Gooey Coconut Chocolate Bars

These gooey coconut chocolate bars are the perfect marriage of brownie and German chocolate. You won’t regret making these!

Sometimes trying a new recipe in the midst of an intense chocolate craving is risky. Really risky. But these coconut chocolate bars completely exceeded my expectations when I made them to appease just such a craving.

I can’t even begin to describe all the reasons these bars are worth making but the unique texture and gooey deliciousness alone will be worth it, I assure you.

A decadent, rich chocolate base is topped with a creamy, chocolatey, coconut mixture (almost like a frosting) and baked until the brownie base is set and the coconut/chocolate center is cooked through but still soft and well…gooey.

Encased in a crackly topping that forms while baking, these bars are the perfect marriage of brownie and German chocolate madness (a classic chocolate and coconut combination).

They were great once they cooled, but chilled in the refrigerator? Unbelievable.

One Year Ago: Whole Wheat Dinner Muffins
Two Years Ago: Twice Baked Potatoes
Three Years Ago: Chicken Tortellini Bake

Gooey Coconut Chocolate Bars

Yield: 16 Bars (8X8-inch pan)

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

5 stars (3 ratings)

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Ingredients

For the base:

• ¾ cup (107 g) all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup (28 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup (159 g) sugar
• 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter, melted
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon coconut extract

For the topping:

• 4 ounces (113 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter, at room temperature
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup (21 g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ cups (171 g) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (85 g) sweetened shredded coconut

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Instructions 

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray an 8×8-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the sides and spray the paper or foil with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar until evenly combined. Add the butter, egg, vanilla, and coconut extract and mix with a handheld electric mixer (or use a stand mixer) until the mixture is combined. Gently press or spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Set aside.
• For the topping, cream together the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until light and smooth. Add the egg and mix well, then add the cocoa powder and vanilla and mix until well blended. Add the powdered sugar gradually while beating until the mixture is smooth. Fold in the coconut.
• Dollop the topping evenly over the base and bake the bars for 30-35 minutes or until the edges are just set and the center is a little wobbly. Cool completely in the pan before lifting out and cutting into squares. The bars taste wonderful chilled, by the way.

Notes

Don’t Overbake: they are best taken out of the oven when the edges are set and the center is still a bit jiggly. They will firm up after cooling but if they are baked too long, they will be hard and dry.

Author: Mel

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Method: Bake

Serving: 1 Bar, Calories: 226kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 58mg, Sodium: 169mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g

Recommended Products

8-inch Baking Pan

Mixing Bowl

Electric Hand Mixer

Recipe Source: adapted from a recipe I originally spied on My Sister’s Kitchen via Evil Shenanigans

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