Pineapple Crumb Bars
The Pineapple Crumb bars recipe is perfect for summertime picnics, loaded with juicy pineapple pieces and coconut flakes, topped with a buttery crumble. With this tropical dessert recipe, you could even host a tropical-themed party.
Want other ways to use crushed or fresh pineapple? Try our delightful Pineapple Casserole made with pineapple chunks, brown sugar, and Ritz crackers. If you want to try other pineapple desserts, you may like is these Carrot Cake Bars made with cream cheese, carrots, pineapples, and toasted coconut.
Also referred to as pineapple coconut crumb bars or just pineapple bars, this is a delicious dessert recipe anyone can use. It is a great recipe using canned pineapple, pineapple juice, and coconut with flour and a few seasonings. In fact, our juicy pineapple bars are delicious anytime.
It makes a refreshing and indulgent snack, and it can be served at a family barbecue in the backyard or potlucks.
If you are not in a fruity mood, you can try these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are perfect for chocolate lovers.
Ingredients needed:
Here are the easy ingredients you need for our delicious pineapple coconut crumb bars recipe. For more details and instructions, please scroll down to see our handy recipe card.
For the crust and crumb topping:
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened coconut
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter: Melted and cooled to room temp.
For the filling:
- Can crushed pineapple: Canned pineapple in 100% juice is best, whether it is pineapple chunks, rings, or crushed pineapple.
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract for best results.
- Corn starch
How to make Pineapple crumb bars recipe?
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line an eight-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the crust: Meanwhile, whisk the salt, baking soda, baking powder, sugars, coconut, and flour in a large mixing bowl.
- Arrange crust mixture: Then, add your cooled butter to the mix and stir with a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Keep one cup of the crust mixture and press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Make pineapple mixture: After, stir the corn starch, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugars, and crushed pineapple in a medium mixing bowl and pour it over the crust.
- Add remaining dough mixture: Next, sprinkle the remaining mixture over the pineapple coconut mixture and smooth it out to make sure the crumbs are evenly spread.
- Bake: Last, bake pineapple bars on the center rack of your oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until the top of the coarse crumbs are lightly browned.
- Cool: Set the pan on a wire rack to cool for five minutes before using the sides of the parchment paper to remove the pineapple coconut bars from the pan.
- Serve: Once your pineapple coconut bars are warm, cut them into nine pieces and serve.
How to make instant pot pineapple crumble bars:
- Make the crust: First, prepare a cake pan with parchment paper before whisking the flour, baking powder, sugars, baking soda, coconut, and salt in a large bowl.
- Arrange crust mixture: After, add the butter to the flour mixture and mix with a pastry cutter or fork until it looks like coarse crumbs. Set aside one cup of the crust mixture and press the remaining crumb mixture to the bottom of the pan.
- Make pineapple mixture: Then, gently stir the crushed pineapple, vanilla, sugars, cinnamon, and corn starch in a medium bowl before pouring it onto the crust.
- Add the remaining crumble topping: Next, sprinkle the rest of the crumble topping over the pineapple coconut mixture and smooth it out to make sure the crumbs are evenly spread.
- Bake: Then, pour two cups of water into the bottom of your instant pot and place the pan on top of the trivet inside. Set the pot on high pressure and cook for 25 minutes before doing a natural release.
- Cool: When your instant pot is done releasing the air, carefully remove the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool for five minutes.
- Cut and serve: Lastly, use the sides of the parchment paper to remove the pineapple crumble bars and cut them into pieces before serving.
Recipe variations:
- Lemon juice: Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the filling for a tangier flavor.
- Coconut extract: For even more coconut flavor, add a teaspoon of coconut extract to your pineapple filling.
- Other crusts: Feel free to use a shortbread crust or graham cracker crust for your pineapple coconut bars.
- Go nuts: Add slivered almonds or chopped walnuts to your pineapple filling for crunchy pineapple coconut bars.
- Salted or unsalted butter: If you use salted butter, omit the salt from the crumb topping.
