Pink Coconut Snowball Cake Bars

Ingredients:

• Chocolate Cake Base
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup hot water
• Cream Layer
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened (optional)
• Pink Coconut Topping
• 2 cups shredded coconut
• 2–3 drops pink food coloring
• 1 tbsp milk (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13 pan.
2. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
5. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
6. Stir in hot water until the batter is smooth.
7. Pour into pan and bake 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
8. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla; whip until fluffy.
9. Spread the cream layer over the cooled cake.
10. Tint coconut with pink coloring (add milk if needed).
11. Sprinkle coconut over the cream and press gently.
12. Chill 1 hour, then slice into bars.