This recipe for Samoa Bars tastes just like my favorite Girl Scout Cookie!
I mean, what’s not to love? Chocolate? Coconut? Caramel? Shortbread? And, put it all together and you’ve got one super, duper yummy cookie! Every year, when the neighborhood girls camp out in front of the grocery store, I have to buy a box. And then…I hide it! I want them all to myself! And, I know it sounds silly, but I ration them. I want to extend the bliss as long as possible.
It’s just a shame that you can only get them for a short time.
Compliments of It’s a Keeper
Original recipe from Casual Dish
www.everydaytastes.com
Cookie Base:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly, like wet sand. The dough does not need to come together. Pour crumbly dough into prepapred 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.
Topping:
3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
12-oz good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
10 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)
Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) 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 dollops of the topping all over the shortbread base. Using the spatula, spread topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled.
When cooled, cut into 30 bars with a large knife or a pizza cutter (it’s easy to get it through the topping).
Once bars are cut, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each bar into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment or wax paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle bars with chocolate to finish.
Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.
Is It a Keeper?
If the caramel stuck to my fingers (and keyboard!) is any indication…I’d say these are a home run! Holy cow, they are yummy! The recipe makes a big batch — which is a VERY good thing! So, I felt better about sharing them with my husband and son! Of course, they loved them too!
Well, now that I’ve been writing about these cookies, I need to go indulge! Enjoy!
For more recipe inspiration, be sure to check out these pages on It’s a Keeper:
MaryAnn Coggins says
February 28, 2012 at 6:27 amThese are my hubby’s favorite girl scout cookie!!! I will definitely make them for him. I think these would be good to take to our family reunion too!! Thanks for posting the recipe Chris! I just love your blog!
Considering The Fields says
May 25, 2011 at 4:39 pmNew follower from Tues. Blog trail. These look amazing! Samoas are my favorite girl scout cookie too! Thanks for finding these. Will have to visit Kristy too.
You can follow me at Considering The Fields!
Heather says
May 24, 2011 at 3:42 pmMmmm… those look incredibly yummy. I love girl scout cookies. I’m going to have to attempt to make these.
Now following you from FMBT. Hope you’ll stop by my blog some time.
LadyD says
May 24, 2011 at 10:24 amStopping by (new follower) from Tuesday Blog Trail!
Jennifer says
May 24, 2011 at 10:24 amStopping by from the monster hop and now folloing I am always looking for new recipes to try.
april narretto says
May 24, 2011 at 9:44 amdon’t feel bad I hide a box from my kids too….of course they get plenty.but oh my they are yummy….I will try this recipe.
your newest follower 🙂
Melanie Flinn says
May 24, 2011 at 9:16 amThose look awesome! I am a new follower coming over from the blog hop. Would love for you to stop by Nutritious Eats!
Jill says
May 24, 2011 at 8:52 amWow- yum, I’ll have to have a go at making them for the girls!
And there was me thinking Samoa was just a Pacific Island!
I am following you from the hop, please feel free to drop past our Australian blog.
I would love to hear your thoughts on planking.
http://beourbest.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Tuna says
May 23, 2011 at 9:41 pmStopping over the blog hop, I am a sucker for recipe blogs. (It could be because I have one myself for Pete’s sake.)
I can eat 247 girl scout cookies in one sitting, my bad.
Linda (aka Mama) says
May 23, 2011 at 5:53 pmFollowing u from Monday blog hop, Hope you can return the follow, tks so much
Hope you hve a wonderful week
Mama
jr911 says
May 23, 2011 at 1:57 pmNew follower….nice to find your blog! Would love for you to follow me back!
I am definitely going to have to try this recipe1
AnnaBean says
May 23, 2011 at 11:42 amHi,
Girl Scout cookies are the best!! Needless to say, I’ll be trying this out. AnnaBean is now following from the Monday Mom Blog Hop, I’d love if you could follow back as well!
http://blog.annabean.com/
Grace says
May 23, 2011 at 11:29 amWhat a great find! Thank you for sharing now there will be one more reason for my grand kids to want to come visit LOL.
I’m a previous GFC follower on your blog and I’m dropping by to say hi from the Meet Friends Monday blog hop. Since I was already a GFC follower I gave your recipe a shout out with a link from the Blessed Elements facebook page.
I didn’t see a facebook button for you blog or I would have joined your page. If you have one then come give me a visit and leave me a link so I can come join up and keep up on your recipes.
Have a great day,
Grace
Lindsay says
May 22, 2011 at 8:04 pmOHH YUMMY Girl Scout cookies bring back all kinds of happy memories. So glad they are a keeper!
Delighted Momma
Kim says
May 22, 2011 at 7:07 pmOH YUM YUM YUM. those are my fave GS cookies and always wondered if it was only because there was a small window when we could treat ourselves…… Thanks for sharing.
Grumpy Grateful Mom says
May 22, 2011 at 6:55 pmI will definitely be trying one of these recipes. I am a huge samoa fan. If you can teach me how you ration yours that would be helpful–I tend to down a box quickly. 🙂
Christina says
May 22, 2011 at 8:03 pmIt only because I try to hide them (from myself) in spot that hard to remember, like the medicine cabinet or my cabinet over my washing machine! 🙂