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This tangy homemade version of the popular Starbucks coconut lime bar brings coffee shop quality to your home. The rich coconut base with zingy lime topping hits that perfect balance between sweet and tart that makes you want another bite. I came up with this after spending way too much at Starbucks, and now my family begs for these treats whenever we have something to celebrate.
I whipped these up for the first time when hosting a backyard party and needed something quick but impressive. They were gone before anything else on the dessert table, and I'm now stuck bringing them to every family get-together.
Ingredients
- Butter: Get it nice and soft before using for smooth mixing in both bar base and topping
- Brown sugar: Adds richer flavor than regular sugar with hints of caramel that work well with coconut
- Vanilla extract: Gives that background warmth needed in any good cookie bar
- Coconut extract: Boosts the island flavor even when you use just a tiny bit
- Shredded coconut: Gives that great mouthfeel and real coconut taste - go for unsweetened
- White chocolate chips: The small ones work best as they spread out in the mix for tiny bursts of sweetness
- Lime extract: Creates that special coffee shop flavor that you can't get from just lime juice
- Powdered sugar: Makes the topping incredibly smooth and easy to spread
- Lime juice: Brings real zing and balances out the sweetness
How To Make Starbucks Lime Frosted Coconut Bars
- Get The Pan Ready:
- Heat your oven to 350°F and put parchment in an 8x8 baking dish with extra hanging over the sides so you can lift the bars out later. This saves you from scraping the pan and makes cleanup super fast.
- Mix The Base:
- Beat the soft butter with brown sugar until it's fluffy and pale, roughly 3 minutes. This puts air in the mix for softer bars. Add your egg, vanilla and coconut extracts, and mix until everything looks smooth and a bit fluffier.
- Put In The Dry Stuff:
- Carefully mix in flour, baking powder, salt and coconut just until it all comes together. Don't go overboard or you'll end up with tough bars instead of tender ones. Then add white chocolate chips and make sure they're spread throughout.
- Cook It Right:
- Put the mix evenly in your pan, getting it into all the corners with a flat spatula. Bake for just 15-16 minutes until you see light golden edges but the middle still looks a bit soft. This makes sure your bars stay moist and don't dry out.
- Whip Up The Topping:
- Mix soft butter, powdered sugar, milk, lime juice and lime extract for about 3 minutes until it's light and fluffy. The topping should keep its shape but spread easily. Add green food coloring bit by bit until you get that light green Starbucks color.
- Put It All Together:
- Wait until bars are totally cool before adding the lime topping. If there's any warmth left, your topping will just melt away. Add melted white chocolate using a plastic bag with a tiny corner cut off for a fancy look. Top with a sprinkle of coconut.
Lime extract is the game-changer in this recipe. While many copycats just use lime juice, the extract brings that special taste that makes the Starbucks version so unique. I figured this out after testing many batches, and it was this ingredient that finally made them taste just right.
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Fantastic Texture Advice
Don't overbake these bars if you want them just right. Take them out when the edges look set but the middle still seems a bit soft. They'll keep cooking from the heat that's already in them and firm up while cooling. If you wait until they look fully done, you'll end up with dry, crumbly bars instead of soft, chewy ones. I learned this the hard way after making several batches that turned out too firm.
Plan Ahead Ideas
You can fix these coconut lime bars well before you need them. The base can be made up to three days early and kept wrapped tight in the fridge. You can make the topping a day ahead and keep it chilled, then let it warm up a bit before spreading. The fully finished bars actually taste even better the next day after the flavors blend together, so they're great to make the day before a party.
Serving Ideas
These bars taste great by themselves, but they're even better with the right pairings. Try them with some vanilla ice cream for a fancy dessert or next to a cup of light roast coffee for the full coffee shop feel. For a classy look, cut them small and put them on a tray with fresh berries and mint. They also work great at brunch or afternoon tea gatherings.
Flavor Twists
You can change up this basic recipe in lots of ways. Switch lime for lemon if you want something brighter, or try orange for a creamsicle kind of taste. You can use dark chocolate instead of white for a more grown-up flavor, or throw in some macadamia nuts for extra crunch and tropical feel. During Christmas time, add some nutmeg to the base and sprinkle cinnamon on top to make them feel festive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I swap salted butter for unsalted?
Yep! Just add a little extra salt to even out the taste.
- → Is fresh lime juice good for the frosting?
For sure! It makes the frosting pop with a fresh citrusy kick.
- → What’s the best way to store them?
Keep them in a sealed container. They'll stay nice at room temp for 3 days or a week in the fridge.
- → Can I use desiccated coconut instead?
Sure, but shredded coconut gives a chewier, more satisfying texture.
- → How do you get the frosting color just right?
Mix some green and yellow food coloring slowly until you get that perfect lime shade.