What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Growing up, I always loved Peanut Butter Patties, but over time I became more fond of Samoas. Samoa Brownies have layers of coconut and chocolate caramel squares in the middle of gooey brownies! They're delicious just like Samoa Cookies (without the shortbread layer) and they only take about an hour to whip up and bake!
As Seen On Good Morning America!
Girl Scout Cookies are always something I look forward to in the winter! However, with this recipe, you can enjoy the chocolate coconut caramel combination any time of year! These Samoa Brownies are so gooey and they stay fresh for days.
Looking for more brownie recipes?
- Andes Mint Brownies (perfect if you're more of a Thin Mints lover!)
- Mini Brownie Bites
- Gingerbread Brownies
- Pecan Brownie Pie
- Individual Fudgy Mug Brownie
- Edible Brownie Batter
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Ingredients
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Dutch process recommended.
- All purpose flour
- Salt
- Unsweetened shredded coconut: Coconut flakes can work too - if they're really thick you can shred them in a food processor. Sweetened coconut can also be used, but I recommend decreasing the amount of sugar if you go this route.
- Large eggs
- Chocolate chips: I use semi-sweet chips and try to stick with the higher quality brands like Ghirardelli or Guittard. Feel free to use dark or milk chocolate chips instead.
- Chocolate caramel squares: I like Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Squares for this recipe (they also make a dark chocolate version), but any chocolates with gooey caramel in the middle should work just as well! I haven't tried plain caramel squares, but I assume these would also be good.
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Sweetened condensed milk
See recipe card below for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
This recipe has been successfully tested by a reader with gluten free flour (Bob's Red Mill - see comment below). No other substitutions have been tested.
These can be made in a muffin tin instead of an 8x8 inch pan (tested by another reader - see comment below).
If you replace any ingredients or try anything new with this recipe, please let us know how they turned out in the comments below!
Equipment
You'll need an 8 inch square pan lined with parchment paper to bake these in.
I always recommend using a food scale to measure the dry ingredients! This is the most accurate way to measure flour and will yield the best results. I got mine for about $20 USD years ago and it works great! However, if you don't have one, be sure to use the scoop and level method with measuring cups!
Step by Step Instructions
Step One (Picture 1 above) - Mix together the shredded coconut and condensed milk and then set aside.
Step Two (Picture 2 above) - While stirring every 30 seconds, microwave the chocolate chips and butter until they're almost completely melted. Let it cool slightly while completing the next step.
Step Three (Picture 3 above) - Whisk together the eggs and sugar for 1-2 minutes.
Step Four (Picture 4 above) - Slowly stir the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Continue to whisk these together for 2-3 minutes. Then, mix in the flour, cocoa powder and salt just until the flour streaks disappear.
Step Five (Picture 5 above) - Spread half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan.
Step Six (Picture 6 above) - Evenly distribute the chocolate caramel squares on top of the brownie layer.
Step Seven (Picture 7 above) - Spread the coconut filling on top of the squares.
Step Eight (Picture 8 above) - Finally, add the rest of the brownie batter and spread it around so that it covers the whole top.
Tip: The brownie batter will thicken with time, so make everything in the specified order and don't let it sit out for too long.
Bake the Samoa Brownies at 350°F for about 30 minutes then let them cool in the pan for another 30 minutes (at least). Lift them out of the pan by pulling up the parchment paper and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares with a warm knife. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
These can be cut into 16 squares (4x4) and each brownie will have its own chocolate caramel square in the middle!
These brownies are best served warm so the chocolate caramel squares in the middle melt and caramel drips out in every bite! I recommend heating them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds right before enjoying! They also go great with ice cream.
The crinkly top forms as a meringue layer, which results from whisking together the sugar and eggs. The best way to do this is just by mixing (slightly vigorously) with a whisk by hand for a few minutes. This way, you're mixing slow enough for the sugar to dissolve, but fast enough to incorporate air into the mixture.
Samoas (also known as Caramel deLites) are shortbread cookies covered in caramel, coconut flakes and a chocolate drizzle. They're made and sold by Girl Scouts of the USA!
Yes! These were made with gluten free flour by one of our readers and they turned out great! They used the Bob's Red Mill brand.
Storage
Store leftover Samoa Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week, or in the freezer for 1 month.
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📖 Recipe
Samoa Brownies
Equipment
- 8 inch square pan
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Scale or measuring cups
- Whisk
- Spatula
Ingredients
Brownie Batter
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup (~8 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 16 chocolate caramel squares
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8x8" pan with oil and line with parchment paper so that it hangs over the edges.
