Better Than Samoas Bars

I wanted a "Samoa" style dessert awhile back and decided to venture into making my own. I didn't necessarily want cookies, because truthfully, I don't like making cookies. I knew I wanted some type of bar or brownie. I used my homemade caramel sauce for this recipe, but feel free to use store-bought if that fits your time and lifestyle better! I liked the idea of adding pecans too ... but they are totally optional.

By Jamie

Updated Apr 16, 2026, Published Feb 15, 2013

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Try these Better Than Samoas Bars for a tasty dessert. These are a great substitute if you don’t prefer the cookie variation.

Better Than Samoas Bar close up on wax paper.

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Better Than Samoas Bars

Girl Scout Cookie “season” is upon us. You may not think of it as a season, but I do … and I look forward to buying my fair share of boxes every year. It seems this year, I may miss out on all those yummy boxes, unless I can find a table set up in front of my local Wally World. I love the Samoas, Thin Mints and the Tagalongs!

I used my homemade caramel sauce for this recipe, but feel free to use store-bought if that fits your time and lifestyle better! I liked the idea of adding pecans too … but they are totally optional.

I hope you enjoy these as much as my family did …. they were so good and the perfect little treat for when it’s not Girl Scout Cookie “season”. 😉

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Servings: bars

Better Than Samoas Bars

By Jamie Sherman

I wanted a “Samoa” style dessert awhile back and decided to venture into making my own. I didn’t necessarily want cookies, because truthfully, I don’t like making cookies. I knew I wanted some type of bar or brownie. I used my homemade caramel sauce for this recipe, but feel free to use store-bought if that fits your time and lifestyle better! I liked the idea of adding pecans too … but they are totally optional.

Prep: 20

Cook: 40

Total: 1

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Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing the edges to hang over. Spray the foil with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the first three ingredients. Cut in butter. Press into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with caramel. Spread evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the coconut, pecans and chocolate chips over the top. Return the pan to the oven for an additional 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan.
Lift foil out of the pan. Cut into bars. Store covered.

Notes

**To toast coconut and pecans:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Place coconut or pecans on a baking sheet. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until they are toasted.
Be careful and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 26mg, Potassium: 63mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 185IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Originally published on February 15, 2013. Updated on April 22, 2021.