Description
These Chewy Coconut Bars offer a perfect balance of rich, buttery flavor and sweet, tropical coconut. Featuring browned butter for a deep, nutty taste, combined with light brown sugar and vanilla bean paste, these bars are chewy with a tender bite and a golden crust. Perfect for dessert or a sweet snack, they are easy to prepare and bake in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and coat it lightly with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Browning the Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Continue cooking the butter, swirling the pan constantly to avoid burning, until it turns a rich amber color and develops a nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
- Combine Butter and Sugar: Stir the light brown sugar into the browned butter until fully combined, creating a smooth mixture.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Using a rubber spatula, stir in the eggs, vanilla bean paste, kosher salt, and baking powder until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
- Incorporate Flour and Coconut: Add the all-purpose flour and stir until just combined. Then fold in the sweetened flaked coconut to distribute evenly throughout the batter.
- Transfer Batter and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the edges turn golden and the center is nearly set but still slightly soft.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out with the parchment paper and cutting into squares for serving.
Notes
- Be careful while browning the butter; watch closely to prevent burning and achieve a rich amber color.
- Using parchment paper makes it easier to remove the bars from the pan and clean up.
- Letting the bars cool completely ensures clean, neat slices without crumbling.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider adding chopped toasted nuts like almonds or macadamia nuts.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
