Description
These Starbucks Lime Frosted Coconut Bars are a delightful copycat recipe featuring a buttery coconut base studded with white chocolate chips, topped with a tangy lime-flavored frosting that perfectly mimics the original Starbucks treat. With a balance of sweet, tart, and tropical flavors, these bars are simple to bake and ideal for a refreshing dessert or snack.
Ingredients
For the Coconut Bars
- 1/2 cup butter (softened, salted or unsalted)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg (at room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp coconut extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (plus extra for topping)
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips (mini if possible)
For the Lime Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter (at room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp heavy cream (or milk)
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp lime extract
- lime green food coloring (or mix of yellow and green food coloring)
For Decoration
- 2 tbsp white chocolate (melted, for drizzling)
- extra shredded coconut (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, making sure to leave some overhang for easy removal later. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and creamy. This step ensures a tender crumb in the bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and coconut extract until well combined, creating a fragrant batter base.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Coconut: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold this dry mixture into the wet ingredients until almost combined, then gently fold in the shredded coconut and white chocolate chips, taking care not to overmix.
- Spread and Bake: Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Bars: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. This is important before adding the frosting to prevent melting.
- Make the Lime Frosting: In a separate bowl, whip together the softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream (or milk), lime juice, and lime extract until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Color the Frosting: Add lime green food coloring—or mix yellow and green food coloring—to achieve the vibrant color reminiscent of the Starbucks bars. Stir until evenly colored.
- Frost the Bars: Spread the lime frosting evenly over the cooled bars. For added elegance, drizzle melted white chocolate over the frosted bars using a piping bag, ziplock bag with a corner cut, or spoon.
- Decorate and Serve: Sprinkle additional shredded coconut over the frosting. Slice into 16 bars. For a chilled treat, refrigerate until the frosting sets. Enjoy with a glass of milk or your favorite coffee.
Notes
- Use shredded unsweetened coconut to keep the bars from becoming overly sweet.
- Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute lime extract with fresh lime zest for a more natural flavor.
- Chilling the bars after frosting enhances the texture and flavor blend.
- If mini white chocolate chips are unavailable, roughly chop regular chips for better distribution.
