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These Coconut Bars have a chewy sugar cookie bottom and are topped with a lime zest, coconut, and cream cheese mixture. Loaded with coconut-y island flavor, and perfect for a summer dessert or anytime you’re craving that island vibe. Want more coconut treats in your life? Try my Coconut Cake, Coconut Cookies or add a little chocolate and butterscotch and try my Magic Bars.

What are Coconut Bars?
Coconut bars are a type of dessert made with shredded or flaked coconut as one of the main ingredients. My recipe consists of a premade sugar cookie dough base (my little time saving secret!) plus a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, egg, coconut and flavorings that are pressed into a rectangular or square shape and baked until golden brown.
Coconut bars have several variations such as no-bake bars, chocolate-covered bars, or bars that include other ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. The choice is yours, but I hope you love mine!

How to Make Coconut Bars
These are fairly simple to put together. For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measurements, scroll down to see the printable recipe card. Here are the step-by-step directions to make these yummy Coconut Bars.
Preheat + Prep
Preheat oven. Spray 9×9 square pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Press Dough Into Pan
Press sugar cookie dough into the bottom of the greased dish and set aside.

Combine Remaining Ingredients
In a large bowl, whip cream cheese with sugar and egg. Scrape edges and whip again. Stir in coconut extract and lime zest. Spread mixture over top of cookie dough to form an even layer and top with coconut.
Can I use unsweetened coconut in this recipe? Yes, unsweetened coconut is perfectly fine. The bars won’t be quite as sweet or quite as coconut-y, but it works if that’s what you have on hand.






Bake
Bake for 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly toasted and cream cheese mixture is set.


Cool + Refrigerate
Cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely chilled. Cut into bars and serve.
Make Ahead + Storing Coconut Bars
If you need to make these ahead of when you want to serve them, no problem! Just place bars in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Yes, you do need to refrigerate these bars since they contain cream cheese.
To Freeze: Allow bars to cool completely. Place into an airtight container and into the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

More Coconut Recipes To Try…
Happy Baking! I hope you make these this week! If you do, I’d love it if you would give this recipe a star review and tell us all about it in the comments! The printable recipe card is below. Enjoy, friends! 🙂

Coconut Bars
Coconut Bars have a sugar cookie bottom and are topped with a lime zest, coconut and cream cheese mixture. Tons of coconut-y island flavor here!
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg