Warm Toasted “Caramel” Coconut Gooey Chocolate Crunch Bars.
Yep, it’s about that time of year.
The time of year when I really get the baking bug. Good thing is, it’s part of my job, bad thing is, my office is currently overflowing with cookies, cakes and gooey chocolate bars. And I am not joking.
My mom and I share the office that is right off the kitchen and since our pantry is a tinsy bit small for all the people we have in the house, the office has become the place for the overflowing foods… meaning all the desserts.
The plus side, when you hit a little creativity block and need some chocolate to get’s things flowing again… there is plenty of it, right there waiting for you. What?? It works, you should totally try it.
It doesn’t help that both Sunday and Monday were cozy, snowy days. Days that I kind of want to stay in bed (and watch Christmas movies… don’t hate me), but I actually can’t because um, life is a knocking. Lucky for me, life can sometimes mean baking.
I am so lucky. I know it. I do.
I am not lying when I say that I literally spent my weekend baking.
If you are in the area, stop over, I have lot’s of treats!! Although, you see, I have this grand plan. It’s a good one. I am planning to bribe the workers down at the barn with loads of cookies in hopes that they will work day and night to finish up that thing already! It seems as if we have hit EVERY. SINGLE. road block there could be when it comes to that thing. Did I tell you guys about how, as of right now, the barn is not capable of having internet?? Yeah, I know. We are trying to figure something out, but the problem is that Comcast cannot dig a new line because there is this stupid cut off date of when they can no longer dig. In the mountains, the ground freezes come mid to late October so they make these rules that say things like “no digging after October 15th”. Thing is, it has been pretty sunny and warm around here and the ground is not yet frozen. I have to admit this is pretty unusual for this time of year, but hey, work with it! Unfortunately, I guess rules are rules. UGH.
Maybe I can bribe whoever MAKES these rules with cookies and gooey chocolate bars? What do you think?
Yeah, yeah, I know.
Anyway, let’s talk about these chocolate coconutty bars.
I have to say that the title is a bit misleading. While there is tons of chocolate, coconut, crunch and gooeyness in these bars they are not really a caramel bar. The “caramel” topping is similar to caramel, but easier, and better than caramel. What I am trying to say is that I used a combo of sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup and butter to give these bars their gooey deliciousness and I could not be happier with my decision. Actually, I am jumping with joy over them. You will come to see this week, that I am all about sweetened condensed milk right now.
Basically these are glorified seven layer bars. You start with a vanilla cookie base that is soft and sugar cookie like, pre-bake it, and while they’re baking you make the “caramel” on the stove. And all you do for the caramel is toast the butter and then simmer the remaining ingredients together until they thicken and turn a light golden shade. Which means things are getting really good.
Next, you layer. A little chocolate (err, a lot), coconut and some walnuts for crunch. If you are not a nut fan you can leave these out, but I love the flavor and texture they give. You can also swap in whatever YOUR favorite nut is. Then just pour the caramel over the layers and bake until the top gets all caramelized. Ohhmmyygosh. So flipping good.
You can bake these in a 9×13 inch baking dish or divide the dough between two pie plates. The pie plates make these fun for Thanksgiving! And then you actually eat these warm. YESS. You can also totally eat them at room temperature, but warm is always so good. I love warm foods… especially of the chocolate variety.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Warm Toasted "Caramel" Coconut Gooey Chocolate Crunch Bars.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: coconut
There's bars have tons of chocolate, coconut, crunch and gooeyness in these delicious bars, plus a gorgeous topping that better than caramel.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened whatever you prefer)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish* with parchment paper allowing the side to hang over the dish.
-
In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter, brown sugar, salt, and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Using a mixer beat the mixture until it is smooth, scraping down the sides a few times. Add the flour and water, beat until combined.
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Press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden. Remove from the oven. The bars will seem buttery, this is fine.
-
Meanwhile, make the "caramel". Add the butter to a medium sauce pan. Cook butter over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the sweetened condensed milk and maple syrup. Cook the sauce over low heat for 8-10 minute, stirring often to prevent the caramel from burning and sticking to the pan*. Cook until it thickens slightly and turns light golden in color. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
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Once the cookie base is out of the oven, sprinkle the top of the cookies with chopped chocolate or chocolate chips. Next, sprinkle on the walnuts and 1 cup shredded coconut. Pour the "caramel" over top of everything in an even layer. If needed, use a spoon to gently spread the caramel into an even layer. Sprinkle the top with the remaining coconut. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is beginning to brown and caramelize.
