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These Coconut Bars hit that candy spot between straightforward and spectacular, with layers that bake up clear, slice fantastically, and maintain their form like they imply it. The sugar cookie base stays gentle, the cream cheese layer turns silky, and the coconut on high will get simply toasted sufficient to make you pause mid-bite. And sure, individuals at all times ask for the recipe.

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Ingredient Notes + Variations
This recipe leans into good shortcuts paired with taste boosters that really matter. Every ingredient earns its place, and collectively they create bars that style balanced, shiny, and wealthy with out going excessive.
- Sweetened shredded coconut– Sprinkled on high for texture and a evenly toasted end.
- Refrigerated sugar cookie dough– Varieties a gentle, buttery base that bakes evenly and cuts clear.
- Cream cheese– The spine of the filling. Let it absolutely soften so the layer turns easy, not lumpy.
- Granulated sugar– Sweetens the filling with out overpowering the coconut.
- Egg– Helps the filling set so the bars slice neatly as soon as chilled.
- Coconut extract– Brings clear coconut taste with out counting on extra coconut flakes.
- Lime zest– Delicate, shiny, and surprising. It retains the bars from tasting flat.

How you can Make Coconut Bars
My recipe consists of a premade sugar cookie dough base (my little time saving secret!) plus a combination of cream cheese, sugar, egg, coconut, and flavorings which are pressed into an oblong or sq. form and baked till golden brown. For full recipe particulars, together with elements and measurements wanted, see the printable recipe card under.
1. Preheat + Prep Pan
Preheat oven. Spray 9×9 sq. pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Press Dough into Pan
Press sugar cookie dough into the underside of the greased dish and put aside.

3. Mix Remaining Components
In a big bowl, whip cream cheese with sugar and egg. Scrape edges and whip once more. Stir in coconut extract and lime zest. Unfold combination over high of cookie dough to type an excellent layer and high with coconut.






4. Bake
Bake for 20 minutes or till coconut is evenly toasted and cream cheese combination is about.


5. Cool + Refrigerate
Cool to room temperature, cowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate till fully chilled. Lower into bars and serve.


Suggestions for Success
- Use a pointy knife cleaned between cuts for bakery-style squares.
- Let the cream cheese soften absolutely so the filling turns silky easy.
- Press the cookie dough evenly to keep away from thick corners and skinny facilities.
- Chill the bars fully earlier than slicing for clear edges.

These Coconut Bars ship on taste, texture, and presentation with out attempting too laborious. Preserve this one helpful… it earns repeat standing quick. The printable recipe card is under. Glad baking, mates! 🙂

Coconut Bars
Coconut Bars have a sugar cookie backside and are topped with a lime zest, coconut and cream cheese combination. Tons of coconut-y island taste right here!
ComponentsÂ
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- 16.5 oz refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- 8.5 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
DirectionsÂ
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Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray 9×9 sq. pan with non stick cooking spray.
-
Press sugar cookie dough into backside of greased dish and put aside.
-
In a big bowl, whip cream cheese with sugar and egg. Scrape edges and whip once more.
-
Stir in coconut extract and lime zest. Unfold combination over high of cookie dough to type an excellent layer and high with coconut.
-
Bake 20 minutes or till coconut is evenly toasted and cream cheese combination is about.
-
Cool to room temperature, cowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate till fully chilled. Lower into bars and serve.
Notes
Storage Directions
Retailer Coconut Bars coated within the fridge for as much as 5 days. These bars will be made forward and chilled in a single day earlier than slicing. Additionally they freeze effectively for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than serving.
Vitamin
Energy: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 3gFats: 16gSaturated Fats: 7gLdl cholesterol: 40mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 304IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
Variations
- Make home made sugar cookie dough for those who’d relatively not use store-bought dough. I do it on a regular basis!
- Add a skinny drizzle of lime glaze over the chilled bars.
- Swap lime zest for lemon zest for a barely totally different citrus word.
- Toast the coconut earlier than baking for deeper taste and shade.
FAQ About Coconut Bars
Sure, unsweetened coconut is completely nice. The bars gained’t be fairly as candy or fairly as coconut-y, but it surely works if that’s what you have got available.Â
Sure. The cream cheese layer stays finest when stored chilled.
Completely. Simply press it evenly into the pan and proceed as written.
The coconut must be evenly golden and the middle ought to look set, not jiggly.
Extra Coconut Recipes to Strive
When you make this recipe, I might actually recognize it for those who would give it a star ranking and go away your overview within the feedback! You probably have an image of your completed dish, put up it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
