Coconut Bars

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These Coconut Bars have a chewy sugar cookie bottom and are topped with a lime zest, coconut, and cream cheese mixture. Loaded with coconut-y island flavor, and perfect for a summer dessert or anytime you’re craving that island vibe. Want more coconut treats in your life? Try my Coconut Cake, Coconut Cookies or add a little chocolate and butterscotch and try my Magic Bars.

What are Coconut Bars?

Coconut bars are a type of dessert made with shredded or flaked coconut as one of the main ingredients. My recipe consists of a premade sugar cookie dough base (my little time saving secret!) plus a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, egg, coconut and flavorings that are pressed into a rectangular or square shape and baked until golden brown.

Coconut bars have several variations such as no-bake bars, chocolate-covered bars, or bars that include other ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. The choice is yours, but I hope you love mine!

How to Make Coconut Bars

These are fairly simple to put together. For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measurements, scroll down to see the printable recipe card. Here are the step-by-step directions to make these yummy Coconut Bars.

Preheat + Prep

Preheat oven. Spray 9×9 square pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Press Dough Into Pan

Press sugar cookie dough into the bottom of the greased dish and set aside.

Combine Remaining Ingredients

In a large bowl, whip cream cheese with sugar and egg. Scrape edges and whip again. Stir in coconut extract and lime zest. Spread mixture over top of cookie dough to form an even layer and top with coconut.

Can I use unsweetened coconut in this recipe? Yes, unsweetened coconut is perfectly fine. The bars won’t be quite as sweet or quite as coconut-y, but it works if that’s what you have on hand. 

Bake

Bake for 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly toasted and cream cheese mixture is set.

Cool + Refrigerate

Cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely chilled. Cut into bars and serve.

Make Ahead + Storing Coconut Bars

If you need to make these ahead of when you want to serve them, no problem! Just place bars in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Yes, you do need to refrigerate these bars since they contain cream cheese.

To Freeze: Allow bars to cool completely. Place into an airtight container and into the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

More Coconut Recipes To Try…

• Classic Coconut Macaroons
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Caramel Coconut Oatmeal
• Coconut Muffins

Happy Baking! I hope you make these this week! If you do, I’d love it if you would give this recipe a star review and tell us all about it in the comments! The printable recipe card is below. Enjoy, friends! 🙂

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5 from 7 votes

Coconut Bars

Coconut Bars have a sugar cookie bottom and are topped with a lime zest, coconut and cream cheese mixture. Tons of coconut-y island flavor here!

servings 12

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 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

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9×9 square pan with non stick cooking spray.
  
• Press sugar cookie dough into bottom of greased dish and set aside.
  
• In a large bowl, whip cream cheese with sugar and egg. Scrape edges and whip again. Stir in coconut extract and lime zest. Spread mixture over top of cookie dough to form an even layer and top with coconut.
  
• Bake 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly toasted and cream cheese mixture is set.
  
• Cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled. Cut into bars and serve.
  

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: coconut bars, coconut lime bars