My dad, who claimed not to like sweets, always got a German chocolate cake for his birthday, and demolished a big slab every time. These German Chocolate Brownies deliver the same terrific chocolate, coconut, caramel and pecan flavors with a fraction of the work.
Fudgy Brownies with Coconut Topping
We love dense, fudgy brownies at our house and I’ve made a zillion versions. But adding a nutty coconut topping was something new. And it was no ordinary topping, but one reminiscent of the sort of filling you’d find in a German chocolate cake. Sweet, and slightly caramelly from the brown sugar, these decadent coconut topped bars are one of my new favorite treats.
Sign of a Wonderful Dessert
I packed these babies up and took them to two luncheons. You see, Bill won’t touch anything with coconut and I cannot get enough of it. So these sort of tempting treats must be high tailed out of the house. I did eat one first, though, and declared them blog worthy. And even more than blog worthy, they were insanely delicious. So off they went. To the hospital on Thursday and to a holiday lunch with my girlfriends on Friday.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Best Ever German Chocolate Cake from A Dash of Sanity
- German Chocolate Brownie Pie
- Gooey Upside Down German Chocolate Cake from Tidy Mom
- German Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes
- German Chocolate Pecan Pie from Melanie Makes
German Chocolate Brownies
Adapted from Taste of Home
Ingredients
For Brownies
- 1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup coconut
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick foil (or use regular foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray). Set aside.
- In a microwave, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Stir in vanilla and chocolate mixture. Add flour and salt and mix till combined.
- Pour into prepared pan. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of pan comes out clean.
- For topping, combine butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Add coconut, pecans, corn syrup and milk. Mix till well combined. Drop spoonfuls over top of brownies then spread evenly over top.
- Broil about 6 inches from the element, watching carefully, for about 3 minutes, till lightly browned and bubbly.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 272kcal Calories from fat 139 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat 9g | 45% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 42mg | 14% |
| Sodium 52mg | 2% |
| Carbohydrate 34g | 11% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Sugars 26g | |
| Protein 2g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
Skinny Tip
I’m offering a series of Skinny Tips. How I keep slim is one of my most frequent inquiries. I’m featuring some of my past tips to help you start 2015 on a healthy note. Click on the #SkinnyTip tag at the end of this post to see all my previous tips.
Tip #57: Do not skip meals. This practice tends to amp up the appetite and, therefore, you may eat more food in the long run.
These would probably be my favorite brownies, I love the coconut topping:@)
I would eat the whole pan too. I always laugh when someone says they don’t like sweets. I think it might be true 90% of the time but there is always something.
I kind of love these <3 Did you know that German chocolate was named after a man named German? It was a brand of chocolate with a recipe calling for a coconut topping!
Your brownies always look smazing Lizzy!!
xo
Liz!! I’m having so much fun following along on FB and seeing photos from your trip! glad you are having a great trip!!! love love love these brownies! you turned German chocolate cake into a brownie! and love learning more about Bill’s food aversions!!! how can he not like coconut?!!!
What a wonderful and delicious idea Liz! I forget about German Chocolate cake for some reason but love to be reminded!
Not only do you make the most amazing bars but you cut them so symmetrical. How do you do that? Pinning!
The topping looks heavenly and yes…blogworthy! Thank you for sharing, love it!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
These brownies are stunning! I cannot wait to give them a try!
I love German Chocolate Cake! And haven’t had one in ages. So I should have these brownies instead — much easier to make. Excellent recipe — thanks. And Happy New Year!
Um, hellllllooooo brownies!
Those look positively amazing!!!
These brownies look fudgy, gorgeous and so addictive!! And I love coconut; I need to make these ASAP! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, Liz 🙂
ooh, now if I was there I would definitely be able to help you polish these off – I love coconut and all those other goodies you’ve put on top.
I hope Bill was able to find foods he could eat in NZ! I do love the sound of these brownies with coconut and caramel. How well they would have been received at the hospital and the ladies lunch xx
Wow, I think I would eat the whole lot, but no, festive feasting is finis for me!
I was thinking about doing this over Christmas and told myself it was all too hard. 🙂 How beautiful they look.
Absoluely love the addition of coconut. With Bill not eating them, there’s more for you, and nice to hear that everyone enjoyed these bars – they look divine.
My brother who always claims to not like cake, used to request German chocolate cake for his birthday dessert when we were kids. I think he’s really love these brownies – they look really terrific!
It is definitely the topping that takes the cake! In this case, the brownies! Loving these, Liz!
I’m a big coconut fan and these really look delicious, very spoon worthy indeed.
I love coconut, and these look really tempting. I have take my goodies to work, where they disappear in a blink. 🙂
Happy New Year Liz!
I have never had this kind of brownie…they look delicious, since I love coconut, I can see myself eating a few of this…thanks for the recipe…
Hope you are having a fabulous week 🙂
That coconut topping is the killer! Love it!
Lizzy,
My hubby wouldn’t eat anything with coconut either. I bet these were devoured by all those lucky enough to get some.
Annamaria
I wish I could eat chocolate – coconut and German Chocolate brownies are so tempting!
Happy New Year!
I often had German chocolate cake as my birthday when I was a child. Love the combo of coconut and pecans! Genius on brownies, Liz!
I have to start sharing my desserts too otherwise I will end up transforming my blog from food to diet! They look utterly delicious and I completely understand why you have to give them away!
oh my these are going on the top of my must make list! Drooooooool. Amazing 🙂
That’s my strategy too, anything THAT tasty MUST be exiled! Two days ago I baked French Macarons (almond and lemon) and I immediately packed them up and took them to my meeting downtown. Sweets that tasty should NEVER be trusted around the house! These German Chocolate squares look and sound amazing, although I would have to give them away too
I LOVE anything coconut too and the topping on these looks simply divine. Might have to try it out 🙂
German chocolate has been on my radar since before the holidays. These look amazing. I’m anxious to try your recipe, but might have to save it for a special occasion.
I’ve a kid who is obsessed with this cake and asks for it on his birthdays. Your version looks delish and easier.
Damn girl this looks REALLY good! You are the mistress of bars and brownies!
I love German chocolate cake, so I have no doubt these brownies are heavenly, especially with this topping!!
Liz,
My Dad’s favorite cake was German Chocolate, too. Maybe it was a generational thing. I made one for him most years. Even when he was in the nursing home, I made German Chocolate Cupcakes for the nurses. Now I can make these yummy brownies. Thanks for sharing.
That coconut topping looks heavenly, I love these brownies!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, I will eat these 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
My men refuse to eat anything with coconut which I do not understand. I love the combo of chocolate, coconut and pecans and these brownies look amazing!
And I was just looking for something cocouttyyy to make for a friend this week. Choc + Coconut = AWESOME!
Happy NY Liz. Look forward to more of your deliciousness in 2015.
Wondering if all Dads love chocolate cake.Your German chocolate flourish to your brownies is brilliant! As a coconut fan you must have also been an Almond Joy bars fan as a child, yes?
I was just thinking I brownies would be great today………….now I must make these! 🙂
This sounds like a wonderful brownie and I’m sure my kids would love this.
Perfection!
I think insane is the perfect description Liz! I love coconut, especially with chocolate!
i made these yesterday ! And they were so delicious 🙂 thanks a tonne for this sweet treat 🙂
These look delicious!