Lemon Coconut Bars
Lemon Coconut Bars are rich, creamy dessert bars made with lemon cake mix, cream cheese, and sweet coconut for an easy dessert that tastes like a cross between gooey butter cake and lemon bars. These soft and gooey bars are perfect for potlucks, holidays, spring brunches, or anytime you need an easy crowd-pleasing dessert.
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Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 500kcal
Ingredients
- 13 oz box lemon cake mix
- 4 eggs, divided
- ½ cup melted butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 7 oz pkg sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 tsp coconut extract, or vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the lemon cake mix, 2 eggs, and melted butter until fully combined.
- Press the cake mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust layer.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, remaining 2 eggs, and softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the sweetened flaked coconut and coconut extract.
- Spread the coconut mixture evenly over the crust layer.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is mostly set but still slightly gooey in the middle.
- Remove from the oven and cool on the counter for 30 minutes.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing into bars and serving.
Notes
- The center should still jiggle slightly when removed from the oven. Overbaking can make the bars dry instead of gooey.
- Coconut extract gives these bars a stronger bakery-style coconut flavor, but vanilla extract works well too.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These bars are delicious chilled straight from the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 500 kcal | Carbohydrates: 75 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 11 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Cholesterol: 74 mg | Sodium: 441 mg | Potassium: 125 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 59 g | Vitamin A: 671 IU | Vitamin C: 0.02 mg | Calcium: 96 mg | Iron: 1 mg
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