These chocolate coconut bars are a delicious cookie bar recipe. They are sure to be a big hit with the coconut lovers in your home and are super easy to make.
It is hard to beat the combination of chocolate and coconut with buttery graham crackers! Make a pan of these squares and watch them disappear!
Coconut Bar Cookies
If you love coconut but don't want to go through making all the layers of Magic Bars, this is the perfect cookie bar for you.
This dessert is simply a graham crust base topped with a sweetened shredded coconut and condensed milk filling, then finished with a delicious layer of chocolate. While similar, the recipe has less layers than magic bars. It is what a Mounds Bar would be if it was a cookie.
How to Make Coconut Cookie Bars
Here is a full walk through of the dessert recipe with pictures. While meant to assist newer bakers, it is helpful to anyone to make sure you are on track making the recipe.
A full printable recipe card can be found below.
Recipe yields 16 squares.
First preheat oven to 350 degrees F and gather your ingredients.
You will need:
- graham crackers
- butter, melted
- sugar
- flaked coconut
- sweetened condensed milk
- chocolate chips
- vegetable oil
Almonds are pictured, but optional for those wishing to make Almond Joy Coconut Bars rather than Mounds style. Chopped walnuts would be another tasty addition.
Making the Graham Crust
You will start your coconut bar cookies by preparing a graham crust.
Start making the cracker crust layer. Begin by pulverizing the crackers in a food processor to make graham cracker crumbs.
Then add sugar and melted butter. Pulse to mix well. It should clump in your hand.
Assembly and Baking
Spread the graham crust mixture out in a prepared baking pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Press down gently to create an even crust base.
Bake the crust for about 15 minutes until light golden brown.
Sprinkle the sweet coconut over the crust.
Then pour the sweetened condensed milk over the coconut flakes and spread out. Return to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Now melt the chocolate chips with vegetable oil in the microwave.
Start with 30 seconds, then stir and repeat in 20 second intervals until the chocolate topping is smooth.
Spread the chocolate over the coconut and condensed milk layer. Allow the chocolate to cool completely.
Placing in the refrigerator will speed the process, but you will typically get a shinier chocolate cooling at room temperature.
Once cool, cut into squares to serve. A 4x4 grid works out well when cutting.
Enjoy your chocolate coconut bars!
Store them at room temperature, in an air tight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil for up to a 5 days or a week if refrigerated.
More Delicious Bar Cookie Recipes
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Pecans
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
- S'mores Bars from All Things Mamma
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chips
- Cherry Cobbler Bars
Coconut Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs – about 14 sheets
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter – melted , one stick
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk , one can
- 7 oz sweetened flaked coconut
- 12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- almonds *** optional, if you want more of an Almond Joy type bar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x9 baking dish with non stick spray. You can line the pan with foil and spray the foil for easy removal of the bars.
- In a food processor, grind the graham crackers into crumbs. Add in the melted butter and sugar; pulse again until well combined. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Once done baking, spread the shredded coconut all over the top and then pour the sweetened condensed milk all over the top. Bake for another 15 minutes.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and vegetable oil; heat for 30 seconds at a time and stir between each time. Once the chips are all melted, spread the chocolate over the top of your bars. Cool completely. Process can be sped up by placing them into the fridge.
- Cut the bars into squares making quick cuts; this will help prevent the chocolate topping from cracking.
- Store covered in the fridge, best serve chilled.
Elly says
I love coconut and these bars look amazing! Love your pictures too.
Robin Gagnon says
Thank you so much. I expect they will be a popular addition to Christmas cookie trays this year 🙂
Shannon V says
We made these Coconut Cookie Bars yesterday and they were fabulous. The kids want to make them again.
JoAnn says
Looks delicious! I hope you don't mind I featured your recipe on my blog MidnightHarmony.com: https://midnightharmony.com/2019/08/11/food-best-coconut-recipes-and-pics/
Robin Gagnon says
Thanks for including the chocolate coconut bars.
Brad says
Can you freeze these??
Robin Gagnon says
While I don't foresee an issue with freezing these bars, I haven't actually done it myself.
Suzanne says
This looks delicious, thank you for sharing!
Carlene says
I love this recipe. Easy to follow recipe, quick to make and tasted incredible!