Chocolate Coconut Squares Recipe (Ready in 50 Min)

Cocoa powder, plain chocolate and desiccated coconut come together in this Australian dessert — 50 minutes, 4 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 4 steps.

You'll mainly reach for oven and pan. At easy difficulty across 4 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.

How to make it

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line the base of a 20cm square baking tin. Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in the eggs. Add 1 tbsp of the flour if the mix starts to curdle.
Sieve in the flour, baking powder and cocoa and fold in with a metal spoon. Stir in the milk. Scrape mix into the tin and level the top. Bake for 18-20 mins or until the cake springs back when pressed. Allow to cool in the tin.
To make the icing, put the chocolate, butter and 4 tbsp water in a pan and gently heat until melted. Allow to cool slightly, then beat in the icing sugar.
Remove cake from tin and peel away paper. Cut into 16 squares. Dip the squares into the icing, then roll in the coconut. Allow to set on cooling rack.

You'll use: Oven · Pan

Ingredient substitutions

Butter: olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
Self-raising Flour: 1 cup plain flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt
Milk: any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water

Tips & common questions

How long does Chocolate Coconut Squares take to make?

About 50 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 4 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of butter?

Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Chocolate Coconut Squares vegetarian?

Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.