German Chocolate Pan Chewies

This take on German Chocolate Pan Chewies is a clever way to enjoy those classic bakery-style flavors without the effort of baking a full layered cake. A chocolate cake mix creates a rich, buttery base, while a sweetened condensed milk topping turns into a gooey, decadent layer. The finished bars land somewhere between a brownie and a chewy coconut treat—soft, rich, and incredibly tempting.

German Chocolate Pan Chewies

Ingredients

For the base:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 large egg

For the topping:

• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the base
   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, and one egg until a thick dough forms. Press it evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Pre-bake
   Bake the crust for about 7 minutes to help it firm up.

Tip:
Pre-baking helps keep the base from getting soggy once the topping is added.

3. Mix the topping
   While the crust is baking, stir together the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, remaining egg, pecans, coconut, and salt. Spread this mixture over the warm crust, then sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly on top.
4. Bake again
   Return the pan to the oven and bake for 24–30 minutes, until the edges are set and the top is lightly golden.
5. Cool and cut
   Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing.

Tip:
For cleaner cuts, allow them to cool for at least 2 hours. You can also chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes after they’ve reached room temperature to make slicing easier.