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Allow the bars to cool about 20 minutes and then slice and serve warm.
Warm Toasted “Caramel” Coconut Gooey Chocolate Crunch Bars – best Tuesday treats ever!
WOW!!! I love coconut and chocolate with it is also a good thing. I have never cared for sweetened condensed milk but maybe this would have a different taste. This looks wonderful. Even at 7 a.m. YUM!!!!
Thank you Charlotte! I think you might like these, the sweetened condensed milk just adds sweetness. You taste the coconut and chocolate more.
Hope you had a great day! 🙂
Mmmmm these look so yummy! Coconut and chocolate are my favorites!
Thank you!
De-Lish! They remind me of the 7-Layer cookie I make around holiday time…I love the addition of the maple!! Nice recipe!
Thanks Annie! 🙂
I need to make these today – only problem is I never have any luck making caramel. If I was to sub in store bought caramel, how much would I use?
Hey Kathy!
This is not a real caramel and trust me, I really think you can make this with the sweetened condensed milk. You just simmer it with butter + maple syrup and pour it over the bars. The only bad thing you can do is burn the mixture, but as long as you cook it over low heat and stir often, it’s so easy. I am not sure a store-bought caramel sauce would work in the same way, but if you would like to try, I would use about 2 cups. BUT give the original recipe try. I think you’ll see that it is pretty easy.
Let me know hoe it goes! 🙂
Ugh! How can you possibly be single? I am shocked that you have not had marriage proposals over your baked goods alone!
HA! Thanks!
They look so good!!!! Yummy!!!
Thank you, Vicki!!
Yum these look so good. I love your cake tin
aimee x
Thank you so much, Aimee!! Hope you are having a great week!
These look unreal! I need them. Now!
Thanks Lauren!!
Holy yum these look so good…..I love coconut and chocolate together.
Thank you, Lisa! Hope you are having a great week!
YES – I bet you could easily bribe whoever MAKES those rules with cookies and gooey chocolate bars! These look fantastic! Tieghan!
Haha! Thanks Shashi! 🙂
So, can I “work” in your office with you and your mom? As in, can I please eat all the treats? I mean, I’d settle for the pantry, too. I’ve never wanted to work in a pantry so bad in my life. 😉 These bars are what all my fantasies are made of!
Haha!! Thank you so much, Julia!! 🙂
Total bummer about the internet. If you have unlimited data you could always hot spot your computer but I’m sure it wouldn’t very fast 🙁
Yeah, we thought about that, but it’s just now fat enough. I am sure we will figure something out. Fingers crossed!
Thanks! 🙂
Mmmm 🙂 These are so similar to a recipe I grew up eating! We called them Magic Bars!
Thanks Jennifer! They are so similar to magic bars, but I do not think magic bars simmer the sweetened condensed milk before baking.
Hope you are having a great week! 🙂
Soooo excited to try these! I love magic cookie bars and anything that resembles them. The holidays are coming! Yippee! I can’t wait to serve these to the family 🙂
Thanks Kathleen and yes, Yippee for the holidays! 🙂
Couldn’t all those big strong guys around your house dig the trench themselves and then the cable company could do the rest without breaking any rules?
HAHA!! OMG, I wish. Thing is, my brothers don’t love physical work very much and the only brother I can actually get to do anything is busy with school right now, so the brothers are not the best option. Good thinkin though!! 🙂
These look SO flippin’ good! I feel like I need to make them ASAP just so I can hoard them all to myself.
And the whole chocolate for creativity thing – been there and it works. 😉
Hehe! Thanks Alexandra! Hope you are having a great week!
These bars are gorgeous, I love the gooey factor and coconut topping. Now if only I lived close enough for a sample! 😉
Thanks Laura!! 🙂
Hope you had a great Tuesday!
These look fantastic! I totally want to make this for Christmas! If I wanted to make just one 9 inch pie, would it be possible to cut the recipe in half? Thanks! Love your blog 🙂
Hey Erin, the recipe can easily be cut in half. I actually tried it the other day, worked great! Hope you love the bars! 🙂
These look AMAZING! I will be making these for my boyfriend to bring in to his coworkers!
I love your blog, thanks for all the great recipes! 🙂
Thank you so much, Emily!! Hope everyone love the bars!:)
And thank you for such kind words. It means so much!! Have a great Thursday!
These look amazing, anything with chocolate chips and coconut!
