This coconut bars recipe is a cross between coconut macaroon cookies and a brownie! They’re hands down one of my all-time favorite cookie bars. Perfect for Easter cookies, or any occasion for that matter, this decadent treat has tender coconut-y topping over a brownie base!
I often list this with my Easter recipes, but this recipe is great for bake sales, holiday baking, or a quick afternoon snack. If you like chocolate and coconut, then you’re gonna love this recipe! Let’s head to the kitchen and get started!
Going cuckoo for coconut? I can’t blame you after trying this recipe! Be sure to check out coconut buttermilk cake, coconut cream pie bars, and banana coconut cream pie!
What I Love About This Recipe
- Two desserts in one
- The moist fluffy coconut topping
- The rich chocolaty brownie bottom
- Super quick and easy to make
How To Make Coconut Bars Recipe
Start by prepping the pan with the aluminum foil. Melt the butter in the microwave and add in the sugar and salt, whisking to dissolve. Add the egg, cocoa, and flour, mixing until smooth. Spread in the pan and bake.
Make the coconut topping by whisking together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Gently add the flour and coconut. Spread over the brownie base, top with reserved coconut, and bake again. Allow cooling before removing from the pan and cutting into bars.
Cookie Bars Recipe Notes
These bars are very simple to make, but here are a few tips to make it even easier!
Melting the butter – Don’t overheat the butter. It just needs to be melted. If it’s too hot, you’ll cook the egg when you whisk it in. It shouldn’t be too hot to touch! Go low and slow on the microwave.
The foil – This is a very sticky recipe. Be sure you use foil to line your pan and give yourself plenty of overhangs. Butter it well. Allow it to cool completely before you pull it out of the pan. I know it’s tough, but you gotta wait! If you try to cut into it when it’s still hot, it will stick like crazy!
Ingredient Notes
Coconut – you need to use sweetened coconut to get the right texture for this topping. If you’re worried about it getting too sweet, you can cut back a bit on the added sugar, but most folks find the sweet level to be just right!
Storing Tips
Be sure to store these in a cool place in a well-sealed container to maintain their moisture.
Can You Freeze This?
Use good freezing techniques to maximize freshness. I suggest wrapping the individual bars and then putting them in a freezer bag. Thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Make Ahead Tips
This store well for several days so you can feel free to make them ahead of time or you can freeze them.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
According to food handling guidelines, these will hold in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Easter Dessert Recipes Variations
There are so many Easter dessert recipes out there! Here are some variations to get you inspired!
- Coconut brings such lovely flavor and texture to desserts like coconut cake and coconut cupcakes. You can also try coconut poke cake for a creamy, dreamy coconut confection!
- Lemon and coconut go well together! Lemon icebox cake is like lemonade in cake form and luscious lemon bars have an intense lemon flavor in a decadent treat. Lemon coconut bars are another one of my favorites!
- You can add almonds to make it Almond Joy bars!
Coconut Bars
Ingredients
Chocolate Base
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter plus more for pan
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg large
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Coconut Topping
- 2 eggs large
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 (7-ounces) package sweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling
Instructions
- For the chocolate base: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a slight overhang; butter bottom and sides of foil (not overhang).
- Place butter in a large microwave-safe bowl; melt in the microwave. Add sugar and salt; whisk to combine. Whisk in egg, then cocoa and flour until smooth. Spread batter in prepared pan.
- Bake just until sides begin to pull away from edges of the pan, 10 to 15 minutes (do not overbake). Let cool slightly while preparing coconut topping. Keep oven on for topping.
- For coconut topping: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with sugar and vanilla. Gently mix in flour and coconut (except 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling).
- Drop mounds of the mixture over the chocolate base; spread and pat in gently and evenly with moistened fingers. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup coconut.
- Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Lift cake from pan, peel off foil and cut into 24 bars. Store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
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More Fruit Cookies Recipes
Fruit cookies are deliciously moist and flavorful! Here are some of my favorites!
- Orange Creamsicle Cookies – just like the iconic treat
- Blackberry Pie Bars – yummy pie in a handheld treat
- Strawberry Cream Bars – strawberries are a must in every dessert!
- Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons – chewy coconut confections
- Peach Crumb Bars – sweet, supple, and altogether irresistible
Conclusion
These Coconut Bars are so chewy and delicious. The brownie bottom and coconut topping are in perfect balance! I know they’ll be a hit wherever you serve them!
Be sure to comment below and let me know how they work for you!
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Love coconuts and chocolates!
This recipe just arrived in my inbox and I can’t wait to try them! I actually have all the ingredients, whoo!
I hope you enjoy these bars as much as we do, Marianne <3
These look delish!!! Is the coconut layer a soft cake layer or what? I need to make these! Thank you!
Hi Lisa. No it’s chewier.
Thank you Kathleen! I love anything coconut!
You’re very welcome, Lisa! Enjoy! 😀
Does anyone know if these can be frozen?
Hi Tracy. I haven’t tried freezing these but I think they would work just fine!
