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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.

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 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.

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: 32 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 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour

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Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • cup sugar
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened, 2 sticks
  • 1 cup caramel sauce
  • ½ cup toasted coconut*
  • ½ cup toasted pecans, optional*
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

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.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

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

Jamie

Jamie Sherman founded Love Bakes Good Cakes in February 2012. She is a self-taught home cook passionate about sharing easy, delicious, and family-friendly recipes. From comforting classics to irresistible desserts, I believe homemade food brings people together. Join me on my journey of creating and sharing meals that bring joy to every table!

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42 Comments

  1. Countrified Hicks says:

    Your post from last week was one of the ones featured! Come grab a button in a few minutes. http://www.countrifiedhicks.com

  2. Evelyn says:

    I just pinned these and shared them on Facebook!! Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays Blog Hop and thank you for being one of my Five Faves!!

    Hope you day is just totally awesome!!

  3. Miz Helen says:

    Hi Jamie,
    These bars look awesome! Hope you have a fabulous week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

  4. EveryDay Bloom says:

    I love desserts with coconut in them. And pecans. And chocolate! These look delicious! Thank you for posting this recipe. Lynaea @ EverydayBloom.com

  5. housewifehowtos says:

    I honestly think I just swooned reading this recipe. Samosas are my favorite, but we've been trying not to eat processed foods. With homemade caramel sauce this recipe still fits out eating plan. Thank you so much!

    I'd love if you'd come join my How To Tuesday link party, too.
    http://housewifehowtos.com/link-party-2/how-to-tuesday-link-party-9/

  6. Tonia L says:

    Yum Jamie! Those look fantastic!

  7. Cynthia Landrie says:

    I don't think I have bought Girl Scout cookies in a few years! The Somoas were one of my favorites! I will have to give these a try!

    Forgive me for being so late in thanking you for linking up to the In and Out of the Kitchen party! I just got back from vacation and am trying to play catch up!

    See you next week at the In and Out of the Kitchen party!

    Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com

  8. Elizabeth says:

    Yum! For some reason I always miss girl scout cookies. I think I can buy them next week, next week, next week… and then they're gone. Will have to try if I miss them again this year.