Thank you! 🙂
This looks magical. I love coconut and chocolate!
Thanks!
Oh these looks magical! What an awesome combo! Love the easy caramel topping! Best of luck getting internet out – that sounds like a terrible rule 🙁
It is a terrible rule! 🙁
Thank you so much, Sam!
Hey these look absolutely amazing btw. Yet I have 3 questions about substitutes. I am a college student soi don’t have an electronic mixer so would store bought cookie dough work? 2. I have imitation vanilla extract is that ok? And last, can you think ofa substitute for nuts. I’m being cautious for those with nut allergies.
Hi! You can actually just mix the dough in a bowl with a spoon until it comes together. It will be dry at first, but it will come together the more you mix it. If you want though,store bought sugar cookie or shortbread cookie dough would also work. Imitation vanilla is honestly no where near as good as real vanilla and I would personally invest in real vanilla. It is just so much better. But yes, if needed imitation vanilla will work. As for the nuts, they can be left out completely or you can swap in chopped pretzels, your favorite candy or really any small and bite sized food that you love and think would work in these bars.
Let me know if you have anymore questions and I hope you love these! THANKS!
This is where I sit and think to myself, where do I get a barn? Sure, I’m in suburbia…but I still want one. 🙂 And I really want these bars. LOVE!
Haha!! I know, I AM SO LUCKY! You can come visit anytime…I mean I do live in a “vacation” town anyway so it is perfect!
Thanks Dorothy! 🙂
These look amazing! I was wondering if I could substitute light corn syrup for the maple syrup? I can’t wait to try them!
Hi Kris, yup that would be fine. Hope you love these!
I’d like to make these in a cast iron pan as it appears you’ve done I one batch of photos. Any changes or recommendations for this route? Does the cookie layer stick to the pan without parchment paper? Love your recipes, your blog has given my home a delcious start to winter.
Mac
Hey Mac, as long as you grease the pan, it shouldn’t stick. Nothing really to change. Hope you love these and thanks so much for the kind words! 🙂
Now this is something my partner & I will sink our teeth into, however is there an ulturnative to salted butter ?
I didn’t read ( all ) previous comments so I’m not sure it may have been asked. The only reason being is I react to butter in a not so fun way after something so yum. Thank you
First i’m making these bars asap; they hit me right on the mark!
Hi, read about no internet… have you looked into hughes? I’ve had hughes for going on 20 years. when I moved to the beach there was no internet at all … no Comcast,etc. was lucky to find a wireless phone that worked. found hughes and never have changed even though other companies are now in the area.
I’ve had less than 5 problems over the years with hughes and would highly recommend you try them… good luck
Hello,
These look yummy. Do leftovers need to be refrigerated?
Thanks so much!!
Thanks Healthy!! I just leave mine on the counter, covered, but feel free to do whatever you wish. Hope you love them!!
OMG I love you recipes, you are an amazing cook. Hope I make this and it comes out like yours. 🙂
These look so amazing! I love baking with coconut!
Thank you so much, Eden! Hope you had a great day!
In the over right now! Made it for Mother’s Day. Instead of Pecans I used Raisins. Pecan was the only ingredient I didn’t have in the house. Excited to try it and I hope my mum likes it!
Awesome!! So excited!! Let me know how it was! Thanks Samantha!
**oven, haha
8:00pm on Saturday night I see this recipe and decide no time like the present. So so darn good and easy to make. The layers of flavor and textures together are rich and delicious. Great one, thank you!
Haha yes!! So happy you make it! Thanks so much Sarah!
These look so yum!!!! was thinking to make this for visitors, but would it be hard to serve? like gooey when it’s warm?
I love this website BTW!
Hey Megan! I think these would be fine to serve to visitors. They are gooey, but not overly so. And the firm up once cooled. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love these bars!
very tasty cakes. I wait for the next article. thanks for the information 🙂
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Glad you like it! Thank you!
Really delicious, and fun to make on a chilly day! Ate it warm, just like Dr. Tieghan prescribed, and it was a great treat. All those different layers to sink my teeth into, yum! Not difficult to make, and I could have drunk the caramel-maple sauce by itself. Thank you.
Hi Julie! I am so glad you loved this so much! Thank you!
This looks like bliss to me! I was just wondering how much caramel it makes in relation to cups? and would gluten free all purpose flour work? 🙂
HI! This makes about 1/2 cup, but I am not postive. As for the GF I have not tested this recipe with GF so I am not sure of the results. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan