German Chocolate Cookie Bars

Sep 10, 2024

4.96 from 46 votes

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German Chocolate Cookie Bars have a chewy chocolate cookie layer topped with gooey homemade German chocolate coconut frosting.

German Chocolate Cookie Bars cut in squares.

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These German chocolate cookie bars are perfectly chewy with a crunchy, yet gooey coconut frosting topping. They are heavenly and SO EASY to make! No joke, I’ve probably made these at least 5 times since the beginning of the year! They are THAT good. Oh, and did I mention they are super EASY to make? I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, so I make these whenever I have a sweet tooth but don’t want to make a trip to the store.

Ingredients to make German Chocolate Cookie Bars including devil's food cake mix, milk chocolate chips, vanilla, coconut, eggs, butter, sweetened condensed milk and pecans.

Chocolate Cake Mix – You can use German chocolate cake mix, devil’s food cake mix, or any other chocolate cake mix.
Butter – Unsalted works best for this recipe.
Eggs – You need one for the crust and one for the filling.
Sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla extract
Pecans
Shredded coconut
Milk chocolate chips – You can also use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.

Baked German Chocolate Cookie Bars in a baking dish.

How to Assemble German Chocolate Bars

Prepare the crust according to the directions below.
Combine the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, egg, pecans and coconut and pour evenly over the warm crust. You can heat this mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until just hot but we have found that it works best pouring the mixture directly over the warm chocolate crust.
Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top.
Bake until the top is a light golden brown. Cool completely before serving.

German Chocolate Cake Mix vs Devil’s Food Cake

As noted in the recipe, you can use either a German chocolate cake mix or a devil’s food cake mix. Originally I only used German chocolate cake mix (hence, the name of the recipe). Once, however, when I was craving these, all I had in the pantry was a devil’s food cake mix. I tried it out and haven’t gone back since! The cookie bars came out more moist and with a richer flavor. Because I made this discovery months after the recipe was posted the first time, it was too late to change the name.. so we still call them German Chocolate Cookie Bars. But (in a whispered voice)…we really 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.

Mixing bowl with cake mixture. Wooden spoon on the side.

Making German Chocolate Bars From Scratch

No box cake mix? No problem! You can make the chocolate cake mix in this recipe from scratch. Here’s what you need:

2 cups cake flour (all purpose flour will work fine if you don’t have cake flour)
1 ½ cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder (or to taste)
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl. Stir well and use this cake mixture in place of the box cake mix.

Hand picking up a German Chocolate Cookie Bar.

Variations and Additions

Caramel – Drizzle melted caramel over the top.
Almonds – For more of a crunch you can use chopped almonds instead of pecans.
Easter style – Toss the coconut in a tiny bit of green food coloring for an Easter twist. Add chocolate Cadbury Mini Eggs over the top as another fun addition.
Fruity – Add in some dried cherries or cranberries to the brownie batter.
Spice – For extra warmth in this cookie, you can add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
Extra chocolate – Add a handful of chocolate chips to the brownie batter for an even chewier, fudgier brownie layer.

German Chocolate Cookie Bars cut in squares. Coconut, pecans and milk chocolate chips on the side.

Tips for Storing German Chocolate Bars

To ensure you’re getting the longest shelf life from these yummy cookie bars, here are some quick tips for storage:

Make sure the bars are cooled completely before storing.
Store the bars in an airtight container or Ziplock bag at room temperature for 3-4 days.
You can also pop them in the refrigerator where they’ll stay fresh for about a week.
Freeze leftovers too! Wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for a couple of months. If you’re freezing more than one layer, place a piece of parchment paper in between the layers of brownies so they don’t stick together. Thaw in the refrigerator or on the counter until they’re room temperature.

Two German Chocolate Cookie Bars stacked.

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 are 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 a dessert in about 30 minutes!
Peanut Butter Bars: Better than your lunch lady used to make!
We have MANY MANY more cookie and bar recipes. Try some and let us know your favorites!

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Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

More about Erica Walker

4.96 from 46 votes (26 ratings without comment)