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Five Star Bars

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close up shot of a bunch of Five Star Bars
This easy, homemade five star bars recipe is so simple to make and offers such delicious flavors!
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Table of Contents
  1. Five Star Bars Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Five Star Bars Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Why We Love This Recipe
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. More Recipes You’ll Love
  9. JUMP TO RECIPE

Whether you want to indulge in a sweet treat with your tea or you want the perfect bar for the holidays, try this delightful old-fashioned five star bars recipe. Buttery graham crackers, crunchy coconut, and sweet condensed milk are mixed together, baked, and then topped with a rich chocolate layer for the perfect dessert.

Five Star Bars stacked on top of each other

Five Star Bars Ingredients

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The five star bars are a delectable treat featuring a blend of ingredients that add equal parts crunch and chewiness.

The star of the show is the milk chocolate topping that melts into a gooey layer of indulgence.

You’ll need:

  • 2½ cups of graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups of shredded coconut
  • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup of butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 4 milk chocolate bars (approximately 42 grams each)
  • ¼ cup of oil

Substitutions And Additions

CHOCOLATE: Instead of milk chocolate bars, you could use dark chocolate or even chocolate chips. As long as you can melt them for the topping, you are good to go.

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS: If you’re looking to change up the base, consider using crushed digestive biscuits or crushed vanilla wafers instead of graham cracker crumbs.

This can add a different flavor dimension while maintaining the crispy texture.

SHREDDED COCONUT: For a tropical twist, switch out the shredded coconut with toasted coconut flakes.

The toasting process enhances the coconut’s nutty flavor and adds a delightful crunch to your bars.

VANILLA EXTRACT: Experiment with different extracts to vary the flavor profile.

Almond extract can impart a lovely nutty note, while a touch of orange or lemon extract can add a refreshing citrus twist.

How To Make This Five Star Bars Recipe

The scrumptious base comes together quickly and is layered on the bottom of the baking pan. Once the bars are cool, you can add your chocolate layer over top.

STEP ONE: In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix until it comes together in a ball.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

If your graham crackers do not come pre-crushed, either place them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them quickly and mess-free, or use a food processor to turn them into crumbs.

graham cracker crumbs, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, melted butter, and vanilla combined in a bowl

STEP TWO: Press mix into an 8 × 8-inch pan lined with parchment paper or foil.

graham cracker mixture pressed into a pan

STEP THREE: Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes; remove from the oven.

STEP FOUR: In a small bowl, melt chocolate bars and oil.

melted chocolate bars and oil in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the graham cracker layer; let cool completely.

PRO TIP:

Make sure the chocolate layer has hardened before slicing.

melted chocolate poured over the graham cracker layer

How To Serve

Serve these delicious bars with a cup of tea or latte or for a special occasion. These would be perfect for bringing to a potluck or school bake sale.

Serve them with our iced tea, raspberry iced tea, sweet peach iced tea, or our southern strawberry sweet tea on the side to wash all of the sweet and chocolatey goodness down.

This delectable treat pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert.

We love a decadent bar recipe. Try our magic cookie bars and sugar cookie bars.

Storage

Here’s your guide to ensure you can savor these treats to the fullest.

MAKE AHEAD: Once you’ve prepared and baked them, allow them to cool completely at room temperature.

Then, tightly wrap the bars in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them fresh. Store them at room temperature for up to two days before serving.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store these five star bars in the fridge to keep them from melting. They are delicious when chilled! Store in an airtight container. 

IN THE FREEZER: Five star bars will last in the freezer for up to three months.

Place them in an airtight container and pop them into the freezer. I love to have these on hand in the freezer for when the sweet tooth comes around! 

Five Star Bars stacked on top of each other

Why We Love This Recipe

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: This recipe combines everyday ingredients like graham crackers, coconut, and chocolate into a magical treat.

NO-FUSS PREPARATION: The step-by-step instructions and tips make this recipe approachable for cooks of all levels, even if you’re a beginner.

MAKE-AHEAD AND FREEZE: The recipe allows for make-ahead preparation and freezing, making it a convenient option for busy schedules. You can whip up a batch and have a delicious treat on hand whenever you need it.

These amazing five star bars are so easy to make with only a handful of ingredients and a quick prep and bake time. They come out sweet, crunchy, and indulgent. Everyone will love these, whether served at a Christmas-time potluck or summer BBQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use sweetened or unsweetened coconut for this recipe?

Since there is plenty of other sweetness in the rest of the recipe, unsweetened coconut is a great choice for this recipe.

Can I freeze these bars?

These bars will freeze well and keep in the freezer for up to three months. They are great to make for a rainy day when the sweet tooth hits.

Can I use a different flavor of chocolate on top of these bars?

These bars make it easy to change the flavors. White chocolate, peanut butter, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate would all be tasty on top.

More Recipes You’ll Love

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close up shot of a bunch of Five Star Bars

Five Star Bar Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This easy, homemade five star bars recipe is so simple to make and offers such delicious flavors!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups shredded coconut
  • 1 sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 milk chocolate bars, approximately 42 grams each
  • ¼ cup oil

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla. Mix until it comes together in a ball.
  • Press mix into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper or foil.
  • Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes; remove from oven.
  • In a small bowl, melt chocolate bars and oil.
  • Pour the chocolate over the top of the graham cracker layer; let cool completely.

Notes

  • If your graham crackers do not come pre-crushed, either place them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them quickly and mess-free, or use a food processor to turn them into crumbs.
  • Make sure the chocolate layer has hardened before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 178IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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