Wow that second picture is torture! How hard would it be to stick some toasted marsh mellows on the bottom. Love the toasted coconut on the top.
Hi Ged. I think they’d burn on the bottom.
i ended up making 4 batches of these for my neighbors and my husbands co workers everyone loves these thank you for the recipe
Thank you so much Amy. So glad they’re a hit in your house too!
I made these a couple of weeks ago and they were super easy and delicious. I took them to my husband to share at a meeting at work, and they were apparently devoured. Thanks for such a delicious recipe!
So glad you liked these Rebecca! I love these bars as well 🙂
These did not turn out like they were supposed to at all. The yellow part turned out to be a really dense cake texture and it separated from the brownie part. I followed all of the directions completely and I even cooked both parts shorter than the recipe says and it still seemed like they cooked too long. I ended throwing them all away because they were gross. Very big disappointment.
Hi Mary. Honestly, I can’t imagine what could have happened to give you those results! The recipe comes from Martha Stewart so it’s been thoroughly test. I’ve made it and it always comes out well. The photo is from one of the times I made it. I’m really sorry it didn’t work out for you.
Just made these. Super easy and not too sweet like most bars. They were also delis warm from the oven. ☺
Thanks Wendy! So glad you liked them 🙂
I just made these. They taste great and only take about an hour to make (including baking!)
These were absolutely amazing! I highly recommend them if you like chocolate and coconut. A perfect combination!
WOW! These look amazing. There are few things I love more than coconut, the addition of a black bottom base is genius!
I blogged about your recipe here. http://www.bonnieblogyou.blogspot.com/
Tonight the cookies went to Christmas eve at my Aunts, and They were a hit!! Thanks!! Merry Christmas!
These look absolutely marvelous, Kathleen. Martha is the best!
I'm baking this weekend…hope I have the ingredients!
These look so rich and yummy! I mentioned you on my blog this morning! Enjoy your weekend! ?
This is a wonderful creation. Looks like you did an excellent job at mastering Martha's treats!
I can see why you are totally in love with these. Are you kidding me? Who will not? Brownies and coconut are just irresistible!
Hi Kathleen-Before I had a chance to comment, I already followed your blog. Hope you will follow mine, as well!
I love your black bottom coconut bars, they're so pretty, festive, and yummy.
I do have all the ingredients on hand and would like to make this for Christma, among other desserts…this one is on top of my list.
Thank you for sharing!
If my hips and thighs weren't so angry at me for eating so many cookies this week then I would totally make these and devour them! They look delicious.
Love chocolate and coconut together! This one is a winner for sure.
Martha's a genius! And you're fabulous for sharing her genius 🙂
I must say that anything with coconuts is the thing for me. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
I am now following you and I am going to go and check out the Yugoslavian Christmas cookies. My daughter-in-law is Yugoslavian.
Merry Christmas and thanks for your support.
Norma
Oh wow… what a delicious looking dessert! I love every bit of it!
love your blog! There are so many things I need to try
Coconut is a favorite of mine! What a great recipe – so simple and easy to make, and the finished product is looks beautiful and elegant.
Like you…I adore brownies and I adore coconut. This looks like a match made in my foodie heaven! I can't wait to bake these…and I'm even more excited to eat them. Thank you for sharing with me. I hope you have a Wednesday full of wonder and joy!
These look amazingly delicious! I made a cookie that is very similar to the upper coconut layer of this. Yum!
this looks absolutely divine…delicious!
Oooohhh, what a delicious combination and the contrast in color is so striking. By the way, I'm holding a giveaway on my blog for Orglamix Organic makeup and you're welcome to come by and enter. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2010/12/orglamix-organic-mineral-makeup-review.html
wow, these sound amazing! i'm saving this recipe for later use…
These remind me of the macaroon tunnel chocolate cake, where a macaroon filling is nestled in the center of a chocolate bundt cake. Very few things are better than the combination of coconut and chocolate – and these seem so easy, it almost makes me want to fire up my oven again this holiday (despite thinking I was finished with my baking!)
Okay, I am sold! This is a match made in heaven.
I'm with you on the coconut and chocolate. If I made these, I know I'd eat the entire batch myself. So, I'm probably gonna make them. 🙂
Coconut and chocolate are the perfect combination. There's always room on the cookie trays for another great recipe.
Those are stunning! They'd look elegant on any holiday cookie tray. I'm all about coconut.
these look delicious!!
My two favorites! If only I had seen these before my cookie exchange. No worries, I'm making them for my cookie boxes that I deliver to friends.
Jo
Today, I have seen gorgeous and delicious bars in several Blogs.
Yours looks outstanding ?
those look awesome!
these look amazing 🙂
oh wow, these look SOOO good, i love the contrast of coconut and chocolate.
yum! i love that sharp contrast between the chocolate and coconut…
I agree; that is an excellent combo. They look great. My mom's favorite are coconut macaroons; so I think she would love these. I will have to add them to my cookie tray too:)
What gorgeous looking treats, Kathleen!
omg…another winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mmmm. . . . I think I'll make these this week!