These German Chocolate Gooey Bars are filled with chocolate cake, coconut, and butterscotch chips. They’re moist, chewy, gooey, delicious, and so easy!
The food blogging community suffered a tremendous blow last week when we lost one of our heavy hitters.
Joan, from the ever-popular Chocolate, Chocolate and More passed away Wednesday night in her sleep. It was sudden and very unexpected. She was only 49 years old.
We are still in such shock and filled with sadness.
She was one of the really good ones, you guys. Kind, helpful, giving, positive, funny.
It seemed only appropriate to dedicate National Chocolate Day to her.
She would have loved these gooey bars. If you’ve never made a gooey bar, they’re ridiculously easy and versatile.
There are just a few simple steps and things you need
- cake mix.
- sweetened condensed milk.
- butter
- some mix-ins, like chocolate chips or nuts.
So, you know…really healthy. HA. But great for a quick treat. And the possibilities are endless!
Joan leaves behind 3 young children. Please visit her blog and pin her recipes. Any extra traffic will generate some income to help the family as they grieve and figure out next steps.
These are adapted from my Lemon Gooey Bars
Watch the video and see how easy they are to make!

German Chocolate Butterscotch Gooey Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 15 ounce box German chocolate cake mix
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut , divided
- 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper.
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the cake mix, egg, and 1/4 cup of the coconut until combined and a thick dough forms.
- Press 2/3 of the cake mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of coconut and the butterscotch chips evenly over the dough. Then drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top.
- Break up the remaining dough and crumble it over the top of the bars. Press lightly to seal.
- Bake for about 29-32 minutes, until slightly browned. Cool completely before cutting and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
These look so good, Amy! Love Joan! I’m so very sad for her family and friends!
Amy,
these bars are all Joan! Thank you for your post. It’s bittersweet reading so many and seeing her smiling face on each of them. I still find it so very hard to believe she’s gone.
I so look forward to giving you a hug one day in person.
How very sad for the blogging community and a tragic loss for her family.
This simple recipe will taste even better since it is in memory of such a lovely person.
How sad. I’ve pinned her recipes in the past and the few I’ve made everyone loved. This recipe is a wonderful tribute!
My heart goes out to her friends and family.
I can’t wait to try this… May I ask, do you junk it would be OK to omit the coconut (allergies)?
Thank you!
Hm. You can, I suppose. But it will change the consistency a little. Are you allergic to other nuts? If not, you could try replacing the coconut flakes with some finely chopped up pecans or almonds.
I’m so sorry for your loss! I’m sure she would have loved these bars though. They look amazing!
These bars look so amazing and I bet Joan would of enjoyed them. What a wonderful tribute!
My heart goes out to Joan’s family. Thank you for making me aware of her blog.
I never had the chance to meet Joan but she still shared some of my recipes on her FB page . . she seemed so encouraging and supportive of everyone around her. And like you said, she was one of the REALLY good ones. . a real giving soul and such a warm person. . thank you for this beautiful tribute. I’m praying for her kids.
So many people have use the words “one of the good ones”, and truer words were never said. She would love these bars!
I am so thankful for you Amy!! I couldn’t be doing this blogging thing without you. Our community is amazing. And these bars, they would have made Joan so happy!
I am so grateful for our blogging community today. I’m grateful for you, and I’m grateful for chocolate to help us get through it. I’m so grateful I was able to have time and a friendship with Joan. I’m so much better for it. In short, while I’m sad to have lost her, I’m so grateful.
Beautiful tribute, friend. <3 xoxo
Oh my goodness, I bet Joan would FLIP for these!! and even though I am not a big chocolate person, I LOVE german chocolate anything
Joan would’ve loved these bars and she would love all the chocolate being shared in her memory as well. {hugs} to you, my sweet friend. I’m so glad that blogging brought you into my life as well.
These gooey bars sound amazing. And in Joan’s honor, I think I’ll bake some for breakfast :)