Pineapple Cake Bars

Ingredients

1. Pineapple Filling
   • 2 cups of canned crushed pineapple (with juice)
   • ½ cup sugar
   • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
2. Cake Base and Topping
   • 2 cups all-purpose flour
   • ½ cup sugar
   • ½ teaspoon baking soda
   • ½ teaspoon salt
   • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
   • 2 large eggs
   • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   • ½ cup shredded coconut (optional)
   • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Make Pineapple Filling
   • In a saucepan, combine the crushed pineapple with its juice, sugar, and cornstarch.
   • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes clear.
   • Once thickened, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
3. Prepare Cake Base and Topping
   • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
   • Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
   • In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the vanilla extract, then stir into the flour mixture until just combined. The dough will be crumbly.
4. Assemble the Bars
   • Press half of the crumbly dough evenly into the prepared pan to form a base.
   • Spread the cooled pineapple filling over the base.
   • If using, sprinkle coconut and nuts over the pineapple layer.
   • Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the pineapple layer.
5. Bake
   • Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly golden.
   • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
6. Serve
   • Cut into bars and serve. These bars can be served at room temperature or chilled.

Enjoy your homemade Pineapple Cake Bars! They’re a delightful treat that combines the tropical taste of pineapple with a rich, buttery crust.