Decadent Pineapple Cream Cheese Bars: The Ultimate Pecan Shortbread & Coconut Icing Recipe

Prepare to be absolutely amazed by these incredible Pineapple Cream Cheese Bars! Imagine a blissful combination of a buttery pecan shortbread crust, a lush cream cheese and crushed pineapple filling, a delightful pecan crumb topping, and to top it all off, a dreamy brown butter coconut icing drizzle. These layered dessert bars are truly decadent and were even the unanimous winner at a family Thanksgiving bake-off – proving their irresistible charm against tough competition. They are a must-try for anyone who loves tropical flavors and rich, satisfying treats!

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If you’re a fan of the creamy, fruity deliciousness of these pineapple cheesecake bars, you’ll definitely want to explore some of my other delightful bar recipes. Don’t miss out on my Confetti Cheesecake Bar Recipe for a festive treat, my Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars for another fruity favorite, and my unique Banana Pudding Cheesecake Squares for a taste of Southern comfort.

Why These Pineapple Bars with Coconut Drizzle Are Unforgettable

These pineapple cheesecake bars are more than just a dessert; they are a celebration of contrasting yet harmonious flavors and textures that come together to create an unforgettable treat. What makes them truly special? It’s the thoughtful combination of distinct layers, each playing a crucial role in delivering a sublime taste experience. From the first bite, you’ll be captivated by the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, nutty, and buttery notes.

• Dual-Purpose Pecan Shortbread Crust and Crumb Topping: This recipe brilliantly uses a single, easy-to-make shortbread mixture for both the sturdy base and the delightful crunchy topping. It’s packed with rich, buttery pecans, creating a foundation that’s both tender and crumbly, and a topping that adds a wonderful textural contrast. The nutty flavor of the pecans perfectly complements the tropical pineapple.
• Luscious Pineapple Cream Cheese Layer: The heart of these bars is a smooth, creamy cheesecake filling infused with the bright, sweet, and tangy flavor of crushed pineapple. This layer brings a refreshing tropical twist to the classic cheesecake, making it incredibly light and appealing. The cream cheese provides a luxurious texture that melts in your mouth.
• Irresistible Brown Butter Coconut Icing: This might just be the secret weapon of the entire recipe! Brown butter, with its deep, nutty aroma, pairs exquisitely with the exotic sweetness of coconut. The coconut flavor is achieved using a naturally-flavored coconut extract, ensuring an authentic taste that beautifully complements the vibrant pineapple and rich cream cheese. It’s the perfect finishing touch, adding an extra layer of moisture and a hint of tropical paradise.

Essential Ingredients for Your Pineapple Cream Cheese Bars

Crafting these delectable pineapple cream cheese bars requires a few key ingredients, each contributing to the overall harmony of flavors. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need for each component, along with some helpful tips:

Pecan Shortbread Crust and Crumb Topping

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our shortbread. For precise baking, I highly recommend weighing your flour using a food scale. If you don’t have one, use the “spoon-and-level” method: spoon flour into your measuring cup, then level it off with a straight edge to avoid over-measuring, which can lead to a dry crust.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides the perfect touch of sweetness to balance the richness of the butter and pecans in both the crust and crumb topping.
• Salted Butter: Crucial for the rich, irresistible flavor and tender texture of the shortbread. Using salted butter enhances the overall taste, adding a subtle depth. Ensure it’s cold and cubed for best results when mixing the dough.
• Chopped Pecans: These add a fantastic nutty crunch and depth of flavor that complements the pineapple beautifully. For convenience, store-bought chopped pecans work wonderfully, but you can also chop whole pecans yourself for a fresher taste.

Pineapple Cheesecake Filling

• Softened Cream Cheese: This is the star of our creamy filling. It’s absolutely vital that your cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture. Take it out of the fridge at least an hour before you start, or for a quicker method, remove it from its foil wrapper and microwave it for about 20 seconds.
• White Sugar: Enhances the natural sweetness of the pineapple and provides that classic cheesecake flavor profile.
• Eggs: Act as a binder, helping the cheesecake filling to set properly and achieve its characteristic smooth, firm texture when baked.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A staple in most dessert recipes, vanilla extract provides a warm, aromatic base flavor that beautifully rounds out the tanginess of the cream cheese and pineapple. I particularly like this brand for its quality.
• Crushed Pineapple: The source of all that wonderful tropical flavor and juicy texture! Using canned crushed pineapple makes this recipe incredibly easy and ensures consistent results. Remember to drain it very well to prevent a watery filling.

Brown Butter Coconut Icing

• Cubed Unsalted Butter: This is the base for our incredible brown butter. Browning the butter adds a complex, nutty, and toasty flavor that elevates the entire icing. While the crust uses salted butter, unsalted butter for the icing allows more control over the final saltiness.
• Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this provides the bulk and sweetness for the icing, giving it a smooth, drizzle-able consistency that sets beautifully.
• Whole Milk: Used to thin the icing to the perfect consistency for drizzling. You might adjust the amount slightly to achieve your desired thickness.
• Coconut Extract: Delivers a potent burst of natural coconut flavor, creating the perfect tropical complement to the pineapple cheesecake layer. I find this coconut extract to be excellent.

