Pink Coconut Snowball Cake Bars
Ingredients:
Chocolate Cake Base:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup hot water
Cream Layer:
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (optional, for stability)
Pink Coconut Topping:
- 2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 2–3 drops pink food coloring
- 1 tbsp milk (optional, to help distribute color)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
6. Stir in hot water carefully until smooth.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
8. For the cream layer, beat heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
9. If using, beat in softened cream cheese until smooth and well combined.
10. Spread the cream layer evenly over the cooled cake base.
11. For the pink coconut topping, mix shredded coconut with pink food coloring and milk (if using) until evenly colored.
12. Sprinkle the pink coconut mixture generously over the cream layer.
13. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars to allow layers to set.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Kcal: 320 kcal | Servings: 12 bars
Tips:
Use full-fat cream cheese for a richer, more stable cream layer.
Chill the bars well before slicing to get clean, neat cuts.