soon. I need to give away everything I bake from now until October 🙂
The Inspiration Network says
July 12, 2013 at 10:19 AMI know these are oldies…but we’ve featured them at The Inspiration Network! They look delicious!
http://theinspiration-network.com/homemade-samoa-bars-from-inside-bru-crew-life/
Smiles,
Melanie and Diana
The Inspiration Network Girls
Bonnie says
December 22, 2013 at 9:54 AMHi 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
Tiffany says
January 26, 2015 at 5:27 PMThese look amazing! Thank you so much 🙂
Also, I wasn’t sure, but can I substitute the shortening? And with what would you suggest?
Jocelyn Brubaker says
January 28, 2015 at 9:22 AMI 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.
Jessica says
February 13, 2018 at 11:01 AMI 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?
Jocelyn says
February 13, 2018 at 11:38 AMI’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!
Donna says
August 21, 2018 at 1:19 PMI 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?
Jocelyn says
August 21, 2018 at 9:41 PMThat 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!