German Chocolate Pan Chewies
This German Chocolate Pan Chewies recipe is a smart shortcut to enjoying those classic bakery-style flavors without making a layered cake. Using a chocolate cake mix as the base creates a rich, buttery foundation, while a sweetened condensed milk mixture forms a gooey, indulgent topping. The result is a dessert bar that’s a mix between a brownie and a chewy coconut treat—rich, soft, and hard to resist.
German Chocolate Pan Chewies
Ingredients
For the base:
- Chocolate cake mix – 1 box
- Butter (melted) – 1/2 cup (1 stick)
- Large egg – 1
For the gooey layer:
- Sweetened condensed milk – 1 (14 oz) can
- Shredded coconut – 1 cup
- Chopped pecans – 1 cup
- Milk chocolate chips – 1/2 cup
- Large egg – 1
- Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
- Kosher salt – 1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
1. Prepare the crust
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix the cake mix, melted butter, and one egg until a thick dough forms. Press the dough evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Pre-bake
Bake the crust for 7 minutes to help it set.
Tip:
This step helps keep the base firm so it doesn’t become soggy after adding the topping.
3. Make the topping
While the crust bakes, combine the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, remaining egg, pecans, coconut, and salt in a bowl. Pour the mixture over the warm crust and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly on top.
4. Bake again
Return the dish to the oven and bake for 24–30 minutes, until the edges are set and the top is lightly golden.
5. Cool and slice
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting.
Tip:
For clean slices, let them cool for at least 2 hours. You can also refrigerate them for about 30 minutes after they reach room temperature to make cutting easier.
