One of my favorite Girl Scout Cookies are the classic Samoas.
I can polish off a purple box in no time.
From the chocolate-dipped undersides to the chewiness from the coconut, they’re amazing. But they’re not exactly lite. How they’re called Caramel DeLites in some areas is mind-boggling.
Although these bars aren’t as healthy as a cup of steamed broccoli, they’re vegan, gluten-free, no-bake, and made in one bowl without a mixer in under 5 minutes.
And they taste lots like the Samoas Cookies I can gobble up. Full of coconut flavor, lots of chewiness, and enough chocolate to satisfy my cravings.
These days most major grocery stores carry coconut oil in the baking aisle. I’ve tried at least 10 different brands and generally find most to be pretty comparable. For these bars, I used Nutiva Coconut Oil that I picked up from iHerb.com
Code AVE630 at checkout saves you $10 off your order. I love iHerb for everything from probiotics to face cleanser to stevia.
In addition to coconut oil, the bars are made with shredded coconut and quick-cook oats. If you normally buy whole-rolled oats, pulse them in a food processor, and you’ll have quick-cook oats in 10 seconds.
After making a syrupy glue in the microwave with coconut oil and sugars which serves to bind the bars together, stir in the shredded coconut, oats, and press it into a pan.
Brands of coconut oil, shredded coconut, and oats vary widely, so use your judgment if you think your mixture is too wet or too dry and adjust accordingly. Because coconut oil solidifies as it cools, don’t worry if your is fairly wet.
I was going to dip the underside of the bars in chocolate like Samoas cookies have, but I didn’t want the mess.
Plus, in an effort to keep them lighter, swirls rather than a solid wall of chocolate seems like a better call.
The bars are dense but soft, very moist, incredibly chewy, loaded with texture. Between the shredded coconut and oats, your jaw gets a workout.
You’ll be picking little bits and pieces from your teeth for the next few hours. The bars that keep on giving.
They’re satisfying, filling, hearty, and unlike storebought granola bars where you feel like you just ate air and need at least two, one is more than plenty with these.
While they’re sweet, they’re more granola bar than cookie. They’re less sweet than these Samoas Cookie Bars, and are a nice revamp to the No-Bake Coconut Oil Granola Bars I made in early 2010.
They’re perfect for lunch boxes now that school is starting up. And they’re cheaper than buying storebought.
Vegan, gluten-free, easy, no-bake, and a healthier, homemade alternative to Girl Scout cookies or storebought granola bars.
Yes, please.
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No-Bake Samoas Cookie Granola Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted or in liquid state
- ½ cup light corn syrup, light in color – not lite; honey; or brown rice syrup or yacon syrup to keep vegan may be substituted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- about 2 1/2 cups quick-cook oats (use Certified Gluten Free Quick Cooking Oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted for drizzling, optional
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine oil, corn syrup, sugars, and cook on high power for 90 seconds. Stop and stir the mixture.
- Return bowl to microwave and cook for 90 more seconds. Stop and stir the mixture.
- Stir in shredded coconut, oats, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional salt. Note – when adding the shredded coconut and oats, add them slowly, bit by bit, rather than all at once. I found the measurements worked perfectly, but because coconut oil, coconut, and oats vary, add dry ingredients until mixture combines, noting it will be quite wet. It solidifies and firms up as it cools.
- Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down with a spatula.
- Optionally, melt the chocolate in a small, microwave-safe bowl, about 1 minute on high power, or until chocolate can be stirred smooth.
- Even drizzle chocolate over bars. I followed the swirling pattern outlined here.
- Cover pan with foil to prevent frigde smells, and refrigerate until set and firm, about 2 hours. Slice bars into desired shapes. Especially in warmer months, I prefer to store the bars in the fridge rather than at room temperature so the coconut oil stays solid and bars are firmer. They will keep for up to up to 1 month in the fridge, or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Do you like Samoas? Coconut or coconut oil? Favorite homemade granola bar recipe?
I LOVE samoas! These look like a great, healthier version!
Oh man, these look like THE perfect granola bar! Lovely recipe :)
I am imagining the awesome flavor of these with all that coconut. Now I don’t know if I should make these or the pb choc chip. What’s your favorite?
These really taste a lot like a Samoas cookie. The PB choc chip remind me of a Quaker Chewy but better. And let’s not neglect the Snickerdoodle version, linked in the post, which is awesome in it’s own right. Depends on your mood. Make them all. Slice them into logs, wrap them in plastic, and freeze them if all else fails. They’ll keep for like 6 mos :)
These look insanely good! I love that huge drizzle of chocolate on top! Plus, they are perfect for a quick, but slightly sweet on the go snack!! Which around here is a very good thing!
