1/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 egg whites
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1 cup butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mix butter, sugar and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in nuts, baking powder, salt and coconut. Drop batter by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire rack. Frost bars for the bar.
To make the frosting: In a saucepan bring 2/3 cup of water to a boil, stir in the nut mixture. Cook until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add the remaining 1/4 cup water and cook until smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips.
Frost bars by using a wooden spoon dipped in hot water. While the bars are still cold, cut one end off and use a pastry knife to cut the other side off.