I was on the hunt for homemade Samoas…those irresistible Girl Scout cookies with a shortbread base, caramel and coconut plus a chocolate drizzle. I’m a sucker for any scout or brownie who stops by to sell their cookies…and we have to have a stash of Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs in our freezer.
I had a New Year’s Day party to attend and I was bringing dessert…I thought some freshly baked Samoas would be an excellent addition to a cookie tray. Unfortunately, all the recipes I saw involved rolling, cutting, dipping…ugh…lots of work. Baking Bites had a Samoa bar recipe, but it still required more steps than I had time for…so instead of the dipping and drizzling, I just topped these with a decadent layer of chocolate ganache. The base and filling were perfect…I’m thinking, though, that I’d like even more of the caramel/coconut mixture. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the chocolate topping may have been a wee bit too rich for these bars. I may try them again with just a drizzle of melted chocolate chips. I need to get over my fear of fussy finishes…I’m thinking I could do a simple cross-hatch pattern without ripping my hair out…uh, well, maybe…stay tuned…
This month’s Chocolate Party theme is coconut. Feel free to add any recipe using chocolate and coconut that you’ve shared on your blog during the month of January to the linky party below. To join the Chocolate Party, please check out the information on our hostess’ site, Roxana’s Home Baking. Thanks Roxana for featuring one of my favorite flavor combinations this month!
Ingredients
- Adapted from Baking Bites
- Cookie Base:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoons salt
- Topping:
- 3 cups shredded coconut
- 12 ounces caramels
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Chocolate Ganache:
- 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper or non-stick foil.
- Cream together sugar and butter, until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly.. Pour dough into prepared 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.
- Preheat oven to 300º. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
- Unwrap the caramels and place 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 spoonfuls of the topping all over the shortbread base. Using the spatula, spread topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled.
- Heat cream and butter on stove or in microwave, but do not allow to boil. Remove from stove and pour over chocolate. Stir till completely combined. Add powdered sugar and whisk until combined and smooth. Pour over cooled bars. Refrigerate overnight, then cut with pizza cutter into bars to serve.
- Makes approximately 30 bars.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
That reminds me, I should go buy some girl guide cookies when I get the chance. The mint ones are amazing.
First time I hear of Samoa Bars, they sound very sweet and delicious!
These are my number one girl scout cookie pick. Your bars look amazing. Not sure if there can be a too much chocolate ever but I will always take more caramel. Lovely!
Bars can deliver the taste without the work. Gorgeous and perfectly cut bars Liz! Can´t go wrong with these flavors together really.
Ooooh Samoa Bars!!! These look awesome and I don’t believe anything can be too rich where chocolate is concerned
Wow, they look ridiculously good!
You are killing me with these bars! I loooved when my daughter used to bring girl scout cookies home.
Ooo yum!! Samoas are my favorite girl scout cookie (after tagalongs
! We got our first brownie to the door this weekend selling cookies and I don’t think I can wait till March till they come out… I love how you made them into bars, look so good!
I’ll take yours any day over Samoas in a box! Those I could pass up but these ……… I don’t think so.
Liz, i’ve never had a Samoa bar and won’t feel the urge to buy them when I can make your beautiful version at home. These bars are gorgeous and jam packed with so much yumminess!
Your samoa bars look amazing. What a great addition to the party!
I feel the same about Samoas! Can’t wait to try your recipe, Liz! Looks so tempting, as always
Hi Lizzy,
Happy New Year! I hope it has started off great for you. I can see it is off to a great food start. Great recipe!:)
Wow Lizzy, your Samoa bars look great…and they are so perfectly sized…
Happy New Year and have a great week ahead!
I’m all for an easier version of all those intricate recipe! I’ve been deterred from homemade samoas that were too complicated in the past. As much as I love me a box of samoas from the Girl Scouts, I’m sure these homemade ones are way better.
These bars look incredible, perfect for the Chocolate Party!
Hi Liz! I’m a sucker for Girl Scout Cookies, too….Samoas being my favorite! These are much better, sophisticated version…..but all our favorite flavors! Love these and so perfect for this month’s theme! : )
Happy New Year Liz! Oh I love samoas, but I think I would like these better! The layer sounds and look great, and I’m shocked that you say it was too much chocolate!
Glad to see that you used caramels and didn’t make your own. That makes this recipe much easier.
All I can say is “oh My!” I love Samoa cookies… so these would be ridiculously good! I would stick my face into my computer screen and chomp if I could.
This looks fantastic! I loved the recipe!!
Pretty good looking homemade Samoa bar cookies!!! I would love to try one of these beauties;-)
Everybody is getting excited for the big game…I just have to mention…GO NINERS!!!!!
Wish I had a few of your bar cookies to take to the game;-) Great addition to the Chocolate Party;-)
Probably my favorite of the girl scout cookies, I’ve always wanted to make homemade ones. I must.
These look incredible! I will definitely have to make these for the next event I host or attend! YUM!
I’ve never heard of Samoa Bars. Maybe famous bars from Girls Scout Cookies? I’ve tried different kinds that I bought from Girls Scout selling in front of supermarkets before and I remember they were pretty good.
Are those the Kraft Softie Toffeys from the 1970s? My Dad did a commercial for them with a white dog puppet. I don’t much recall the commercial, but I do recall being glued to the TV around 4-5 Sunday afternoon for the Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Hour when it would air.
Anything with chocolate and toffee is a winner with me.
I am not a fan of coconut, but I do like a good samoa (not sure how that works). Your bars look wonderful!
These look wonderful, Liz! Samoas are my favorite Girl Scout cookie! I would love to give these a try!
I love coconut. I love the Girl Scouts. Your Samoas look delicious. We used to store an untold number of boxes in our garage every year. Somehow I was always in charge of the damn sale. Probably because I am well-organized and…….. bossy. My all-time favorites are Chocolate Mints but I’ve never met a Girl Scout cookie I didn’t like. To be truthful, I’ve never met a Girl Scout I didn’t like.
Beautiful, Lizzy! We made something similar for Baked Sunday Mornings a few months ago & I could not stop eating them! A wonderful combination.
Liz, this is lovely. I’ve never heard of Samoa Bars but CLEARLY based on the ingredients, its totally my kind of treat!!
Samoa cookies are one of my favorite but have never made them although I have to admit I but from time to time. I love your bar twist, so much easier to make and I bet they taste just as good or even better!
Thanks so much for sharing with the #chocolateparty this month again.
Samoas are my favorite! I need these in my life.
Samoas are my achilles’ heel. LOVE them.