Ultimate Coconut Cookie Bars

Welcome to the ultimate guide for creating the most irresistibly buttery, chewy, and crispy Coconut Bar Cookies. Imagine a dessert that’s not only incredibly delicious but also remarkably simple to make, perfect for any occasion. These delightful cookie bars are your answer for hassle-free treats, whether you’re heading to a casual picnic, a lively BBQ, or a spontaneous get-together. Their rich coconut flavor and satisfying texture make them an instant crowd-pleaser, leaving everyone craving another bite.

In a world of complex desserts, these coconut bars stand out for their straightforward approach and profound flavor. They bypass the need for fussy individual cookie scooping and instead offer the convenience of a single-pan bake that delivers consistent perfection every time. If you or your loved ones are enthusiastic about coconut, prepare to find your new go-to recipe. Beyond these delectable bars, our kitchen is brimming with coconut-inspired delights. Don’t miss out on our Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies, the charming Coconut Cream Cookie Cups, a classic Coconut Pound Cake, or the utterly divine Coconut Butterscotch Pie.

The Irresistible Allure of Chewy Coconut Bar Cookies

For those who consider coconut a staple in their dessert repertoire, these cookie bars are an absolute must-try. Unlike many other coconut bar recipes that rely on sweetened condensed milk or a heavy chocolate chip presence, our recipe champions the pure, unadulterated essence of coconut. These bars are crafted with a unique oatmeal cookie dough base, generously studded with an abundance of shredded coconut. Baked in a standard sheet pan until they achieve a gorgeous, lightly golden hue, the aroma alone is enough to captivate your senses before the first bite even touches your lips.

What sets these coconut oatmeal bars apart is their focus on natural flavors and textures. You won’t find chocolate chips, an assortment of nuts, or graham cracker crumbs here. Instead, you’ll experience an intense, authentic coconut flavor perfectly complemented by the buttery, chewy richness of the oatmeal cookie dough. This combination creates a harmonious blend that is both comforting and exhilaratingly tropical. The beauty of this recipe also lies in its simplicity: no more tedious scooping and baking individual batches. Just mix, spread, bake, cool, cut, and indulge in pure coconut bliss!

Unlocking the Perfect Coconut Bar: Essential Ingredients & Tips

Creating these heavenly coconut bar cookies starts with understanding the role of each key ingredient. Quality ingredients, prepared correctly, are the foundation of an outstanding dessert. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and how to get the best results:

• Butter: The star of any good cookie dough! You can opt for either salted or unsalted butter; just remember to adjust any added salt if using salted butter. Crucially, your butter needs to be softened to room temperature. This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s vital for achieving that light, fluffy, and evenly mixed dough. Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air and creating a tender texture. If you forget to take it out ahead of time, gently microwave it in 10-second bursts, being extremely careful not to melt it into a liquid state.
• Brown Sugar: We typically recommend light brown sugar for these coconut bar cookies, as it imparts a subtle caramel note and moistness without overpowering the coconut. However, if you’re a fan of a richer, deeper molasses flavor, dark brown sugar is an excellent substitute that will add another layer of complexity to your bars.
• Granulated Sugar: Regular granulated sugar works alongside brown sugar to provide sweetness and contributes to the crispy edges and golden-brown finish of the bars. The balance between the two sugars is key for texture and flavor.
• Eggs: Large eggs are perfect for this recipe. Just like butter, bringing your eggs to room temperature is beneficial. Cold eggs can “shock” the creamed butter and sugar mixture, causing it to curdle slightly and preventing a smooth emulsion. Room temperature eggs blend more seamlessly into the batter, creating a more uniform and tender crumb.
• Shredded Coconut: This is, undoubtedly, the soul of our coconut bars. Since the recipe is generously loaded with coconut, we often prefer unsweetened shredded coconut to allow the natural sweetness of the other ingredients to shine without making the bars overly sugary. However, sweetened coconut flakes are also a fantastic option if you enjoy a sweeter, more intensely coconutty experience. Experiment to find your preference!
• Rolled Oats: For that signature chewy, hearty texture, old-fashioned rolled oats are non-negotiable. Do not substitute with instant oats or quick oats, as they absorb liquid differently and will result in a mushy or less satisfying texture. Steel-cut oats are also not suitable for this recipe. Rolled oats provide a pleasant chewiness that perfectly complements the shredded coconut.
• All-Purpose Flour: Standard all-purpose flour forms the structural base of the cookie dough, binding all the ingredients together to create the perfect consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, especially the butter and coconut, adding a warm, aromatic depth to the bars. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is essential for balancing the sweetness and bringing out the full spectrum of flavors in the cookies. It prevents the bars from tasting flat and enhances the buttery notes.
• Optional: Chocolate Chips: If you’re a devoted fan of the classic Mounds Bar, you know the magic that happens when rich chocolate meets chewy coconut. For an extra layer of indulgence, consider adding about ¾ cup of mini chocolate chips along with the shredded coconut. You can choose milk chocolate for sweetness, semi-sweet for a classic pairing, or even white chocolate chips for a creamier, milder contrast. This addition takes the bars from delightful to absolutely decadent!

