Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars

Chocolate and coconut is one of my all-time-favorite flavor combinations. When I saw this recipe, it reminded me of a coconuty combination of chocolate chip cookie bars and gooey bars, so I knew I had to try it out.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars

I really enjoyed the fact that the coconut was present, but not overpowering. I love the texture the flaked coconut gave to these bars. Now I know some people are not fans of coconut. It’s kind of like cilantro. Some people love it, others, not so much.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars

I took these bars to a friend’s house for a cookout. Luckily no one there was a coconut hater. Or if they were, they didn’t say anything about it. Store these bars in the fridge, but let them come to room temperature a bit before serving them.

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Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars

Yield: 25 bars

Ingredients:

For the Base
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips

For the Topping
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons butter
1 egg
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350 F and spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.

In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, butter, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until it just forms a cohesive mass then add the chocolate chips and stir until they are evenly distributed. Press this mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

In the same bowl combine the cream cheese, butter, egg, flour, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Mix until very smooth and creamy, then stir in the crisp rice cereal, coconut, and chocolate chips until well mixed.

Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the base then bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown all over, puffed, and just set at the edges while the center is still just a little wobbly. Cool completely in the pan then chill for at least two hours. Once chilled run a thin knife around the edges of the bars and turn out of the pan. Cut into squares.

Recipe from Evil Shenanigans

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12 Responses to “Chewy Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies”

  1. #
    1
    Fun and Fearless in Beantown — January 3, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    I love, love, love how serious your distinction is between chewy puffy vs. chewy thin vs. crispy thin cookies. It makes me smile.

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    2
    Jen — January 3, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    Like I said, I’m weird about cookies 🙂

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    3
    Cupcake Activist — January 3, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    I love molasses and chocolate chip cookies. Great idea to put them together. I like chewy thin cookies.

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    4
    Blog is the New Black — January 3, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    I don’t like flat cookies, either! i like fat, soft ones! (TWSS)

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    5
    Daisy — January 3, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    If f anyone is entitled to be weird abotu cookies it is you. these look yummy, I’m all about flat and chewy!

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    6
    Megan — January 3, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    One of my co-workers makes a ginger chocolate chip cookie that I was surprised to find I liked. These seem like they’d be similar.

  7. #
    7
    Shannon — January 4, 2011 at 12:13 am

    sometimes responses from friends and family is all you need! there’s always the next batch for you to love 🙂

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    8
    innochkaskitchen — January 4, 2011 at 2:39 am

    Hmmm so I love chocolate chip cookies…and my husband LOVES molasses cookies…I wonder if this is our perfect compromise…
    Great recipe!

  9. #
    9
    cookingwhims — January 4, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    These look and sound amazing–I’ll have to try these 🙂

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    10
    ann — January 4, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    These look great. It’s hard to find a good Molasses Cookie.

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    11
    Jo — January 15, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    I love these cookies because I am the worst person at remembering to take butter out to soften and with these I don’t have to worry about that. I made my first batch with milk chocolate chips and my second with butterscotch chips (since my FIL can’t have chocolate) and they were both wonderful. The 8 year old finds them too tangy – so more for me 🙂

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    12
    Julsey — January 27, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Best. Cookies. Ever. Making them for a 2nd time today and mailing half to my friend in Colorado who desperately needs a pick me up 🙂

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