Buttery Coconut Bars

Course Bars, Desserts

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1

Servings bars

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar packed
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter melted

FILLING

3 large eggs
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed mIlk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar packed
1/4 cup butter melted
3 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups shredded coconut sweetened, divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with parchment paper, letting ends extend up sides.
In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar and salt; stir in 1 cup melted butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake until light brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 325°.
In a large bowl, whisk the first seven filling ingredients until blended; stir in 3 cups coconut. Pour over crust; sprinkle with remaining coconut. Bake until light golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Lifting with parchment paper, remove from pan. Cut into bars. Yield: 3 dozen.

Notes

My coconut bars are an American version of a Filipino coconut cake called bibingka. These are a crispier, sweeter take on the Christmas tradition I grew up liking. —Denise Nyland, Panama City, Florida