Chewy bars packed with oats and toasted coconut. A perfect treat for any time of day.

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

Granola bars have been on my to-bake list for what seems like ages. My husband eats one of the store-bought variety almost every morning for breakfast and often reminds me that he’d like a homemade version. Yesterday I sought out to make them a reality, but somehow I got sidetracked and made these Coconut Oatmeal Bars instead. Not quite cookie, and not quite granola bar, they’re deliciously somewhere in between.

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

The cookbook I found the original recipe in called them a “dressed up granola bar”, which is what enticed me in the first place. But after looking more closely at the recipe, they essentially seemed to be mere blondies, and so I made a few adjustments to help me pretend they’re healthy enough for breakfast. I substituted some of the all-purpose for whole wheat flour and cut back on both the sugar and the butter. And I don’t feel that the final product hurt any because of it. They’re still plenty sweet and delicious.

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

These bars are a sweet treat, to be sure. I’m not going to try to tell you it’s not. But it is one that, in my opinion, you can feel a little better about. Even baby John couldn’t resist stealing one off the table as I took these photographs, and I happily let him enjoy it.

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

baking tip:How to toast coconut

It’s easy! Just follow these steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spread shredded, flaked or shaved coconut evenly on an ungreased sheet pan.
  3. Bake, stirring every few minutes, until golden brown. This will take about 7-10 minutes, depending on how toasted you want your coconut.

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

5 from 1 review

Coconut Oatmeal Bars

Servings: 16 bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Chewy bars packed with oats and toasted coconut. A perfect treat for any time of day.

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut (56 grams)
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour (85 grams)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 grams)
  • ¾ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (160 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature (141 grams)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (100 grams)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread coconut on a sheet pan and toast in the oven in 2 minute intervals, stirring to make sure it browns evenly and watching closely to see it doesn't burn. Let cool.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium high speed until light and creamy. Add the flours and salt and mix until combined and comes together in large clumps. Mixture will be crumbly. Add oats and toasted coconut and mix until incorporated.
  • Press dough into a buttered 8-inch square baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely before slicing.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
Calories: 169kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 84mg, Potassium: 66mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 219IU, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Annalise
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.