Some bars just ended up with a heavier hand with the drizzling. Not that that’s a bad thing, right :)
I have to say Tagalongs are my favorite Girl Scout cookie but these bars look so good! That shiny chocolate on top is calling my name.
Yes! Whatever you are making, I’m in, Averie. Plus Samoas were my introduction to coconut, since neither of my parents liked it when I was growing up. Yum!
(how long is that iHerb code good for, by the way?)
It’s good forever! I’ve had it for 5+ yrs and it still works :) That site is dangerous. In a good way. I’ve saved SO MUCH $$ over the years by using it!
Oh, fantastic! Thanks!
Oh dear, these could be dangerous! LOVE the flavors going on here. And the swirls on top are just perfect looking!!
Thanks Colleen! Sometimes you get lucky with the swirls :)
I have a granola bar every morning–and it’s usually a Lara Bar–but it’s time for me to try making my own. You have inspired me!!! :)
Also, please check out my post from yesterday. I baked your cookies and gave you a shout out. :) https://thesweetmash.com/blog/2013/8/24/thick-chocolate-chip-cookies-with-reese
here’s a larabar https://www.averiecooks.com/2012/09/cinnamon-oatmeal-date-bars-with-chocolate-chunks.html Dates and oats, and if you want to add a few nuts like almonds or cashews, go for it. Spice it up with whatever spices you like – done. Costs pennies on the dollar and takes 5 mins. Skip the chocolate if you want :)
I haven’t had a samoa in so long I forgot about the name change. I’ve seen recipes to reproduce them (some of them nut based and/or raw versions) but I like a granola bar version. My stepdaughter went through a granola bar phase in her early teens. She is more of a savory/cheesy snack lover, but has been known to bake cookies too. I’ll pass this on to her this weekend…her college classes started up this week and she is into packing her own food to take to campus or work.
Oh if she’s into granola bars, and no-bake stuff, I think she’d love these as long as she’s into coconut. And the name hasn’t fully changed in all areas. It’s weird. Here in CA they are most definitely still called Samoas. They sell them in front of the groc store, Target, etc for months on end and I have to try to ignore them. I can polish off a box in a day otherwise!
Confession – I HAVE NEVER HAD A SAMOA. But I want one now. Oh yes I do.
Well you owe it to yourself to try them then!
I am totally loving these 1 bowl treats you have been giving us lately Averie! I can totally finish off a box of samoas too so I am trying these later this week! Thanks!
It’s all about time-savings, easy recipes that I know people will MAKE. Not a 7 layer cake with 15 bowls later :)
I haven’t had a somoa in so long and now my mouth is watering.Satisfies a cookie craving while being an on the go snack? Umm. Great. Definitely making these. Thanks for the recipe!
Great! LMK how they turn out!
Samoas? WOW! Australia need to import these types of cookies bevacsue I am in love with the coconut caramel flavours!
We have biscuit here called a kingston which features a coconut cookie sandwiched with chocolate ganache, but your ones sound so much better. I am wondering if they can be baked for a crispier texture?
You could bake them, but that would involve heating up the house and they wouldn’t have that wonderful chewiness. The CHEWY factor is just divine in them. I would leave them alone and not bake them, but I am not a crispy cookie fan, ever. And I’m about no-bake whenever possible fan :)
Me too, but my dad likes the crispier bars. So i was thinking if i could do one batch for him and no bake for me! :) thanks for the advice!
Gotcha! :)
Samoas are one of my favorite Girl Scout cookie, as well. So glad that there is a way I can make these for myself and have them be a teeny-tiny bit healthier. And also, now I can make these all year round instead of waiting for Girl Scout cookie season to come around. Thanks for this recipe!
Glad you’ll enjoy these year round! :)
Hmm, samoas have caramel too. Should we drizzle caramel on top? LET’S DRIZZLE CARAMEL ON TOP!
They do and you could drizzle some on, but I wanted to keep them slightly more ‘granola bar’ (i.e. healthier) and refrained from adding it. But be my guest, drizzle away. Noting that most caramel isn’t going to be vegan so if that’s a consideration, read labels!
Samoa cookie granola bars sound like what heaven would taste like if it had a flavor. These are GENIUS. My breakfast seems so pathetic in comparison to these badass bars!
You are the Samoas queen with umpteen recipes for things along the Samoas lines. I know you’d love these babies :)