Samoa Bars
The flavors of the classic Girl Scout cookie in a convenient bar cookie, these Samoa Bars may just be even better than the cookies!
Samoas/Caramel DeLites are my favorite Girl Scout cookie, tied with Thin Mints that is. When I saw this recipe on Baking Bites (quite a long time ago!), I was so excited and quickly bookmarked it.
As usual, I took my time getting to this recipe but finally decided it was time. I thought these bar cookies were great! They really do taste like Samoas! I love the combination of the toasted coconut and caramel – I could eat that by itself!
You can slice the bars with a knife or a pizza cutter, but I like to use my pizza chopper for bars like this. I’m able to get nice, long cuts with it.
I’ve noted in the recipe the option to eliminate dipping the bottoms of the bars in chocolate. This saves a step and some time, but you sacrifice the chocolate bottom that is the signature of a Samoa cookie.
Gluten Free Option
While I have not tried it myself, I think substituting Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour for the all purpose flour should work well. I have great success with this flour and have no reason to believe it wouldn’t work in this recipe.
Samoa Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Base:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping:
- 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 12 ounces good quality chewy caramels
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons milk
Bottom and drizzle:
- 12 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly, like wet sand. The dough does not need to come together.
- Pour crumbly dough into prepapred pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until base is set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack before topping.
- While the cookie layer is baking, toast the coconut by placing in an even layer in a skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Stir constantly until golden color is achieve. Transfer coconut to a plate and spread out to cool.
- Once the cookie base has cooled, make the topping by placing the unwrapped caramels in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3 – 4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.
- Put dollops of the topping all over the shortbread base. Using the spatula, spread topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled.
- When cooled, cut into 30 bars with a large knife, a pizza cutter, or a pizza chopper.
- Once bars are cut, melt 10 ounces of the chocolate in a small bowl by heating on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the bottom of each bar into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment or wax paper.
- Melt the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate and transfer into a piping bag or a sandwich/storage bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle bars with chocolate to finish. Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container. These bars also freeze well.
- Note: For an easier finish, you can simply drizzle chocolate on top of the bars before slicing rather than dipping the bottoms. You will only need 2 ounces of chocolate for the drizzle, and you will not exactly get the Samoas look, but the results will still be delicious.
Woah. Ok, so I immediately want to categorize these as "coconut macaroon brownies". How far off am I?
You little devil! These look AMAZING!!!
Wow. Those look just like the real deal, but I bet they taste 1,000 times better!
I am in LOVE!! I am not typically a coconut fan but have a serious weakness for Samoas!! You just saved me $$ on Girl Scout cookies!
I made this same recipe awhile back–I was highly impressed. I think I just might have to make em again now that you reminded me 🙂
First, these look wicked good. Second, where is my sample. Third, who eats all this stuff. I would weigh A LOT if I was baking all these good desserts.
how many days do they stay fresh? want to make them a day or two before i'm planning to serve!
I tasted them, and they are addictive. They are definitely more of a cookie bar than a brownie, the inside was like a shortbread, but the caramel makes them chewy. Pretty, pretty, pretty……good.
These look amazing!! I'm definitely going to have to make these!
Wow, I'm drooling – these look so amazing! Samoas and thin mints tie for my favorites too 🙂
Samoas are my favorites too…I've got to try these bars.
Eric – I don't think I'd call these brownies since there's no chocolate cake/baked good component. I did however post "Magic Brownies" in the past which probably would qualify as coconut macaroon brownies – there's a brownie layer covered in a macaroon-like topping with chocolate and butterscotch chips – mmm I think I need to make some of those soon! 🙂
AS – I still have some in the freezer if you want to come over and try them!
Natalie – After making them, I immediately put some in fridge and took them to work the next day, and put the rest in the freezer, so I can't say for sure how long they last at room temp, but I would think if you stored them in an airtight container they should be fine! If you decide to store them in the fridge, I'd recommend letting them sit out at room temp for a bit before serving – the caramel gets softer and you can taste everything more when it's not cold.
I just ordered some Caramel Delites (or Samoas as they were called when I was a Girl Scout 🙂 today … but now I can't wait to make these … they look divine!
Were the ones you froze ok after thawing? Your pictures have totally convinced me to make these!
Hi Stephanie, Yes they were ok- not quite as good as fresh but still tasted good to me! 🙂