Bahamas Island Cookie Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3/4 cup natural-style peanut butter
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple, juices drained
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cups chocolate
• 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Recipe

• 1 in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. set aside.
• 2 in a large mixing bowl, cream together sugars, peanut butter, pineapple, buttery spread and vanilla. beat in the egg. gradually stir in the flour mixture until completely combined. fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips, saving remaining 1/4 cup.
• 3 with dampened hands, press the dough into a greased 9 x 13" baking pan. sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and press them down lightly.
• 4 bake bars in a 350*f. oven for 22-25 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• 5 put baking rack on the middle level. turn oven to broil. sprinkle coconut on top of the bars. broil for 30-60 seconds, until coconut begins to brown. be careful not to burn coconut!
• 6 allow pan to cool completely on a wire rack. cut into 32 bars.