Recommended Equipment for Pineapple Cheesecake Bars

This recipe for pineapple cheesecake bars is quite straightforward and doesn’t demand a lot of specialized kitchen tools. However, having the right equipment will make the process smoother and ensure professional-looking results. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 9×13 Baking Pan: Naturally, a sturdy 9×13 inch baking pan is essential for baking a batch of bars this size. Make sure it’s light-colored if possible, as darker pans can sometimes cause crusts to brown too quickly.
• Mixing Tools: To achieve a perfectly smooth cheesecake filling and a well-combined crust, a hand mixer or stand mixer will be incredibly helpful. While you can mix by hand, an electric mixer ensures a lump-free cream cheese base. You’ll also need mixing bowls of various sizes.
• Light-Colored Sauté Pan: This is crucial for browning your butter for the icing. A light-colored pan allows you to clearly see the milk solids browning, helping you prevent burning and achieve that perfect nutty aroma and color.
• Parchment Paper: An absolute lifesaver! Lining your 9×13 pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, will allow you to lift the entire baked slab out of the pan. This makes cutting the bars much easier and ensures neat, clean slices every time.
• Food Scale: For accuracy, especially with flour, a food scale is highly recommended. Precise measurements contribute to consistent baking results.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Standard baking tools for measuring your liquid and dry ingredients.
• Whisk and Rubber Spatula: A whisk is perfect for smoothing out cream cheese and mixing icing, while a rubber spatula is essential for scraping down bowls and spreading the filling evenly.
• Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil: For covering the bars during the initial baking phase to prevent the crumb topping from browning too quickly.

How to Make Decadent Coconut Pineapple Bars, Step by Step

Now that you have all your ingredients gathered and your equipment ready, it’s time to bring these amazing pineapple cheesecake bars to life! Follow these simple steps for a truly delicious baking experience:

1. Prepare the Crust and Topping Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine your all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cold cubed salted butter, and chopped pecans. Mix until the ingredients are well combined and resemble coarse crumbs. This mixture will serve as both the crust and the crumb topping.
2. Form the Crust: Take about two-thirds of the crumb mixture and firmly press it evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9×13 pan. Make sure your pan is lined with parchment paper for easy removal later. Reserve the remaining one-third of the crumb mixture in the refrigerator to chill; this will be used as your topping.
3. Create the Pineapple Cheesecake Filling: In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened room-temperature cream cheese until it’s perfectly smooth and creamy, with no lumps. Gradually add the granulated sugar, large egg, and pure vanilla extract, mixing until just combined. Gently fold in the well-drained crushed pineapple.
4. Assemble and Bake: Evenly spread the pineapple cheesecake mixture over the shortbread crust in the pan. Crumble the chilled reserved shortbread mixture over the cheesecake layer. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake the bars in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes while covered. This helps the filling set without the topping browning too quickly. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the crumb topping is beautifully golden brown and the cheesecake is mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center.
6. Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the pineapple bars to cool completely on a wire rack. This is crucial for the cheesecake to fully set and for easy, clean slicing.
7. Prepare the Brown Butter Coconut Icing: While the bars are cooling, prepare your rich icing. Melt the cubed unsalted butter in a light-colored sauté pan over medium-high heat. As it foams, whisk continuously and watch for the milk solids to turn a deep golden brown and release a nutty aroma. Immediately remove from heat and pour the brown butter, including the browned bits, into a heat-proof bowl. Let it cool slightly.
8. Mix and Drizzle the Icing: Once the brown butter has cooled a bit, whisk in the powdered sugar, whole milk, and coconut extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding a little more powdered sugar for a thicker icing or more milk for a thinner drizzle. Drizzle this incredible icing generously over the completely cooled pineapple bars.
9. Set and Serve: Allow the icing to set for a short while at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Once set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang, place them on a cutting board, and slice them into squares using a clean, sharp knife. Enjoy your delicious homemade pineapple cream cheese bars!

Expert Tips and Frequently Asked Questions for Perfect Pineapple Bars

Achieving bakery-worthy pineapple bars is easier than you think with these helpful tips and answers to common questions:

Explore More Delicious Pineapple Recipes and Other Treats

If you’re as enamored with the bright, tangy flavor of pineapple as we are, or if you simply enjoy delightful baked goods, here are a few more recipes to inspire your next baking adventure:

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We hope you enjoy making and devouring these decadent Pineapple Cream Cheese Bars as much as we do. They’re a perfect balance of tropical sweetness, creamy indulgence, and nutty crunch, making them an ideal treat for holidays, gatherings, or simply a delightful weekend dessert. Happy baking!