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Coconut Butter Bars Recipe

3.9 from 66 reviews

Delight in these rich and chewy Coconut Butter Bars featuring a buttery brown sugar crust topped with a luscious sweetened condensed milk and coconut filling. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, these bars offer a tropical twist with shredded coconut that melts in your mouth, finished with an optional coconut topping for extra texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks), melted

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, additional for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside to ensure the bars don’t stick.
  2. Prepare the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the base layer.
  3. Bake the Crust: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, or until it turns lightly golden brown. This step sets the crust for a firm foundation.
  4. Prepare the Filling: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sweetened condensed milk, granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Stir in the shredded coconut until evenly combined for that signature coconut flavor.
  5. Pour Over the Crust: Remove the baked crust from the oven and immediately pour the coconut filling over the hot crust, spreading it out evenly with a spatula for uniform cooking.
  6. Bake Again: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is fully set and the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown, indicating it’s perfectly cooked through.
  7. Cool and Serve: Let the Coconut Butter Bars cool completely in the baking dish before slicing into squares. Sprinkle additional sweetened shredded coconut on top for garnish if desired, adding extra texture and coconut flavor.

Notes

  • Toasted Coconut: For added flavor and texture, toast the shredded coconut by spreading it on a baking sheet and baking at 325°F (160°C) for 5-7 minutes until lightly golden brown.
  • Nutty Twist: Add chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans, or macadamia nuts into the crust or filling to introduce a delightful crunch.
  • Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted chocolate over cooled bars for a decadent, sweet finish.
  • Fruit Infusion: Mix in dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots into the filling for bursts of fruity flavor.

Keywords: Coconut Butter Bars, Coconut Bars, Sweetened Condensed Milk Bars, Coconut Dessert, Homemade Coconut Bars, Coconut Baking Recipe