Crafting Your Perfect Batch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Coconut Cookie Bars

Making these easy coconut cookie bars is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these simple steps for a flawless bake:

1. Prepare Your Workspace and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when the dough is ready, promoting even baking. Next, prepare a 13″ x 18″ baking sheet. You can either grease it thoroughly with butter or non-stick spray, or, for easier removal and cleanup, line it with parchment paper. This preparation step is crucial to prevent sticking and ensure your bars come out perfectly.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened room temperature butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Turn the mixer to medium speed and cream these ingredients together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and noticeably paler in color. This process typically takes about 3 minutes. Properly creaming the butter and sugars incorporates air, which is essential for the bar’s tender texture.
3. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: With the mixer running on low speed, add the room temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to fully incorporate into the mixture before adding the next. This prevents curdling and ensures a smooth batter. Be sure to stop the mixer periodically and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are well combined. Once the eggs are in, add the vanilla extract and salt, mixing until just combined.
4. Fold in Dry Ingredients and Coconut: In a separate, large bowl, gently whisk together the all-purpose flour and old-fashioned rolled oats. This ensures these dry ingredients are evenly distributed. Next, add the copious amount of shredded coconut to the flour and oat mixture, tossing to coat. This step helps prevent the coconut from clumping in the final batter. Finally, add this combined dry mixture to the wet butter mixture in the stand mixer. Mix on low speed, just until the ingredients are fully combined. Be careful not to overmix, as overmixing can lead to tough bars. If you’re adding optional chocolate chips, fold them in now.
5. Spread onto the Baking Sheet: Transfer the coconut bar mixture to your prepared 13″ x 18″ baking sheet. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the dough evenly across the entire surface of the pan. Aim for a consistent thickness to ensure uniform baking.
6. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking sheet into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. The bars are ready when the edges are beautifully browned and golden, and the top has set and taken on a light golden hue. Keep an eye on them, as oven temperatures can vary.
7. Cool and Cut: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven. It’s essential to let the coconut bar cookies cool completely at room temperature before attempting to cut them. Cutting them while warm can result in crumbling. Once fully cooled, use a sharp knife to cut them into squares or rectangles of your desired size. Serve and enjoy these irresistible treats!

Frequently Asked Questions About Coconut Cookie Bars

Storing Your Delicious Coconut Bar Cookies

Proper storage ensures your coconut bar cookies remain fresh and delicious for as long as possible. Here’s how to keep them at their best:

• Room Temperature: For immediate enjoyment, store your cooled coconut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This method is perfect if you plan to share them within a few days.
• Refrigerator: To extend their freshness, place the bars in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Chilled bars can be a delightful treat, especially on a warm day.
• Freezer: For longer storage, cut the cooled bars into individual portions. Arrange them in an airtight freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be stored frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw individual bars at room temperature or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.

Average Rating: 4.63 from 8 votes

Coconut Bars Cookies Recipe

Author
The Carefree Kitchen

These coconut cookie bars are buttery, chewy, crispy on top, and totally delicious. They’re the perfect hassle-free dessert recipe to bring to picnics, BBQs, or last minute get-togethers.

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Prep:
10 mins

Cook:
25 mins

Total:
35 mins

Yields

15
people

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups shredded coconut
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Prepare a 13″ x 18″ baking sheet by greasing it or lining with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the room temperature butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using the paddle attachment, cream until light and fluffy—about 3 minutes.
3. While mixing on low speed, slowly add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and salt and mix to combine.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together shredded coconut, flour, and oats. Add this dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
5. Spread the coconut bar mixture evenly onto the prepared 13″ x 18″ baking sheet.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges and top of the cookie bars are lightly browned and golden.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely at room temperature before cutting into bars. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing instructions: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal |
Carbohydrates: 44g |
Protein: 3g |
Fat: 20g |
Saturated Fat: 14g |
Cholesterol: 69mg |
Sodium: 285mg |
Potassium: 136mg |
Fiber: 2g |
Sugar: 32g |
Vitamin A: 430IU |
Vitamin C: 0.7mg |
Calcium: 25mg |
Iron: 1.4mg

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

Course
Dessert

Cuisine
American

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Explore More of Our Best Coconut Recipes

If these coconut bar cookies have sparked your love for all things coconut, you’re in for a treat! Our collection is brimming with diverse and delectable coconut-inspired dishes that cater to every craving. From sweet breakfast bakes to rich and creamy pies, there’s a coconut recipe for every occasion:

• Easy Coconut French Toast Bake: A breakfast casserole infused with tropical flavors.
• Coconut Chocolate Bundt Cake: A stunning dessert combining two classic flavors.
• Coconut Cream Pie: A timeless, creamy, and dreamy favorite.
• Butterscotch Coconut Cream Pie: A delightful twist on the traditional pie.
• Coconut Pound Cake: Dense, moist, and bursting with coconut goodness.
• Homemade Coconut Macaroons: Simple, elegant, and perfectly chewy.
• White Chocolate and Coconut Cookies: A sophisticated cookie with a delightful texture.
• Coconut Macaroon Easter Nests: A fun and festive treat, especially for spring.
• Lime Coconut Sugar Cookie Bars: Zesty, sweet, and perfectly refreshing.
• Coconut Rice: A flavorful side dish that complements many main courses.
• Discover even more Cookie Bar Recipes for endless dessert inspiration.
• Browse our full collection of Dessert Recipes to find your next sweet adventure.

These Coconut Cookie Bars, with their generous amount of sweet, shredded coconut, are more than just a dessert; they are a delightful experience. Their perfect balance of chewiness, buttery richness, and a satisfying crispy top makes them incredibly easy to love and even easier to make. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe promises a foolproof way to bring a taste of the tropics to your table. Enjoy the simple pleasure of homemade goodness!