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    Home > Recipes > Cookies, Brownies & Bars

    Tropical Coconut Squares

    ↓ Jump to Recipe · By: Julia Foerster · Posted: 06/15/16 · Updated: 06/14/17 · This post may contain affiliate links

    Tropical Caramel Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious tropical layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    Tropical Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    Shortbread + Mango-Passionfruit Jam + Coconut + Sweetened Condensed Milk = Heaven!

    These bars are a great summer treat! I’m a big fan of coconut. I love everything with coconut: Coconut Water like in my Coconut Water Smoothie, curries with coconut milk, or sweet treats with shredded coconut like these coconut bars.

    They are so scrumptious you’ll be making them for every party this summer!
    I hope I’m not the only one who likes sweets chilled the most like chocolate or I also love my German Apple Streusel Sheet Cake straight out of the fridge. These bars are the same when they’re chilled they taste like candy bars. So good!

    Tropical Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    And the best thing is that they’re really easy to make!

    First, you make the shortbread crust, you could also do this step one day in advance because the dough has to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When the dough is nicely cooled spread it out onto a baking pan. Using your fingers is the easiest way in my opinion! Bake the shortbread for about 20 minutes and rotate the pan once so that it browns evenly. My oven is hotter in one corner and the dough bakes faster there.

    When the crust is done just take your favorite jam. I wanted something tropical so I choose a mango-passionfruit jam but apricot or lemon curd would all work well in my opinion. Spread the jam on your shortbread crust and distribute evenly.

    On top of the jam spread out the shredded coconut. A nice thick layer of coconut! I made a bit of a mess and had shredded coconut everywhere on my counter but I wanted to get an even coat :-)

    And the last step is drizzling the sweetened condensed milk on top. The condensed milk will caramelize while baking and forms a gooey crust together with the shredded coconut. That is so yummy! You will make these bars again and again.

    Tropical Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.Tropical Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    Do you see the golden crust on these coconut squares?

    I can’t get enough of these yummy treats. They are crunchy, fruity, and gooey! The perfect bar in my opinion! And changing the jam makes them so versatile. You could also make one half with one jam and the other half with another jam. So many possibilities!

    These bars will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!

    – Julia

    Tropical Caramel Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.

    A stack of tropical coconut squares on a piece of parchment paper. There's a glass of sweetened condensed milk in the background next to a baking sheet with the rest of the squares.
    Servings: 20

    Tropical Coconut Squares

    Coconut Squares taste like candy bars! Three delicious tropical layers topped with sweetened condensed milk make this dessert a naughty little treat.
    Prep Time: 45 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Author: Julia Foerster
    5 from 2 votes
    Print PIN RECIPE Rate

    Ingredients

    For the shortbread:

    • 3/4 cup butter, room temperature, 1 1/2 sticks; 170g
    • 1/2 cup sugar, 100g
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 220g
    • 1/4 tsp salt

    For the topping:

    • 1 cup mango or passion fruit jam, 325g, or any other jam
    • 2 cups shredded coconut, unsweetened, 120g
    • 7 oz sweetened condensed milk, 200g
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    Instructions

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat butter and sugar until creamy.
    • Add all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until a smooth dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic foil and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.
    • In the meantime preheat your oven to 350F (180C) and grease a 9x13 baking pan.
    • Press the dough out into the baking pan and prick with a fork multiple times.
    • Bake the shortbread base for 20 minutes. Rotate the baking pan once to get an even bake.
    • Take the pan out of the oven and spread an even layer of jam on top. Top with shredded coconut and drizzle the sweetened condensed milk all over the coconut.
    • Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden.
    • Let the bars completely cool down in the pan to set. Then cut into squares and keep the squares in the fridge. They taste chilled the best!
    Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Share it on Instagram and tag @platedcravings or #platedcravings!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessie | Kitschen Cat says

      June 16, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      Yum! I love the versatility of being able to create different flavors with the different jams. I have a feeling I shouldn’t make these because they’ll be gone in a day ;)

      Reply
    2. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says

      June 16, 2016 at 3:09 pm

      Oh Wow! These do sound so tasty! I love coconut and this sounds like a delicious way to eat it! :)

      Reply
      • Julia says

        June 16, 2016 at 3:12 pm

        Thank you, Kathy! The problem with these bars is you can’t stop after one square :-)

        Reply

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    Welcome!

    Julia Foerster from Plated Cravings

    Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions. ➝ Visit my about page and ➝ subscribe to never miss a new recipe!

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