There are a handful of recipes from the past 8 years that really stick out in my mind as all-time favorites. There is the crowd-friendly Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken, the leftovers-loving Cheesy Mashed Potato Pancakes, and for the veggie enthusiasts, the 5-Ingredient Zucchini Fritters. But high atop the list of memorable desserts is none other than Homemade Samoas Cookies.
The DIY take on the classic Girl Scout cookie is getting some serious competition by joining forces with a chocolatey counterpart to form my latest and most favorite dessert, Samoas Coconut Caramel Brownies. Imagine a fudgy-meets-cakey brownie base topped with a chewy coconut-caramel mixture that’s sealed with a final chocolate drizzle.
So it’s your turn to step aside, shortbread cookies, and give brownies a chance to carry the coconut-caramel torch of dessert glory!
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Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
For the coconut caramel topping:
- 3 cups lightly packed shredded sweetened coconut
- 15 ounces store-bought soft caramels (See Kelly’s Notes)
- 3 Tablespoons whole milk
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Make the brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil then grease the foil with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs until the mixture is combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined then stir in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake the brownies for 25 to 30 minutes until they’re set in the middle. Remove the brownies from the oven and set them aside to cool while you make the coconut caramel topping.
Make the coconut caramel topping:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the coconut flakes into an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake the coconut for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring it halfway through, until it is toasted and golden brown. Transfer the toasted coconut to a large bowl.
- Melt the caramels and milk in a double-boiler, stirring until the mixture is smooth. (See Kelly’s Notes.) Pour the caramel over the toasted coconut and immediately stir the mixture until the coconut is coated then quickly pour the hot mixture over the cooled brownies, pressing it into an even layer. (The brownies do not have to be cooled entirely prior to topping them with the coconut mixture.)
- Once the coconut mixture has cooled, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and transfer them to a sealable plastic bag or piping bag. Pipe the chocolate on top of the coconut mixture and set the brownies aside to cool completely until the chocolate on top has hardened. Slice and serve the brownies.
Kelly’s Notes:
- I prefer the Werther’s Original Soft Caramels, as they melt easily into a very smooth caramel.
- A double-boiler consists of a larger saucepan filled with water and set over medium heat. You then set the smaller saucepan (filled with the caramels and milk) inside the larger one.
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
These are sooooooo amazing! I used a box mix brownie since I made them in my MIL’s kitchen when we traveled to attend a reunion. I also undercooked the brownies and it made them ooey gooey!
Woohoo! Thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Sally!
I’m confused about the homemade caramels being added. Do you have to make them into squares, cool etc before putting on the brownies or can you make them and use it while it’s still warm in the saucepan?
Hi Natasha! To clarify, I’ve removed the reference to homemade soft caramels. You’d want to use them from their formed stage so you can control the temp of the sugar, but it’s much faster to use the store-bought soft caramels. Hope that helps!
Could this be made with box brownies in a pinch?
Absolutely! Then just add the topping as directed.
I love Samoas so these brownies are EVERYTHING!
Oh wow those look incredible! I love samoas, they are my favorite girl scout cookie–so naturally, they must be incredible in brownie form :)
Mine, too, June! :)
This combination of flavours is amazing.
I can’t wait to try this version of yours!
Thanks so much, Coco!
The look absolutely amazing, Kelly! Forget the girls with the be-badged sashes, I’ll just make your brownies instead for my Samoas fix.
Thanks so much, Melanie!
When do you add the mini chocolate chips to the brownie batter? Do you melt and add? Looks delicious!
Just updated the recipe! Thanks for catching that, Michele :)
Love and love! This could be followed by yummy, yum, yum!
Haha thanks, Emily!