German Chocolate Cookie Bars have a chewy chocolate cookie layer topped with gooey homemade German chocolate coconut frosting.
German Chocolate Cookie Bars
These German chocolate cookie bars are perfectly chewy with a crunchy, yet gooey coconut frosting topping. They are heavenly! And SO EASY to make! I have probably made these German Chocolate Cookie Bars at least 5 times since the beginning of the year. I love them! I got this recipe from our friends over at Six Sisters Stuff who adapted the recipe from Paula Deen.
These would be a great treat for Easter — just shake up some green food coloring with the coconut before adding it to the recipe and add little mini eggs to the top. You can’t go wrong with these bars. They are a new favorite at our house! They are so gooey and delicious! Oh and did I mention they are super EASY? I almost always have all the ingredients on hand so I make these whenever I have a sweet tooth and I don’t want to make a trip to the store!
More Favorite Cookie Bar Recipes
You can’t go wrong with these delicious German Chocolate Cookie Bars but if you are looking for MORE delicious treats like this one, give some (or all) of these a try:
- Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars: These tasty bars come straight from St. John’s in the Caribbean. Chocolate and coconut is ALWAYS a winning combination! You will love all the delicious layers of these bars!
- Coconut Lime Cheesecake Bars: Craving a taste of the islands but looking for something more on the fruity side? You have GOT to try these coconut lime cheesecake bars. One of the most popular recipes on our site!
- Coconut Pecan Cookie Bars: These cookie bars are SO easy to whip up. No cake mix needed! Only a few easy ingredients and you’ve got yourself dessert in about 30 minutes!
- We have MANY MANY more cookie and bar recipes… check them ALL out HERE!
UPDATE:
As you will see in the recipe below you can use either a German Chocolate Cake Mix or a Devil’s Food Cake Mix. Originally we started off ALWAYS making it with German chocolate cake mix but when I was craving these and found all I had in the pantry was a Devil’s Food Cake mix I made it with that and haven’t gone back since. They were way more moist and I liked the taste better. Since I made this discovery months after we posted the first time, it was too late to change the name.. so we still call them German Chocolate Cookie bars but really we like them best when they are “Devil’s Food Cake bars with coconut topping”. Both ways are delicious so if you want to keep with the German theme, feel free to stick with it. You really can’t lose.
How To Make German Chocolate Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 box devil's food cake mix not the kind with pudding added* (see comments above
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
Filling:
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (fat free works great too)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan (I used non-stick cooking spray).
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cake mix, butter and egg, and press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- The crust should not come up the sides.
- Bake for 7 minutes and remove from the oven. The crust will not look done.
- While the crust is baking, mix together the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, egg, pecans and coconut.
- Pour evenly over the warm crust.
- Sprinkle evenly with the chocolate chips.
- Bake for 24-30 minutes, until the top is a light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch pan
Recipe Video
Nutrition
Allyson Zea says
My whole family love these cookie bars!
Eden says
Loved these bars so much! They’re delicious and easy to make 🙂
Val says
Wondering if these would freeze well and if so, how would you do it to get the best results? I am needing to make a very large quantity. Thanks!
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried freezing them before, but I would probably try to freeze the base and then make the topping closer to serving. Hope this helps!
Pamela Henn says
I haven’t made these German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookie Bars yet, but plan to make them later today.
I’m sure they are delicious, but I do feel there needs to be some clarification, as to the fact that the recipe lists them as German or Dutch origination. This is incorrect.
German chocolate is not named after the country nor does it have anything to do with German or Dutch cuisine. German Chocolate originated in the United States and was discovered by a chocolate maker by the name of Samuel German, thus the name German Chocolate.
Natalie says
German chocolate cake as a cookie, yes please!! Soft, delicious, & chocolatey!
Kechi says
This is my kind of cookies, chunky loaded bar! I can’t wait to make some of these!
Andrea Metlika says
These are a delightful treat the whole family will enjoy. They’d be great on a cookie tray too!
Jamie says
This looks so decadent and I love how easy this is to make! I’m saving this to make for the weekend!
Priya Lakshminarayan says
Wow these look perfect! I have all the ingredients ready…so I am going to make it tomorrow. Yay!
Beth says
Yum! My family is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try! Looks so delicious and scrumptious!
Sarah Johnson says
Delicious and very easy to make!
Terri says
Made these for a family reunion. What a hit. I used the German Chocolate cake mix and mini chocolate chips and many asked for the recipe. A definite keeper.
Lynn says
I’ve made these several times already they are easy and delicious. Secret don’t overcook. I bake on convection for 24 min. Five stars
Nancy Reese says
I always make birthday cookies in a large round baking stone that has a slightly raised edge. (Pampered chef large white baking stone) Would this recipe work in that? German chocolate is my husband’s favorite cake, so I thought it might be fun to try this.