Coconut Filling
- In a medium bowl, mix the coconut and sweetened condensed milk together with a spatula until well combined.
Brownie Batter
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chips (stir every 30 seconds until melted, ~1-2 minutes total). Let it cool slightly (so that it doesn't cook the eggs when added in the next step).
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk for about a minute. Add the sugar and continue to whisk for another 2-3 minutes until it's slightly thick, light, and airy. Then, slowly pour in the warm butter/chocolate mixture and whisk for another minute.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Then, gently fold them into the wet ingredients just until all flour streaks are gone. The batter will be slightly thick.
Assembly
- Scoop half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it around with a spatula so that it's even across the bottom.
- Add the chocolate caramel squares on top of the brownie batter in an even layer.
- Carefully spread the coconut filling over the chocolate caramel squares.
- Finally, spread the remaining brownie batter on top of the coconut filling, covering it completely and evenly.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the edges begin to harden and a smooth film sets across the middle. The batter should leave behind a streak on a toothpick inserted into the middle.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan until they're sturdy enough to be lifted out. Cool completely for clean cuts, or indulge while they're warm and gooey!
Lisa Lee says
Best brownies I have ever baked and tasted.
As the saying goes…
To die for.
Malik says
What home made option can we use in place of chocolate caramel squares? Don’t have access to store bought in my place.
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Kayla Burton says
Hi! I haven't tested a homemade substitute but you could try drizzling a thin layer of caramel sauce or soft caramel candies in the middle. I'd love to hear about it if you try them!
Alexus Benjamin says
Would you recommend roasting the coconut a bit before putting them in the brownies? I'm trying to get them as close to the cookies as I can. My boyfriend has celiac disease so I try to make him gluten free versions of anything he can't eat.
Kayla says
Hi Alexus! That's very kind of you 🙂 I haven't tried roasting the coconut but that may help bring the flavor closer to the cookies. I'd love to hear how they turn out if you try it!
Courtney says
I loved these so much! They stayed soft and fresh for days. My favorite part was the coconut layer because it reminded me of a Mounds bar…YUM. I could not stop eating them and I’ll definitely be making them again.
Kayla says
Yay thank you Courtney!! I love Mounds bars, such a good comparison!
Bobby says
Holy Moly are these good. Let me just start off by saying that these are better than any Samoa cookie that I’ve ever had and I consider myself a Samoa snob. They’re gooey on the inside then surrounded by that light crispy and chewy delicious brownie.
I’m not an experienced baker by any means, I just go on kicks, but I saw these on Broken Oven’s IG page and had to try them! So glad I did! One tweak I made was that I used a Muffin Tin since I didn’t have a square pan (see above: not a big baker, yet ;-)). I made the recipe exactly the same, added half the brownie batter to the bottom of each tin, added the caramel and filling on top, then topped it off with the rest of the brownie batter and smoothed it out. They came
out perfectly! Will do it again like this!
Kayla says
Hi Bobby! I am so glad these are approved by a Samoa snob such as yourself 😄 thanks for testing them in a muffin pan, I'm happy they worked out this way!
Barb says
Hi Bobby- How long did you bake the muffin version?
TLee says
Delicious!!! Will be making them again very soon. I did cut the sugar in half and glad I did. I also made them gluten-free using Bob's Red Mill. I like Bob's because it has a better texture. Some GF flours tend to have a gritty texture. Thank you so so much for the awesome recipe.
Kayla says
Thank you!! I'm so glad you liked it and were able to adjust the recipe to fit your preferences! 🙂
Michelle says
Sounds delicious!! Can’t wait to make these…AND eat them!! Question- are the chocolate caramel squares Caramello?
Kayla says
Hi Michelle! I'm excited for you to try them, they're one of my favorites! I used Ghirardelli's milk chocolate caramel squares but Caramellos should work as well 🙂 Ghirardelli's squares are pretty thin so the thicker Caramello bars might be even better!
Deepshree Sodani says
Looking so delicious...Can it be made eggless?
Kayla says
Thank you so much! I'm sorry, I haven't tested a substitution for eggs with this recipe and they do play an important role in the brownie's structure so I wouldn't recommend making it eggless.
Chris says
I love Samoas. I seriously cannot stop eating them. When I saw "Samao Brownies" my mouth started watering. Combining two of my favorite desserts into one was sure to be a hit. I was not disappointed. The flavor in these is phenomenal. The texture in these makes you want more and more. This recipe is GENIUS. If you're reading reviews asking yourself if you should make these, just go do it. These are an incredible treat everyone needs to try.
Kayla says
I am so happy you like them so much!! They're one of my favorites 🙂