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Pineapple Dessert Squares


When I was growing up our family always went to church on Sunday morning and evening. Often after church on Sunday evenings my parents had several couples over for coffee. Mom would have a light lunch ready for her guests and us four kids always looked forward to the food. This is just one of the desserts she served on such occasions. The butter crust has a very delicate texture, and compliments the light pineapple filling and coconut meringue.

Pineapple Dessert Squares
Crust:
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup butter

  1. Using a pastry blender cut the butter into the flour until you have a fine crumble. 
  2. Press into an 8x8 pan and bake at 325º for 2 minutes. 
  3. Take out and let sit while you make the pineapple filling.

Filling
  • 1 398 ml (14 ounces) can crushed pineapple, with juice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons butter

  1. In a sauce pan stir together pineapple, sugar and cornstarch. 
  2. Stirring constantly, bring ingredients to a boil until it thickens. 
  3. Remove from heat and stir in butter. 
  4. Spread over crust.

Meringue Topping
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/16 teaspoon salt

  1. Beat egg whites, sugar, baking powder and salt together until soft peaks form. 
  2. Fold in coconut. 
  3. Spread meringue over pineapple mixture. 
  4. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes until the meringue is a light golden colour. It is best to let this square cool before cutting to let all layers set. These do not freeze well.

22 comments:

  1. Hi, Kathy. The dessert looks realy good and easy to prepare. I have one question:Is the pineapple sweetened or unsweetened? Thanks.

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  2. Oh my..pineapple, coconut and a buttery crust..sounds heavenly!

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  3. Looks fabulous on that beautiful china!

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  4. This really is an oldtime favorite isn't it? My mom actually had about 10 things that she would make over and over. . and this was on the list. I haven't had it now for years. .maybe it's time. Thank you Kathy.

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  5. Wow those squares sound perfect. I just made some coconut squares today.Can't wait to try yours.

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  6. I've been following your blog for a few months now and you just have some of the best recipes I have seen....I've even made a few. This one looks wonderful. I will have to try it! Thanks!

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  7. This looks delicious. My mom used to make something very similar to this and I loved it. Time to try my hand at making this. Thanks.

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  8. ok kathy....this recipe and dishes have a double whammy for me tucked away in my memories.
    the recipe my aunt often made for us when we came for sunday faspa, and those are my grammas dishes that i now have the privilage of using. (not sure if trudy has the same memories but it is a shared aunt and oma).
    my oldest is allergic to pineapple so i haven't made this in forever, but i sure have a hankerin' for it now.......and pull out my dishes from oma.....;-)
    thanks for taking me down memory lane......it was worth it.

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  9. Oh so yummy...this is a very familiar recipe to me too. Nice plates...they look familiar too. What a great post ... lots of memories and the pineapple square is such a great one to serve for faspa...or just plain any old time.

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  10. These look great and the beautiful plates makes them look even better :) I look forward to trying this recipe out soon. Thanks for sharing :)

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  11. This sounds delicious! Maybe if I offer this to my husband I can lure him away from his allegiance to pineapple-upside-down cake as the only "true" use for canned pineapple ;-)

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  12. Looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Question...Is precooking the crust for only 2 minutes right? Thanks.

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  13. Will be making this dessert this weekend. I have one plate like that - checked it on Replacements.com - worth $35 for the one plate!! True value, priceless.

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  14. Like has already been said...this post brings back the memories! From the dishes to the pineapple squares...it all looks like something vaguely (and pleasantly) familiar. Thanks, Kathy.

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  15. Not only does that dessert sound divine, but those dishes!!!!!!

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  16. My heart stopped for a minute when I clicked on your post!
    That is my China set .. Blossom Time... smile..
    Your square looks yummy... I love pinapple... and yes.. always Saturday was baking time .. to be prepared for those Sunday guests!

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  17. Oh wow the dishes are beautiful!! The dessert looks good too:)

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  18. Thanks for the great comments. Anonymous...the coconut I used was unsweetened, but I have used semi sweet too. DAS...2 minutes for the crust is right. I know it sounds sounds wrong, but it does begin to set the crust. Hope all who tried this enjoyed! Kathy

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  19. I used sweetened long fancy coconut...taste is amazing!!!! 2 pieces each for sure :0) one question, is the merangue supposed to stay up??? mine seems to flatten. Would love to hear from you, thank you, Beverly

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  20. Beverly, the meringue does fall some.....glad you enjoyed!

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  21. Used to have this recipe and every time I made it there was never any leftover. Lost recipe. Now, I can make it again. Hooray. This is so tasty and addictive. Thank you muchly.

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