Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars

 I’ve been baking up these decadent Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars for years as part of the holiday cookie trays I distribute to friends and neighbors.

With a layer of shortbread topped with chewy coconut and nut filling, these Coconut Bars are destined to become one of your favorite cookie bars!

Why You Must Make

• Bars are almost always easier to make than cookies. No scooping out individual mounds of dough!
• The topping is rich, gooey and incredibly tasty.
• They’re not your ordinary cookie bar and they’re the perfect way for coconut lovers to get their fix.

Macaroons, coconut cupcakes, coconut bars I love them all. My love affair with coconut started as a girl. My mom submitted a recipe for Mounds Bars for my first-grade cookbook: think graham cracker crust with a chewy coconut middle and a chocolate topping. I love, love coconut cookies, but bar cookies are even easier!!! This is now one of my favorite Coconut Desserts!

Ingredient Notes

• Pantry Staples – Flour, Powdered Sugar, Brown Sugar, Cold Butter
• Cream of Coconut – I use Coco Lopez. This is not the same as coconut milk.
• Heavy Cream – 36% Butterfat
• Fresh Lemon Juice – Do not use bottled lemon juice from the grocery store shelves. Fresh juice has a better taste. When I have a half a lemon leftover, I squeeze it into a small container and store it in the freezer for future recipes.
• Sweetened Flaked Coconut – I use angel flake brand.
• Macadamia Nuts – Large pieces halved. If yours have been sitting in the pantry for a while, consider gently heating them in a dry skillet. Not to brown them, but to warm them and bring out their natural essential oils.

Expert Tips

I always include something coconut with my holiday trays and this shortbread-based bar is topped with a chewy, nutty coconut topping. 

• Pulse your crust ingredients in the food processor. Watch carefully until the butter pieces are the size of small peas or less. These little butter bits will make for a tender crust.
• Use sweetened coconut, like angel flake. I have not tested with unsweetened coconut.
• PRO-Tip: Line your baking pan with non-stick foil. This will prevent the sweet filling from sticking to the sides of the pan.
• PRO-Tip: Toast your macadamia nuts before using. This will release their essential oils making them taste nuttier and more flavorful. Plus it will enhance their crunchiness.
• Plus, the nonstick foil provides a “sling” for removing the cooled coconut bars to a cutting board. It’s much easier to slice them when they’re not still in the pan.
• Remember to reduce the oven temperature as directed in the recipe. If you forget, your coconut bar edges will be dark, though still tasty!

Don’t wait till the holidays to bake up a batch of these delectable coconut bars. If you love bar cookies, check out the Best Bar Cookie Recipes in my recipe index. Another fan favorite are these Easy Meringue Cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions

You May Also Like:

• Blackberry Coconut Crisp from Barefeet in the Kitchen
• Chewy Coconut Cookies
• Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
• Cream Cheese Frosted Coconut Cupcakes
• Plus check out Bar Cookie Recipes

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The Recipe:

Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield 24 bars

Chewy coconut macadamia nut bars adapted from Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 sticks cold butter, cut into pieces
• ⅔ cup powdered sugar

Coconut topping:

• ½ half stick butter (¼ cup)
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup canned cream of coconut (I use Coco Lopez)
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 ⅔ cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 ⅓ cup macadamia nuts, large pieces halved

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease or line a 9 x 13-inch pan with nonstick foil.
2. In a food processor, pulse together flour, 2 sticks of butter, and powdered sugar till the butter is the size of small peas and the mixture resembles cornmeal.
3. Pat into the bottom of the prepared pan (the dough will be crumbly). Bake for 20 minutes.
4. Melt the half stick of butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat.
5. Add brown sugar, and stir till dissolved. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
6. Pour the topping over the crust. Reduce oven temperature to 325º and bake for about 40-50 minutes till bars are lightly browned.
7. Cut into bars when cool. These freeze well.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Small Offset Spatula
• 
  Food Processor
• 
  9 x 13 Baking Pan

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 bar
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g

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Lambeau, our first pup, circa 2010