Every year around this time, I start to realize bikini season is creeping up on me… and every year around this time, I vow to eat better, exercise more, and transform myself into a Victoria’s Secret model.
And for awhile, it works. I’ll throw spinach in my smoothies. I’ll walk an extra mile a day. I’ll send Victoria’s Secret my bikini modeling pictures and they’ll call me and tell me to please stop sending photos to them. Same old routine, you know?
But then… then something happens. I’ll be walking to the grocery store to buy more birdseed to snack on when suddenly, I’m attacked by throngs of miniature girls with ribbons in their hair and teeth missing in their mouths asking me in their cute voices if I’d like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies. And then there’s always that one little girl dressed up like a gigantic Tagalong or something and I just want to scream why are you doing this to me!? because it’s so rude to say no to a girl dressed up like a giant cookie, you know?
It’s like, I may say no to a cookie here and there, but a cookie with a face? A cookie with a toothless grin, pigtails, and shoes that light up when she dances? That’s a low-blow to breeze on by and be like, I don’t need you, dancing cookie girl. I just can’t do it.
So inevitably I spend my kale money on Do-Si-Dos and Thin Mints and Samoas and insist to the moms multiple times that I’m buying for my family, we all love cookies, har har har, and then I get home and eat every last crumb of those evil concoctions. I’ll check the boxes later after the damage is done and see that one serving is two cookies and I’ll laugh because everyone knows that eating two Girl Scout Cookies is equivalent to the impossibility of seeing pigs fly, finding Justin Bieber attractive and eating pizza on the moon. It’s just not possible.
So while my kale and boiled chicken diet may be done, my Girl Scout Cookie diet is alive and well. And since Samoas are my favorite Girl Scout Cookie in all the land, I have been ramping up my baking with tons of Samoas-inspired recipes for when Girl Scout season is over and my cravings are still alive and well. And you guys, these bars could not be easier and they taste just like a thicker, softer Samoa cookie!
Don’t mind me, just making the impossible into possibles. Except for J.Biebs. He’s a lost cause.
*sugar cookie bar recipe adapted from Lauren’s Latest
Samoas Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 (11 oz) pkg Kraft Caramels unwrapped
- About 3 cups toasted coconut cooled
- 1 pkg Chocolate CandiQuik
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9" baking pan with foil, extending the sides of the foil over the edges of the pan. Mist the foil liberally with cooking spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract and almond extract until combined. Lastly, beat in the baking powder, salt, and flour, adding the flour about a cup at a time, until a soft dough has formed.
- Press the dough evenly into the baking pan. Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown and center is set. Cool the bars completely in the pan.
- Melt the caramels according to package directions, or until smooth. Stir in the toasted coconut, tossing to coat. Working very quickly, spread the caramel-coconut mixture on top of the sugar cookie bar base. Using your greased hands or a greased off-set spatula or spoon, spread the mixture to cover the entire base; you may have to press it out, but be gentle about it as to not crush the sugar cookie base beneath. Allow the caramel coconut layer to set, about 15 minutes.
- Once the bars are set, lift the bars out using your foil handles and cut them into squares. Melt the CandiQuik according to package directions, until smooth. Dip the bottoms of the bars into the CandiQuik and place onto a wax-paper lined surface. Repeat with remaining bars. Pour the remaining CandiQuik into a resealable plastic bag, seal out the air, snip off a corner of the bag, and drizzle the remaining CandiQuik over top of the bars. Allow the CandiQuik to set, about 10 minutes, before serving.
If I could, I would subsist exclusively on the caramel and toasted coconut layer alone – it is fabulous! These are so chewy and gooey, and such a great way to transform a basic sugar cookie bar into a fantastical Samoas-inspired dessert!
Have a sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Lisa @ Wine & Glue says
1. You are hysterical and I love you. B. SAMOASAMOASAMOAOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!
thedomesticrebel says
And I love YOU! Samoas bars for everyone! (But especially Lisa) 🙂
Ashton says
I’m in love with this so much, seriously. And it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to walk by girl scouts without buying like 10 boxes!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Girl! You are like the Queen of Samoas. From muffins, to cookies, to no-bake Samoas to Magic Cookie Samoas…and, now, these phenomenal bars! Thanks for sharing, Hayley. Pinning (of course)!
thedomesticrebel says
Hey Stacy! Hope you’ve been well, and thanks so much! I do not mind being Queen of Samoas… 😉
CakeSpy says
These bars could definitely find a cozy home…in my MOUTH.
thedomesticrebel says
I just love you oodles!
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel says
Better than the ones i find i the bakery. WAY BETTER! Great job!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Kelsey! 🙂
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
shhhh….shhh….GS cookies don’t have calories 😛
esp. not when they’re made into irresistible sugar cookie bars!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
I have learned to strategically park on the way other side of the store, just so I don’t have to walk past those cute little cookie imps!!! But I’m with you…I’d much rather be enjoying a GS cookie diet instead of spinach smoothies!! My cookies for life motto means no bikinis in my future!!! 😉 These cookie bars are seriously awesome! I love that you used a sugar cookie base!!!
thedomesticrebel says
Yeah, ZERO bikinis in my future, girl! I need to throw it back to the 1900s when we had full-body swimsuits… that’s what I need, haha!!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
So, where we’re living right now, it was impossible to find Girl Scout cookies! These cookie bars are happening this weekend! Samoas are my favorite!
thedomesticrebel says
Oh no! Hey, don’t feel alone – we are not buried under snow and I STILL haven’t found a Girl Scout this season. 🙁 I must be going to the wrong stores at the wrong times, because everyone else sees them! What the heck, Girl Scouts?!
kgirl says
These are beautiful! And delicious! But I am a little disappointed.. I don’t know what the deal was, but as I stirred the caramel with the coconut, it started setting up immediately. I barely mixed half the coconut in. I dumped it into the cookie bar, and could barely spread it because of the thickness. (And I worked very quickly). I managed to spread it over the whole bar, and when it set completely the topping is separate from the base. And it’s so hard and chewy I feel someone could lose a filling if they weren’t careful. I am super bummed these didn’t work the way I’d hoped
thedomesticrebel says
Hey there! I’m so sorry that they didn’t work out for you. The caramel mixture is very thick and does set up quickly, even for me! Next time, I recommend adding a little more milk or cream to the caramel to make it thinner, then try mixing in the coconut. You could also use a jar of caramel sauce and mix the coconut in, then just let the bars set up longer. That should work. Still, apologies for the issues in the first place!