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Gooey Coconut Pie Bars – We can all just say I’m crazy for coconut, especially after making these!
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Whenever I say my blog name to people who are not bloggers and not in the food world, they say, “Oh, you sell pizza?” It constantly boggles my mind that people do not think about pie crust as much as I do.
I think about crust multiple times a day. I think about what pie I can make next. I think about what dessert I can make into pie. I think about what recipe I can give a crust that doesn’t have one.
You could say I’m crazy for crust, obviously. My goal in life is to give every single dessert a crust at some point, and to turn every pie I love into something else that’s secretly getting pie into every other dessert.
The goal for these Gooey Coconut Pie Bars was to turn my favorite coconut pie into a bar cookie with a shortbread crust.
Mission accomplished.
I think my other goal in life, as I mentioned last week, is to make as much coconut dessert as I want all year long. I cannot believe I went 34 years of my life thinking I hated coconut.
These bars are like a gooey bar married a coconut pie married shortbread bars married pie bars. You know, if food could marry more than one thing at a time.
The base recipe is from these Chocolate Almond Toffee Shortbread Bars, that have a buttery shortbread crust and a gooey sweetened condensed milk filling. I took out the chocolate and almonds and toffee and added COCONUT.
The result of these Gooey Coconut Pie Bars? A gooey shortbread bar that tastes like coconut pie.
Gooey Coconut Pie Bars Are Perfect For Any Occasion
Don’t tell anyone, but I think I love making pie bars more than I love making traditional pie. One, it’s easier to cut. Two, it’s easier to eat – no fork! And three, it’s easier to store, freeze, and package for giving.
In other words, these Gooey Coconut Pie Bars are perfect for anything – a party, a potluck, giving to a friend, or just because you love coconut and it’s Tuesday. You must try them if you love coconut!
Gooey Coconut Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
Instructions
- Line a 9x13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place butter, flour, salt and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer). Mix until smooth a cookie dough forms.
- Place shortbread in the prepared pan. Spray your hands with cooking spray and press to a thin layer in the pan. Bake shortbread layer for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, stir together sweetened condensed milk, egg, and coconut extract. Stir in coconut. After 15 minutes of baking, pour the milk mixture carefully over the hot crust. Continue baking for about 17-19 minutes until the sides start to look golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.
Recipe Nutrition
Click here to see more of my ULTIMATE COCONUT recipes!
Check out all of my pie crust recipes for even more inspiration, and my gooey bar recipes too!
Sweets from friends:
Blackberry Pie Bars by Mariah’s Pleasing Palate
Cherry Pie Bars by Julie’s Eats and Treats
Key Lime Pie Bars by Mandy’s Recipe Box
Last Updated on August 21, 2018
Oh my word! Can I just say that sweetened condensed milk makes everything amazing and this is the perfect blend of coconut and yum!
Pie bars definitely trump full pies for me, for all the reasons you said! Cutting, storage, and easier to eat!
I love that these are gooey bars because gooey bars are the best kind of bars…and with coconut worked in!
I feel like it’s acceptable to eat two bars…but not two slices of pie. So there’s that too. 🙂
“I think about what recipe I can give a crust that doesn’t have one.” lol Dorothy!!! Doin it right. This is why you are the best dessert blogger ever. 🙂
LOL Thanks Karen!!
GIVE ME. All of my favorite flavors!!! And can I just say, whenever someone says they don’t like coconut, I’m all like WHYYYYYY
RIGHT??? I’m all “Let me show you the way to the coconut side!”
These coconut pie bars look so ooey gooey and delicious! I”m loving all the coconut flavor in here, pinning! And whenever I see your blog name, my mind ALWAYS jumps to sweet pie, not pizza- so we’re on the same page 😉
That’s good to know! 🙂
Pie bars are awesome – there’s no rolling of the crust required, so it makes it an easier (to make) dessert!
I’ve been having a mega coconut craving lately!! I can’t get over all the textures in this. Flakey shortbread, gooey coconut custardy stuff….snowy flakes on top. I’m just dreaming of this as an after work snack with a cold glass o’ milk.
I am behind you 100% on how much you think about pie and pie crust. ? My dad’s absolute favorite pie is coconut cream. I think this might have to make an appearance on Father’s Day. And yes, hooray for non-traditional pies that are easier to cut!
I love that pie too! I need to make one…
I can literally sense the smell of coconut through the photos! Great recipe!
Thank you!
Pie crust is SO much more exciting than pizza crust! I get very excited when dessert has crust. Pastry, shortbread, graham cracker, you name it. I am there!
These are so incredibly clever! Coconut pie fans the world over will be so happy!
Thanks Mir!
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