Favorite Family Recipes says
I think it should work! Let us know how it turns out if you do try it!
Lynn says
How long will they keep without freezing?
Favorite Family Recipes says
They should keep for about a week in an airtight container!
Lisa says
Just took these out if the oven…they smell great! Can’t wait till ypthey cool enough to have one!
Erica says
Ooh let us know how you liked them! Thanks for the 5-stars!
Crissie Joyce says
They are in the oven now!!!
I am taking them to Birthday
Social at church tonight and
Can’t wait to try them.😊😊
Favorite Family Recipes says
Oooh yum! I hope they were a hit!
Barb says
Just finished baking these delicious cookie bars. Moist, rich, and chocolatey. I have a new addition to our yearly Christmas cookie platter. Yummy!!!
Favorite Family Recipes says
So glad you liked them! Thank you for the 5 stars! Merry Christmas!
Patty says
Looks yummy can these be frozen ?
Favorite Family Recipes says
Yes, you should be able to freeze these just fine. 🙂
Laura says
Has anyone tried making these using gluten free cake mix?
Vicky says
My kind of baking! I used to love scratch baking when I was younger, but not so much these days. Thanks and pinned.
Nichole says
This is not GERMAN Chocolate Bars this is Deviled Food Bars. German Chocolate cake is a type of chocolate named for a man whose last name is German. So you would need to use a GERMAN Chocolate cake mix for this to fall under that category!
Sally says
German chocolate is a fairly common colloquialism for desserts that have chocolate, coconut and nuts. If it makes you feel better, just buy the cake mix that says German chocolate on the label. Amazing what people find to grouse about these days . . .
Vicky says
Seriously? SMH.
Kathy says
Is it supposed to look under baked when you take it out after the 30 min bake time?
Erica says
You may want to keep it in a little longer and keep checking every few minutes
Pat Barnes says
I made these yesterday with a German chocolate cake mix and an entire 12 oz. package of milk chocolate chips on top. WOWZA! They are GREAT. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Erica says
So glad you liked them! 😀
Debbie says
They are delicious!! I will be making them again.
Debra Weir says
I forgot to buy stick butter can I use crock butter?
Erica says
If it is “real” butter, than sure, crock butter should be ok!
Bernadette says
I used German Chocolate pudding cake and it turn out a little more than golden brown and a little burnt around the edges, otherwise it was still very good. Very easy to make.
Shirley Willard says
Where is the German chocolate? Why call them German Chocolate Bars when there isn’t any German chocolate?
Patricia says
After reading all comments, I am going try this. Making cookies, fudge, etc for Christmas gifts. This will be a good addition
Crystal Smith says
I am making these at 10:00 pm. They smell so good right now. Thanks for the recipe. Mine are taking a bit longer to cook as I used homemade sweetened condensed milk which was a bit thinner.
Debbie Timmons says
do these bars need to be stored in refrigerator or room temperature ?
Echo says
They don’t need to be stored in the refrigerator unless you prefer to serve them cold. I think they taste best at room temperature. Thanks for asking!
K says
may I substitute German chocolate mix for Devils food? Tx.
Echo says
Yes, you can use either one and it will turn out great!
Barbara says
I made these today for my daughter to take to school for a party in her German class. I omitted the nuts due to obvious reasons (never knowing if their is a nut allergy in the bunch). Went together really quick and are baking now.
Caroline says
Hey I am planning to make these soon, they look absolutely amazing! I have one question when I mix the cake mix with butter and eggs, do I use a mixer, or do I use a spoon
Erica says
You can use either…. but a mixer would be much easier!
Bree says
I am so excited to make these but realized I bought the Devils Food with the pudding mix added. Will it ruin the recipe?
Erica says
No, that is totally fine. It will still be great! 🙂
Annette says
I am not a cook or a baker. I wish the directions stated that the crust needed to be cooled before putting the condensed milk mixture on it. What I thought was going to be a easy delicious desert just landed in the trash. Total disaster.
Erica says
You are supposed to put it over the warm crust… it should be slightly undercooked. You don’t cut the bars until they are cooled or they will be too gooey.
kassie says
How long do you usually wait until it’s completely cool?
Echo says
Usually 30-60 minutes. Sometimes I will put them outside on a cold day and they will cool quicker. Thanks for asking!
carmamma says
Just came across this image and recipe (taken FROM you) on a Facebook page with no link or mention of where it was taken from.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=535216393195543&set=a.529893487061167.1073741826.529892423727940&type=1
Karen Petersen says
um yes please!
Kathy says
Wow! These look so good. I love to make cookie bars. They are so easy!
Elizabeth Resendez says
Mmmmm these look so good, so obsessed with chocolate :/ oh and I still can’t believe I won your iPad mini giveaway, thank you so much.
Emily says
It’s on it’s way!!!
Denise says
I’ve made something very similar to these before and they’re super good! Thanks for reminding me of this great recipe!