Coconut Dream Bars
These Coconut Dream Bars are soft, chewy, and loaded with sweet coconut flavor, perfect for potlucks and gatherings.
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.
- Cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Press dough into the pan and bake for 18–20 minutes until edges are golden. Cool slightly.
- In a saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, and butter over medium heat.
- Stir continuously for 8–10 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla bean paste and salt. Pour over baked crust. Bake for 10 more minutes. Cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and coconut extract, beat until creamy.
- Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cooled filling.
- Toast shredded coconut in a skillet until golden, about 3–5 minutes.
- Sprinkle toasted coconut over the bars. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before slicing.
Notes
- Allowing the bars to chill fully ensures clean cuts.
- Toasting the coconut enhances the flavor.
- Toasting the coconut enhances the flavor.