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?
These look amazing, Averie! And so simple to whip up! What a great on-the-go breakfast for back to school. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning!
Wow, Averie! These look so fantastic. I’m always amazed at how perfect your bars come out!
Girl, you need to open a bakery. So much talent here!!!
Thank you, Lori! That is the sweetest compliment ever. I really, really appreciate it. You made my day :)
Wow! Gotta try these! Our 7 yr old is a Girl Scout so we are big on the carmel delights, that’s what they are called here although I grew up calling them samoas! Cant wait to see what my girls think cause January is a long way off till its cookie sales time!
Well since I don’t have a 7 year old’s metabolism anymore, so they’re a healthier option. Of course, there’s no caramel, no huge wall of chocolate on the bottom, but sometimes you have to make a few sacrifices :) So I know all of us moms can appreciate that and my 6 yr old likes them, too! Hope your daughter enjoys as well!
Holy Samoa! LOVE this no-bake Samoas recipe in a cookie granola bar, Averie! This is just pure genius. Don’t know how I managed to miss you in my feed yesterday. I should just head on over every day automatically like I used to and not rely on the feed so I don’t miss a beat. Will be adding this recipe to that summer recipe round-up I am working on. (Yes, there is a Samoas category! Wrapping up the list this week.) Thanks for sharing!
That is so awesome you have a Samoas category! And yes …feeds, and Reader-like services, it’s almost just easier to click to the blogs I read than rely on it sometimes!
I have to HAVE TO try these!! I LOVE samoa cookies! These look incredibly good Averie! Love this post!
Thanks Jaclyn!
This is a great treat to make and place in Max’s (9yr old) lunch box! Great timing!
Okay I’ve been dying to make granola bars, so this recipe is going on the list! And the tip about the oats is fantastic!
I have absolutely no control with Samoas in front of me. I wish they sold individual packs, ha!
I know, me too! I don’t even buy the boxes anymore b/c it’s just not wise :)
You had me at Samoa – my all time favorite Girl Scout Cookie! Beautiful, Averie! I am always in awe of your photography!
Thanks so much, Ashley! I appreciate the compliments! Your photography is always stunning!
Loving this lighter option for my absolute favorite Girl Scout cookies! I bet these are to die for!
This part totally cracked me up – Plus, in an effort to keep them lighter, swirls rather than a solid wall of chocolate seems like a better call.
Since when do you try to keep things light?!!?! Haha….teasing. I know you do. Sometimes. ;)
I grew up calling them Caramel DeLites, and that is what they will always be. And peanut butter patties, not tagalongs. What is a samoa and a tagalong anyway?!?!
That’s crazy that we grew up in the same era, 2 states away, and they were Tagalongs and Samoas, period!! Wow, something that’s actually different for us! :)
Yummy! I’ll make these soon!
Whoa, samosas that are that easy to make? This must happen. Love that there is more coconut that oats:) I am in total agreement with you about storebought granola bars – unless they are power bars or protein bars, they are just that – air! I am a huge fan of chewy, I think these would become a staple if I wasn’t careful! Thanks!
Sorry *samoas* :)
And then the protein ones are usually engineered protein and something about it, my gut is really sensitive to them. So I’d rather just do homemade :)
Do you melt the coconut oil and then measure 1/2 cup of the liquid? If so, is it ok to put the whole jar of solid oil in the microwave and then pour into a measuring cup from there?
You want 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil. So however you get 1/2 cup of it, go for it. I would probably dig out a big hunk from your jar if it’s solid, put that in a small bowl and microwave it, and then measure out 1/2 cup. It’s a VERY flexible and forgiving recipe, so absolute precision isn’t needed. Just get in the neighborhood of 1/2 cup liquid-state oil. LMK how they turn out!
These gorgeous granola bars are a coconut lover’s dream. Samoas are my favorite girl scout cookie. I attempted to make them at home several years ago and they were so ugly. But these – I can manage! It was the whole dipped in chocolate thing that got me. Problem solved!
“Unlike storebought granola bars where you feel like you just ate air” – perfect wayof putting it. It’s like eating nothing, but you just ingested a ton of artificial ingredients. Making granola bars at home is just so much better in so many ways! I would gobble up this whole pan. :)
I almost dipped the whole thing in choc too but on account of calories AND messiness, I refrained. And I’ve tried my hand at many, many ‘Samoas’-ish recipes over the years. This is my fave version for so many reasons, no-bake, texture, ease of recipe, etc. Trust me, I’ve been there where you describe :)
And homemade is where it’s at. Not only for taste, but I can make a big pan of bars and get 12 really hearty bars for way cheaper than I could buy them. And these are hearty. No air-eating going on here!
These look heavenly (as do so, so many of your homemade granola bars)-can’t wait to try them!!
thanks!