A shortbread crust is layered with coconut and caramel, then dipped in chocolate, and drizzled with more chocolate, in this delicious cookie bar that tastes just like the famous Girl Scout cookie.
If you love Samoas cookies, but it’s not Girl Scout cookie season, you can satisfy your craving with these Simple Samoas Bars
First of all, I completely and totally advocate buying Samoas (and all other forms of Girl Scout cookies) from your local Girl Scout troop. This recipe is to use whenever the stash you’re keeping in the freezer runs dry.
Which at my house takes about one week–especially when it comes to Samoas. They are hand’s down the favorite of everyone in my family. I’m pretty sure it’s the caramel and coconut filling.
I’ve seen a lot of recipes for homemade Samoas, and this one is by far the easiest. Most of them require you to roll and cut cookie dough, which is how you get that classic Samoas shape.
But if you care more about how your Samoas taste than how they look, this recipe is the one for you. No rolling and cutting required.
As far as I’m concerned, with no hole in the center, these Samoas bars give you more bang for your buck! And they taste just as good as the real thing!
Even my youngest, who claims not to like coconut, love Samoas, and loves this homemade version even more.
Just be sure not to overcook your shortbread, or it will crumble when you cut the cookies into squares. Trust me, I speak from experience on this one.
I love taking these bar cookies to potlucks and parties when I really want to impress. Just be prepared to get lots of requests for the recipe. Trust me, people will think you’re a rock star!
These Simple Samoas Bars really do taste remarkably close to the real thing. At least, close enough to satisfy a craving until the Girl Scouts come knocking on your door again.
Be sure to save this Simple Samoas Bars recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Simple Samoas Bars
- Sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Eggs
- Salt
- Flour
- Caramels
- Milk
- Coconut
- Chocolate chips
Simple Samoas Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
- 1 12 oz. bag caramels, unwrapped
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups coconut toasted
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- With an electric mixer, cream together sugar, butter and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add the egg and beat until fluffy. Stir in the salt, then the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until well mixed.
- Press dough evenly into the bottom of a lightly greased 9×13 inch pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the shortbread is set and just beginning to turn golden brown. Cool completely.
- Meanwhile, combine the caramels, milk and and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a saucepan over medium low heat. Cook and stir until the caramels are melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the toasted coconut.
- Spread the coconut caramel mixture over the cooled shortbread base.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour, or until the caramel layer is completely cooled. Remove the bars from the refrigerator and cut into squares.
- Melt the 2 cups of chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Carefully dip the bottoms of each cookie into the chocolate and set on wax paper. Drizzle any remaining chocolate over the tops of the bars.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Rock Recipes.
16 comments
Janine
I made these and they were so yummy I made 2 more batches for Christmas gifts. Instructions are easy to follow. Love this recipe.
Cathy
Do you use sweetened coconut or unsweetened?
Danelle
I used sweetened Cathy.
Terry
Hello, I’m looking forward to making these for the cookie table at my son’s wedding! Can I make them ahead and freeze them? Will the chocolate get ‘sweaty’?
Thanks!
Danelle
Terry I haven’t made and frozen them, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. I do think the chocolate would get “sweaty” though, but I don’t think most people would mind (or even notice). You could always make and freeze the cookies up to the point where you add the chocolate, and then follow the tip for easier cookies and just do the chocolate drizzle and skip dipping the bottoms in chocolate.
Shiloh Barkley
Yummmm! They look great!
Unknown
Every time I see a recipe that calls for unwrapped cartels I cringe! I wonder if the boiled sweetened condensed milk would work.
sqcookerchick
These look so yummy, can’t wait to try them! Are there nuts on the bars or is that coconut I see in the photo?
Danelle M
No nuts….that’s just coconut you see!
Tish
these look delicious!! i’ll be making these … we haven’t had any girl scouts in the neighborhood for awhile and i haven’t really seen any out.
Kim Cunningham
Yum! This is something I know I would love. Looks great!
Tamar SB
Wow that sounds amazing!! MIssed seeing you around the photoblog – but love seeing your pins on pinterest.
Gina @ Kleinworth & Co.
Oh my gosh- I just ordered the cookies from a girl scout that ended up on my doorstep. 🙂 I will be making these because 2 boxes will not be enough when those cookies arrive. YUM!!!! Thanks so much for joining in this week Danelle! It warms my heart!
Steph @ Crafting in the Rain
I love this flavor combination in anything…so I’ll have to try these!
Amy
Oh my, I love Samoas cookies. These really look just like the authentic ones…in bars form. 🙂 Can’t wait to give these a try.
Cindy
Oh you tempt me! I need to make these soon.