How to serve:
These pineapple bars will make you feel like you are on a tropical vacation with a pina colada in one hand and a pineapple bar in the other. The sweet pineapple filling is perfect for those who love pineapple, and the recipe is so easy. Try one of our other serving suggestions.
- You could also sprinkle shredded coconut or more crumb topping on your pineapple bars before serving. Sweetened coconut is the best, but you could use toasted or natural shredded coconut too.
- Add a handful of chocolate chips on top for chocolate lovers.
- Try one of these pineapple bars with one of our tropical coconut mojitos.
- For a non-alcohol beverage, this tropical smoothie or our tangy pineapple smoothie may be the perfect beverage to go with pineapple bars.
- Those who really love pineapple will enjoy extra pineapple chunks on top of these delicious bars.
- Drizzle some icing on top before serving. It is made with confectioners’ sugar, half and half, and coconut extract.
- Pineapple bars are a wonderful dessert for this slow cooker pineapple pork loin.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use fresh pineapple for this recipe?
Yes, fresh pineapple will be great for this recipe if you have the time to clean and prepare it. We used canned crushed pineapple because it is easier. You could also use canned pineapple chunks Fresh pineapple will add a definite flavor booster though, so enjoy!
Are these pineapple crumble bars healthy?
In fact, these bars are pretty healthy, and you can make them even healthier. Substitute the granulated sugar for a sugar substitute, use whole wheat flour, and use margarine instead of butter. But even if you keep the recipe as it is, one bar is okay, and you will get a lot of vitamin C from the pineapple too.
Does pineapple help you lose weight?
Although too much of anything is not good, eating pineapple can actually help you lose weight. First of all, it is very low in carbs and calories with only 42 calories and 4% carbs per slice.
Another benefit to eating pineapples is that they have bromelain, which is an enzyme that helps break down fat. Bromelain targets belly fat and helps with digestion to help reduce bloating.
Can I make these pineapple bars in the air fryer?
You can make pineapple bars in the air fryer if your basket is large enough for the pan to fit. They do sell cake pans specifically for air fryers so you may want to check them out before you start.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F and mix up the ingredients for the crust and topping before making the pineapple filling. Follow the directions below for cooking your pineapple bars in the oven but you may have to adjust the cooking time due to the size of the pan.
How to store leftovers:
- Store: If you have leftover pineapple bars, save them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will be good for three or four days.
- Freeze: To freeze your leftovers, wrap in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. Be sure to eat within three months.
- Thaw: Defrost your yummy pineapple crumble bars in the fridge overnight before you serve for best results.
More pineapple recipes:
Recipe tips:
- Spray the inside of your pan with cooking spray to keep the parchment paper from moving around.
- One of the most important things to do when making these pineapple bars is to melt the butter and then let it cool completely. Hot butter will not produce the crumbs you need for this recipe.
- Be sure to squeeze all the pineapple juice out of the crushed pineapple or your tropical bars will not firm up as they should. Save the juice to drink or use it for smoothies.
- Add lemon juice to your pineapple filling for more flavor.
- Make sure you cool bars to room temperature before storing them.
Pineapple Crumb bars
Ingredients
Crust and crumb topping:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter melted and cooled
Filling:
- 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple in 100% juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar light or dark
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or coconut extract
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line a square 8"8 baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Crust and crumb topping:
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, coconut, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- After that, add cooled butter and stir the mixture with a fork, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Reserve one cup of the mixture for the topping, and press the rest onto the bottom of the prepared pan.
Filling:
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine crushed pineapple, both sugars, cinnamon, vanilla, and cornstarch.
- Pour the mixture on top of the crust and spread evenly.
Topping:
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly on top of the filling.
Bake:
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 minutes or until the topping is golden, with a few golden brown spots.
Serve:
- Cool bars completely on a wire rack. After that, refrigerate for a few hours.
- Next, gently lift out the bars from the pan and set them on the cutting board.
- Cut into 9 squares and serve.
Nutrition
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