Coconut Dream Bars
These Coconut Dream Bars are soft, chewy, and loaded with sweet coconut flavor.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Pinch of salt
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups whipped topping
- 1 tsp coconut extract optional
- 1 1/4 cups sweetened shredded coconut lightly toasted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing an overhang.
- Cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake for 18–20 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Let cool.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, and butter. Stir until thickened, about 8–10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and salt, pour over baked crust. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese until smooth, add powdered sugar and coconut extract, beating until creamy. Fold in whipped topping until combined. Spread over cooled filling.
- Toast shredded coconut in a dry skillet over medium-low heat until golden, about 3–5 minutes. Sprinkle over bars.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until set. Lift out using parchment, slice into 16 squares.
Notes
- Ensure the cookie crust is cooled before adding the gooey layer.
- Use parchment with overhang for easy removal.
- Use parchment with overhang for easy removal.