Blueberry Coconut Muesli Bars

These perfectly chewy bar cookies are packed with dried blueberries, muesli, and shredded coconut. They might even trick a coconut hater into liking them!

In case you were unaware, Zainab of Blahnik Baker is having a boy and is due July 29th! While I have already agreed to help her out with a guest post in August during her blogging maternity leave, a group of her food blogger friends decided to get together and throw her a special surprise virtual baby shower! Since she loves coconuts, we are showing just how coco-nut crazy happy we are for her with a spread of tropical and coconut recipes. Sweet or savory, apps, mains and desserts! After you see what I made, scroll to the bottom of the post for the complete list.

I still remember the first time Blahnik contacted me when she was first starting her blog, asking for advice. I was especially excited to meet yet another grad student who was into this whole food blogging thing. Today, I am so impressed with how her blog and skills have grown and now feel like I should be the one asking her for advice!

As for my coconut recipe, I turned to one of my favorite cookies, Coconut Pecan Cookies. However, I’ve made tons of cookies and not enough bars so why not turn them into cookie bars? There is a whopping 3 cups of shredded coconut in these babies but oddly enough flew under the radar when tested blindly on coconut haters (shhh don’t tell). With the addition of blueberry muesli these bars are chewy and flavorful, resembling oatmeal bars dotted with sweet dried blueberries and crunchy pecans.

P.S. Today also happens to be my nephew Griffin’s 1st birthday!! So excited to fly out to LA tomorrow in order to be there for his party this weekend!

One year ago: Red, White & Blue Sangria

Two years ago: Taco Bar with Carnitas: Mexican Pulled Pork

BLUEBERRY COCONUT MUESLI BARS

Makes approximately 3 dozen

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup blueberry muesli (from Trader Joe’s or 1/2 oats & 1/2 dried blueberries)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 egg + 1 yolk

1 rounded cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped

3 cups coconut, lightly packed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray, line with parchment paper leaving overhang, and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, muesli, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and creamy. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla extracts and beat to combine.
4. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and mix just to combine. Fold in pecans and coconut.
5. Evenly spread dough in the prepared baking pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned.
6. Let cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove (using overhanging parchment paper to lift), and place on rack to cool completely.

Source: Adapted from my Coconut Pecan Cookies.

Check out the rest of the coconutty baby shower recipes:
Blackberry Coconut Cupcakes, by Baking a Moment
Blueberry Coconut Meusli Bars, by The Spiffy Cookie
Blueberry-Ginger Coconut Cheesecake Popsicles, by Floating Kitchen
Caramel Coconut Cluster Bars, by Eats Well with Others
Chocolate Coconut Cake, by Brunch with Joy
Coconut Breakfast Pudding with Sauteed Nectarines, by Cooking and Beer
Coconut Cake, by I am Baker
Coconut Cream Pie Ice Cream, by The Recipe Rebel
Coconut Energy Bites, by The Kitchenarium
Coconut Key Lime Angel Food Cake Roll, by Flavor the Moments
Coconut Key Lime Pie Cookie Bars, by Two in the Kitchen
Coconut Key Lime Macarons, by Life Made Sweeter
Coconut, Lime, and White Chocolate Milkshake, by A Clean Bake
Coconut Pineapple Banana Smoothie, by The Bitter Side of Sweet
Coconut Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp, by Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Coconut Sweet Potato Muffins, by Luci’s Morsels
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies with Toasted Coconut, by The Cooking Actress
Key Lime Coconut Button Sandwich Cookies, by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
Key Lime Coconut Pound Cake, by Grandbaby Cakes
Lavender Coconut Macarons, by Broma Bakery
Macaroon Tarts with Ginger Coconut Whipped Cream and Pineapple, by A Cookie Named Desire
Mango Coconut Donuts, by Chez Catey Lou
Mango Coconut Smoothie, by Jessica in the Kitchen
Mango Summer Cake, by Keep it Sweet Desserts
Mini Coconut Cream Pies, by Hip Foodie Mom
Pina Colada Pie, by Life, Love, and Sugar
Skinny Blueberry Lime Scones, by Club Narwhal
Spiced Lentils with Toasted Coconut, by This Gal Cooks
Toasted Coconut Banana Meringue Pie, by The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Triple Coconut Rum Layer Cake, by bethcakes
Tropical Pineapple Coconut Sangria, by Shared Appetite
White Chocolate Coconut Key Lime Cookies, by Culinary Couture

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