Coconut brownies are a decadent and delicious dessert that combines the rich and chocolatey goodness of classic brownies with the tropical flavor of coconut.
These fudgy brownies are the perfect treat for any occasion, whether you’re looking to indulge in a sweet snack or impress guests at a dinner party.
With a chewy and fudgy texture, and a subtle hint of coconut flavor in every bite, these brownies are sure to be a hit with anyone coconut lovers and chocolate lovers alike. Plus, with this easy-to-follow recipe, you can whip up a batch of these chocolate coconut brownies treats in no time.
So, gather your ingredients and get ready to bake up some heavenly coconut brownies that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth! I have been baking my whole life and I have to say, these coconut brownies are one of my all-time favorite brownie recipes. I can’t wait for you to try them!
Other delicious dessert recipes to try:
- Brownie cookies
- Mint chocolate brownie cookies
- Rich and creamy peanut butter cheesecake brownies
- Black forest brownie bars
- Chocolate zucchini cookies
Ingredients for Coconut Brownies
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
Unsalted butter: In order to control the salt content of baked goods, it’s important to use unsalted butter as the salt content varies greatly from brand to brand. An overly salty baked good will result in a poor flavored product so if you are unable to use unsalted, be sure to reduce the added salt by ¼ teaspoon.
Pure vanilla extract: Using a high-quality pure vanilla extract gives a subtle rich sweet flavor while also bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients in the batter.
Cocoa powder: Be sure you use unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe. By using unsweetened it allows you to control the amount of sugar in the final product.
Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet, dark chocolate or milk… you choose!
How to make Coconut Brownies
- STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides to easily lift the brownies out of the pan when cool. Set aside.
- STEP TWO: In a large bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chips in a medium microwave safe bowl in 20 second increments, stirring after each round in the microwave.
- STEP THREE: Remove from the heat, pour into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- STEP FOUR: Whisk both sugars into the cooled chocolate and melted butter mixture.
- STEP FIVE: Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring until smooth. Then whisk in the vanilla.
- STEP SIX: Gently fold in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Stir in the remainder of the chocolate chips.
- STEP SEVEN: Pour three quarters of the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan. The batter is thick so be prepared to spread into the corners of the pan.
Ingredients for the Coconut Layer
- Condensed milk
- Cornstarch
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut flakes
Condensed milk: Not to be confused with evaporated milk. I don’t recommend trying to replace condensed milk with any substitution as it is the key ingredient. If you use fat-free, the coconut filling will not set.
Shredded Coconut: I used sweetened shredded coconut because it has more moisture. Knowing the texture and flavor will change, you can use unsweetened coconut flakes if that’s all you have.
How to make the Coconut Layer
- STEP ONE: In a small mixing bowl, stir together the coconut flakes, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Stir until the ingredients are well combined.
- STEP TWO: Using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, evenly spread the coconut filling carefully over the top of the bottom brownie layers.
- STEP THREE: With the remainder of the brownie batter, scoop spoonfuls onto the top of the coconut layer and swirl with a knife.
- STEP FOUR: Bake for 40 minutes or until the edges begin to pull away from the side of the pan. A toothpick can be inserted in the center of the gooey brownie and should come with moist crumbs and voila — chewy brownies! Let them cool on a wire rack before consuming.
How to store
Refrigerate coconut brownies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
These can be frozen in a slab wrapped in plastic if you have space or cut brownies in single layers between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bring to room temperature.
FAQ
Can I use unsweetened coconut instead of sweetened coconut in the recipe? Yes, you can use unsweetened coconut instead of sweetened coconut. However, keep in mind that using unsweetened coconut will result in a less sweet brownie. You may want to add a little extra sugar to the recipe to compensate for the lack of sweetness.
Can I use a different type of chocolate in the recipe? Yes, you can use a different type of chocolate in the recipe. However, keep in mind that using a chocolate with a higher or lower cocoa percentage may affect the texture and flavor of the brownies. For best results, use a semisweet chocolate with a cocoa percentage of around 60%.
Can I double the recipe to make more brownies? Yes, you can double the recipe to make more brownies. However, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Check the brownies regularly while baking and add a few minutes to the cooking time if needed.
BBQ Bakers Tips & Tricks
- Do not overbake. These are supposed to be soft and chewy and overbaking will cause them to become hard and crispy.
- It’s going to be very hard to resist eating these warm and fresh out of the oven, but they do slice best into perfect square pieces when allowed to cool for a couple of hours.
- Use slightly damp hands when pressing the coconut mix onto the brownie, so that it doesn’t stick to you.
- Feel free to use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or semi-sweet chips.
- For plain brownies, skip the coconut layer. Spread brownie batter into a prepared square pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
- I like to use sweetened shredded coconut because of its moisture. Knowing the texture and flavor will change, you can use unsweetened coconut flakes if that’s all you have.
You may not know this about me, but I am a huge fan of the chocolate and coconut flavor combination. Coconut brownies are decadent and delicious brownies that combines the rich and chocolatey goodness of classic brownies with the tropical flavor of coconut.
Coconut Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips semi-sweet, milk or dark, the flavor choice is up to you!
Coconut Layer
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 300ml
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 cups shredded coconut flakes
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides to easily lift the brownies out of the pan when cool. Set aside
- Melt ½ cup butter and ½ cup chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl in 20 second increments, stirring after each round in the microwave. Remove from the heat, pour into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup brown sugar into the cooled chocolate/butter mixture. Add the 3 eggs, one at a time, stirring until smooth. Whisk in the 1 tsp vanilla. Gently fold in the ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup cocoa powder and ½ tsp salt. Stir in remainder of chocolate chips. Pour ¾ brownie batter into prepared pan. The batter is thick so be prepared to spread into the corners of the pan.
Coconut Layer
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together the 2 cups coconut flakes, 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 2 tsp vanilla. Stir until the ingredients are well combined.
- Using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, evenly spread the coconut filling carefully over the top of the bottom brownie layer.
- With the remainder of the brownie batter you will scoop 3 spoonful's on to coconut layer and swirl with a knife.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until the edges begin to pull away from the side of the pan. A toothpick can be inserted in the center and should come with moist crumbs and voila done!
Notes
- Make ahead: Pressed on time make the night before, layer and chill (tightly covered) overnight and bake the next day.
- Freezing Instructions: These can be frozen in a slab wrapped in plastic if you have space or cut brownies in single layers between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Sweetened Shredded Coconut: I used sweetened shredded coconut because it’s moister. Knowing the texture and flavor will change, you can use unsweetened coconut flakes if that’s all you have.
- Plain Brownies: For plain brownies, skip the entire coconut layer. Spread brownie batter into prepared 8×8-inch square pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
Let me know how you made out!!