These gooey Coconut Bars are a simple and delicious dessert. The buttery crust is soft and chewy and topped with a sweet, gooey filling that tastes like a macaroon.
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Coconut is a controversial flavor - you either love or hate it. I'm on team coconut! In winter, I like to bake coconut bundt cake or chocolate coconut cookies because it makes me think of sunny days.
Using a cake mix is an easy way to create a delicious dessert. I combined gooey butter bars and cake bars with coconut to create a chewy texture. Our friends loved them, so it was a success.
Why This Coconut Bar Recipe Works
If you are looking for a sweet dessert, try these magic bars. I promise they will satisfy any sweet tooth. Share them with friends or keep them for yourself; we won't judge.
- Easy to make. A cake mix simplifies the crust and saves you time in the kitchen.
- Fun to customize. Try different cake mixes and toppings like chocolate chips, fruit, nuts, or candies to make special flavors.
- Loaded with coconut. The soft and chewy bars have a delightful flavor from the extract and shredded flakes.
What You'll Need
No fancy tools or ingredients are needed to make this coconut bar recipe. The sweet treat comes together in minutes.
Kitchen Tools
- 9x13 Baking Dish - (affiliate links) This one has a lid to store leftovers.
- Baker's Joy - Great nonstick baking spray to keep treats from sticking.
- Rubber Spatula - It makes it easy to scrape the bowl and press the dough into the pan.
- Wire Rack - Great for cooling cookies or cakes.
Main Ingredients
- White Cake Mix - You will only use the dry powder for this recipe. Any brand works, but make sure it is 15 ounces.
- Unsalted Butter - Set it out ahead of time so it can soften.
- Large Egg - Provides the moisture needed to make a dough.
- Extracts - A combo of coconut and vanilla extract adds a better flavor.
- Shredded Coconut - Feel free to use sweetened or unsweetened flakes.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - You need one 14-ounce can of sweetened milk, NOT evaporated.
BruCrew Tip: Use the leftovers to make coconut cream eggs or banana coconut muffins.
How To Make Coconut Bars
Our chewy coconut cake bars are a delicious and simple dessert made with a cake mix crust. Let's get baking!
- Make the cookie crust. Mix the dry cake mix, butter, egg, and extracts in a large bowl until a soft dough forms.
- Stir together the topping. Add the shredded flakes to a bowl, then pour in the sweetened condensed milk. Stir until combined.
- Assemble the bars. Press the dough evenly into a prepared pan, then spread the gooey mixture on top of the crust.
- Bake and cool. Place in the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Remove and then place on a wire rack.
Storage Recommendations
Keep leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. If you are keeping them longer, place the container in the fridge for up to one week.
Tips and Tricks
- Line the pan with parchment paper to remove them from the pan easily.
- The dough is sticky, so spray your hands or spatula with nonstick baking spray to keep it from sticking.
- For more texture, crunch, and coconut flavor, sprinkle extra shredded flakes on top of the bars before baking.
- Let them cool completely before cutting into bars because they will fall apart when warm.
Variations
- Choose a different cake mix for your crust. Lemon, chocolate, and strawberry are all delicious choices.
- For extra flavor and color, add mini chocolate chips, almonds, cherries, cranberries, M&M's, or sprinkles on top before baking.
- Drizzle or spread melted white or milk chocolate over the cooled bars to add a fun topping.
FAQs
Feel free to substitute any flavor of cake mix for the buttery shortbread crust. Some of our favorite flavors are chocolate, lemon, and strawberry.
You can use unsweetened or sweetened shredded flakes in this recipe. Unsweetened coconut will result in slightly less sweet bars.
Both types of milk have the water removed to make them thicker. Sweetened condensed milk has sugar added to make it sweeter, while evaporated milk is unsweetened and thinner.
More Coconut Desserts
- Chocolate Coconut Bars
- Coconut Carrot Cake
- Coconut Cookies
- Lemon Coconut Cupcakes
- Coconut Chocolate Pie
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Recipe
Gooey Coconut Bars
These gooey Coconut Bars are a simple and delicious dessert. The buttery crust is soft and chewy and topped with a sweet, gooey filling that tastes like a coconut macaroon.
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix (15.25 oz)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a glass 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the dry cake mix, soft butter, extracts, and egg until a soft dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Stir the coconut and condensed milk together in a bowl. Spread it evenly on top of the cake dough.
- Bake for 28 minutes. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack. Do not cut until completely cool.
- Store in a sealed container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- Line the pan with parchment paper to remove them from the pan easily.
- The dough is sticky, so spray your hands or spatula with nonstick baking spray to keep it from sticking.
- For more texture, crunch, and coconut flavor, sprinkle extra shredded flakes on top of the bars before baking.
- Let them cool completely before cutting into bars because they will fall apart when warm.
Variations
- Choose a different cake mix for your crust. Lemon, chocolate, and strawberry are all delicious choices.
- Sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips, sliced almonds, dried cherries or cranberries, M&M's, or sprinkles before baking to enhance the flavor and add color.
- Drizzle or spread melted white or milk chocolate over the cooled bars to add a fun topping.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 256Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
This post was first published in March 2012. It was updated and then republished in February 2024.
Abbie
P.S. Your comments always make me smile.
: )
See?
Abbie
Oh goodness, these look a little TOO good! (as always!)
Thanks so much for linking up your awesome food ideas at Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL!
~Abbie
The Daily Smash
These look yummy. Just found your blog its so fun.. Come and check out my blogHave a great day
Six Sisters
These look so delicious! We can't wait to try them! They are loaded with our favorite yummy ingredients! We loved having you at "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We hope to see you again next week! -The Sisters
Danielle
Hey I just wanted to let you know I featured you on Blissful and Domestic this morning. Stop by and grab a button and check it out.DanielleBlissful and Domestic<br
Sophie
Oh my goodness gracious! All your recipes look absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS! I'm having a link party on my blog and would LOVE if you linked up a recipe or two of yours! It will be going through the end of the month so you've got some time... At the end I'll choose a couple of my favorites and feature them in a post! SO LINK UP! 🙂
Brenda
These look super fun and very delicious!
Tenille
Thanks so much for sharing these. These look so delish. I will definitely be making these. Thanks for sharing. I would love it if you could link this up to our linky party going on right now.
Lizzy
Oh, gosh, these sound incredible!!! LOVE me some coconut 🙂
Silly Steeneck's
These look very tasty!
Beth
These look amazing! I will definitely be making some. Thanks for sharing!<br
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
My drool just hit my keyboard. Oh, these look so good. I've never made gooey cake bars either but you've just given me an idea... 🙂
amy (fearless homemaker)
what a fun idea - they look like they turned out fabulous!
Hayley
Yum!! You know me and coconut--we're big time BFFs. Love these!
Erin
They look amazing and I love that they are Easter-y too! I'd eat 2 or 3 too =o)
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
Um, Jocelyn? I think I just fell a little bit in love with you.
The Better Baker
I love the gooey cake bars, but never would have thought to dress it up with these amazing ingredients. This looks fabulous - mouth watering...I WANT ONE NOW! =)
4Sisters
Oh my word! I'll take some if no one else wants theirs. This looks amazing - oreo and coconut is a killer combo!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
Aimee
Oh my girl. I want one! Coconut is never a big deal in this house, except for me. Those would be quite dangerous, as I would end up eating the entire batch!
Stephanie Doyle
Yummy!!